The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-01-24
How a Murderer was Found ald ar.
rested
From the Chicago Republican.


Not long since the full particulars of the
arrest of John Whitman, who murdered
man. named Frederick Ableitner, in st.
Charles, Mimi. together with the incidents
of the .aurder, were published in the Re
publican. We now gladly state that
another one Of the supposed rutiians en-
gagged in this same murder has been ac-
cured through the in donitable energy of a
detective in the service of Turtle Detec-
tive Agency of this city, who, it will be
recollected, arrested Whitman after long
and tedious chase 1t seems that while the
detective was in this city, on his way to
Minnesota with Whitman, he accidentally
came across a man from Minneiska, Wis
cousin, Minnesota who had heard about
the murder, and who stated that short
time before man answering Stays de-
cription-W hitman's partner IN the MUIR
der-had been at his house and had a boot
repaired The officer at once jotted the
fact down in his notebook, and after de-
livering Whitman to the officer of St.
Charles county, he turned his attention to
securing Staly. judging from several little
circumstances which had been picked up,
that he was in the Wisconsin piueries, the
officer turned his steps that way. Arriving
at Portage City, near which Stalys father
lives, the officer took up the trail and fol-
lowed it to Sparta, thence to Black River
Falls, and finally to q slab city called
Neilsville, located in the very heart Of the
pine country, and sixty miles from Sparta.
Here the detective learned that tie lumber
men working nine miles further up the falls.
He also learned that they were in the hab-
of sending down to Ne;lsuiie every few
days for supplies, and usually accompanied
their order with the list of the names Of the
men at work in the camp that the postmas-
ter might send back all mail matter that
might be at the Office for them. Waiting
until the order and the lis; Of names came
down, the detective was gratiiied to see
among them the name Of James Graham,
who was Stays partner previous to the
murder. Judging that Staly was with
Graham at the camp, he determined upon
securing him, but, as there were nineteen
determined men ct the clearing, he was
forced to return to Sparta Tor reinforce
ments Procuring the services of twenty
men, all armed to the teeth, the band
started for the camp, which they reached
about three o clock on the morning of the
10Th of last month. Surrounding the
shanty in which the men were asleep, the
detective, accompanied by Sheriff Poole,
of St. Charles County, Minnesota, stepped
up to the door and demanded admission
The huge wooden door was swung on its
hinges, and the two intrepid men entered
The detective ordered the men to get up,
btt they refused. He then ordered them
to uncover their heads, which they ali did
except one. Stepping up to the bed of thi>
one, he pulled down the quilt, and there
before him lay Albert Staly. TO arrest
him and handcuf him was the work Of but
moment, but his companions, realizing
what was up, refused 70 let him 90. Call
ing in his men, the detective told them
that Staly was j murderer, and that he had
followed him for long time. At this the
lumbermen gave up at once, and allowed
the officer to take his man away quietly.
Travelling as fast as possible, the officer
and the prisoner arrived upon the scene OF
the crime in the evening Of TIE Goth Of De
cember, and Staly was turned over to the
county authorities. Staly confessed to hay
ing fred the first shot at Ableitner, but
does not express any sorrow for the deed.
lie viii be tried at the February term Of tn:
St. Charles County Court.