The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-02-06

investigate the mysterious death of
George Sandemnn, u wealthy resident.
lie had gone out shooting with his game
J keeper after breakfast, and two hours
later was found dead i'll wood near by
with bullet through his chest. The
keeper said that he quilted his master
when he entered the wood, and that as
he was crossing the home field five min
utes later he heard tho discharge Of
gun, and supposed that Mr.. Sandcman
had shot n rabbit or hare. The gun
lying by the side of the corpse had been
discharged, and the post mortem ex-
animation ended in finding the bullet
embedded in the tissues behind the mans
left lung. The gun found was Mr.. Sandc-
mans own fowling piece. The bullet
found i'll the corpse was peculiar, having
evidently been pared with knife.
Miss Sandeman, Georges sister, gave
important testimony. She said that
George had caused some new bullets to
he cast, and that she was present when
he tried them and found they were
triile too large for the gun. Thereupon
she suggested pairing or scraping, but he
said it was too tedious II job. Then she
took one of the bullets and clipped it NIL
round with II knife. Even then, how
ever, il WAS too large for Georges gun.
George said it would fit his old fowling-
piece, and Miss Sandman, with her own
hands, loaded it and put III the bullet
which she had clipped. A few minutes
aitcrward the keeper came into the room
where George kept his sporting nipple
ments and asked his master whether he
was going ont shooting. George replied
that he was and told the keeper to
TAKE THE OLD FowLING-rIECE.
and accompany him. He did 80, and
the two men departed i'll company. Miss
Sandman identified the bullet in the
body as the one she had clipped.
This remarkable testimony resulted i'll
the arrest of the keeper, and almost mt
the same time il was ascertained that
George Sandman had only the day be-
fore his death executed will by which
he left the sum of Go, 900 pounds to his
faithful keeper and friend, John Ridg-
worth"
When Detective Grover reached Wath,
these facts were narrated To him. On
seeing the remains of George Sandcmun,
he immediately identified the dead man
~ the person hitherto known as William
Jones. Without saying word, he
sought the presence of Ridgworth, the
keeper, expecting to recognize in him
the peddler. He was not disappointed.
To be brief, Ridgworth ultimately con-
fessed that he shot George Sandcman,
and related the story of their long associu-
ton.
Ridgworth was formerly the groom of
Georges uncle, by whom George and
his sister were brought mp. George had
grown very wild and had made away
with n large amount Of money, so that
his uncle sworc that he would disinherit
him and leave all his money to his neicc.
The uncle subsequently had IN attack of
paralysis, and after lie had recovered,
found that George had sold three of his
best horses and spent tn" money. His (
uncle sent for II lawyer, and made Il will,
rs was supposed, i'll favor of Georges
sister. George was informed by the !
servants that the lawyer was to bring the |
will next day for signature. That night
RidgwOrth was III attendance on his old !
master, wLo was subject to occasional
fits of insanity and needed watching In ,
the middle of the night George entered !
the bedroom, and, with the all of Ridg- ,
worth, strangled bis uncle. Then u rope I
WIS placed
ROUND THE NECK OF THE CORPSE
and the body so fixed as to make it APP
pear that the unfortunate MN had com ,
mitted suicide by hanging himself to the |
hcd-post. To his great modification !
George learned next day that the will had ,
already been signed, giving MI to his sis .
ter He disappeared, but it was gcncr- /
ally supposed that he had gone away in
disgust and chagrin ut being disinheritcd. !
Ridgeworth, who had urged George to .
put his sister ont of the way, also, re-
manned behind and saw through the .
coroner's inquest and the intcrment. He |
then sought George, from whom he had .
received a letter telling him his where !
abouts. !
When George learned that "a sus-
picions of foul play existed, and that it !
could be proved beyond II doubt that his !
uncle was insane when he made the will,
he resolved to return. The reader knows .
the rest. On coming across the man ,
Strong with the plumber in his possession,
the temptation to take it was too great. |
Soon after Georges return home, an .
amicable arrangement was made Of the :
property, and he settled down at Wath,
taking Ridgworth into his employ as .
keeper From time to time, however,
Ridgworth demanded large sums OF ,
money To keep quiet, and ultimately in
duccd George to make will Ms stated.
The murder of the unfortunate and mis-
guided young man followed. RidgwOrth .
was hanged in York in the fall of 1888.