The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-08-09
From Thursdays Daily.l
SHOT AN OFFICER.
Two Tramps Make Target Of Constable
Robel-The Wound Not Danger
A Large Posse Securing the Coun.
try for the Villains.

A report spread rapidly up the stree
last night that Police Constable Henri,
Robel had been shot by tramps Will,
In the act of arresting them. The con
firmation of the report caused consider
able excitement, and search was at onc'
organized by both the city and COUNTY
officials. This proving futile, more ex
tended and systematic search was begun
early this morning, before daylight, ant
has since been kept up without inter
mission and with great vigor.
1t seems that after supper last even
ing Mr.. Robel had occasion to see JOS
eph Nybert. a teamster, who resides
some distance north of the Linseet
Oil Mill. The two started back TOWARD
the center of the city shortly after sever
o'clock. In walking along the Omahs
track between Fowler & PAYS place Of
business and the old pottery, Mr.. Robe
saw couple of tramps sitting on some
ties by the track. He had seen then
when he went up and bad decided te
have them move, as they were drunk
and abusive and the train
hands had complained Of
them. He asked them if they had any
money, and they showed him that they
were supplied with plenty of small
change and some certificates of deposit
on st. Paul bank, and in reply to q
question stated that they had stayed at
the Nicollet House the previous night
The officer concluded to lock them up
or have them get hotel. They
and then refused to go any further.
The officer took hold ofthe larger one and
tried to push him along. The officer
states that the larger one then pulled a
revolver and fired at him and that after
being hit he pulled his club and struck
the tramp several times. In the mean
time the other tramp drew a revolt
yer. Each tramp then fired another
shot at Mr.. Robel, who fell to the
ground, from the effects of the first shot.
The last two of the three shots did not
take effect. The tramps started to run
north, but the people who had been at
tracted by the shooting did not make
any attempt to stop them.
The constable was not armed at the
lime, or he might have given his assail-
ants some Of their own medicine. Mr..
Nybert hailed passing wagon and had
the wounded officer taken to DIR. Warm
er's office. The doctor was not in and
Mr.. Robel was then taken home, and
Drs. Andrews, Steel and Harrington
were called. 1t was found that the bull
let had entered the left side strik-
ing one of the lower ribs and,
glancing around the outside, had lodged
IN the back. The bullet, a 81 calibre,
was extracted and the wound dressed,
and is not pronounced dangerous,
but will probably keep Mr.. Ro-
bel at home for some time. 1t was by
the merest chance that the bullet did
not strike vital part, and 80 have kill
ed the officer. At the time the shots
were fired the men were but few feet
apart. Mr.. Robel rests we'll to-day.
AS soon as the officers returned from
the first fruitless search last night, they
set about to organize posse and sta
toned guards on all the roads leading
from the city, and telegraphed TO all the
towns around to be on the lookout.
Some thirty or forty men were secured,
and thorough search of the country,
from Mankato to Kasota, was
made under the direction of the officers.
Guards are stationed at points along the
roads from here to Kasota.
A dispatch was received this morning
from Mankato Junction saying that two
tramps had gotten upon a car there, but
search showed that they were not the
ones wanted. A farmer also reports
seeing two men sleeping in strawstack
north of the city.
The two tramps have been around the
city for four or five days, and have acted
rather suspiciously. 1t is said that they
have been selling some preparation or
soap. They showed several people their
money and certificates. About Six
o'clock last evening, it is reported, they
nsulted lady in West Mankato, and
showed her their revolvers. She drove
hem away with club. One of the
ramps is tall, has light mustache and
wears straw hat. The other is short,
only about nineteen wears old, and wears
lark clothes.
The affair caused much excitement,
md everyone was waiting with intense
interest to hear the latest news from the
1t ls said to be the first time |
n the history Of the city that police |
'fficer has been shot.
Several reports were received this |
orenoon OF tramp being seen across
ne river and VIM. Jones was dispatched |
mere to ind the man. He returned at |
bout half past one o'clock this afternoon
With his man, having found him near
he Shaubut place. He denies any
of the shooting, does not an
wer either description, and is not be-
leved by the officers to be either of the
nen wanted. Mr.. Robel failed to iden-
jfy him.
The men wanted may not, perhaps,
DIRECTLY be called tramps, as they have
lsible means ofsupport. However, the
'olice have instructions to lock up any
ne who persists in hanging around the
epots or acts suspiciously, in case they
'ill not peacablv 60 to the hotel. The
eport that Mr.. Robel exceeded his au-
hority In making the arrest does not
eem to have any foundation.
The men have not vet been located,
hough the search is still going on.