The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-08-26
ANTE-MORTEM STATEMENT.
ROway Makes A Sworn Statement
Charging Frank Gieffer With
Assaulting and Rob-
bling Him.

A sad scene was enacted at the
Roway residence Thursday afternoon.
Anticipating his death, County At
torney Hughes and Judge Porter de-
sired to obtain an ante-mOrtem state
ment, if possible, and accompanied by
DR.. Warner, Coroner Shoemaker and
a couple of reporters went to the
house shortly after four O'Clock. DR..
Warner informed Roway that he
probably could not live and that a
truthful account of the assault was
desired. Roway realized that ne stood
little chance for recovery. and with
great difficulty answered the questions
which were put to him by DR.. Warner
1t was necessary to keep him aroused,
for he constantly fell away into doze
or his mind would wander from the
line of thought. He would repeat
again and again the words ''Gieffer
killed me-" and "Gieffer slaughtered
me and robbed me-" There was not
the slightest doubt in his mind that
it was Gieffer who had made the at
tack upon him and left him for dead
Sometimes it was almost impossible
70 make out his words. He lay there
with his head enclosed in blood-stain-
ed patches, and was evidently suffer
ing much pain. His wife and daugh-
tiers stood around the bed to minister
to his wants.
The following is the statement as
he gave it, connected and filed out:
Il went down town with him last
night. 1t was Frank Gieffer. He hit
me on the head I was alone.
stopped at saloon and went straight
home from there He asked me when
| was going home. He asked if l was
going home. l said yes He went
ahead. At the saloon he wanted to
borrow money of me, but l told him l
would not let him have any, as | want
eG it for another purpose. He hid
himself and jumped onto me. l went
home alone. There was no one with
him. 1t occurred by the trastle.
When | was hit l lay in the sand
awhile, until l could creep into my
shanty. / know he took my money.
He took it out Of my pocket under the
trestle after he had knocked me down.
| could feel him Go it, lay there for
half an hour and got away in some
way. [ saw Gieffer afterwards. I
kept following. Gieffer knocked me
down. He hit me with a club. He
came behind me and jumped upon my
back and knocked me down. | had
told him I was going home and he
went on ahead. 1 am sure Gieffer
took my money. | could swear it was
Frank Gieffer who knocked me down
and robbed me. l saw him when
was struck. 1t was moonlight. Frank
Gieffer said: I am going to slaughter
you l saw him by the trestle.
looked back and saw it was Giefer
and he went for me. He hit me until
l could not move. Gieffer came back
TO the shanty this morning and l saw
him. He hit me first on the head. He
robbed me and slaughtered me. When
ne came this morning I told him he
robbed me. He said to me ne didn't
touch me. He also hit me on my
finger with his club. In the saloon
he wanted to know which way I was
going home. Then he went ahead and
hid and waited for me. After he hit
me he wanted TO know what did
with that money. l said it is here
In the saloon he asked me to let him
have $40. l had SIS in my purse which
was in my trousers pocket There
were three S. bills and some silver.
He came to my shanty last evening
and asked me to go down town and
have glass Of beer. He wanted to
borrow money and said he would pay
it back the next pay day. He started
for home before l did. He hit me
with short club. l picked up a stick
to defend myself"
With difficulty, ROway signed the
statement as taken down by Judge
Porter, after the latter had first read
it over to him. He also swore that it
was true.