The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-08-25
THE HOLBROOK SENSATION.

complaints against Fred Chamberlain
who figured in the Holbrook sensa-
ton, one for robbery and the other
for assault in the first degree, the
minimum punishment in either case
being five years. The Minnesota law
in regard to blackmail cannot be ap-
piled in this case or there would have
been a third charge. To constitute
blackmail in this state the threats
must be made in writing, and, as
Chamberlain's demands were oral,
nothing can be done.
Holbrook's experience must have
been terrible, say those who have
heard his story. Mayor Eustis, of
Minneapolis, declares that he is un-
able to conceive of the horrors of mind
to which the man was subjected.
Every moment he thought would be
his last. His feelings can be better
imagined than described. The loaded
revolver, according to the story, was
pointed at his head and heart, and at
the weapons point HolbroOk and the
woman were compelled to remove
every vestige of clothing and get in
bed together. A hack driver, it is
claimed, was called in by Chamberlain
to witness the scene.
Chamberlain was arraigned in the
municipal court before Judge Elliot
and charged with robbery and assault
in the first degree, and bail was fixed
at $500 in each case, in default of
which he was committed to the county
Jail.
Chamberlain is young man %
years of age and is of medium height
and of rather slight physique. He
has dark mustache and his face is a
rather pleasant one. He was fairly
well dressed, and on the whole makes
very pleasant impression, He came
West from Rhode Island with his
fathers family some years ago, and
resided on a farm near Davenport.
Iowa. He came to Minneapolis about
year ago. and has been in partner
ship with o. E. Wagner at 843 Lum-
Der Exchange in the road scraper bust
ness. The people with whom he has
ever done any business and the pro-
prietor of the Windsor house with
whom he was acquainted at that no.
tel, speak well of him, and refuse to
believe that he could have been guilty
of the diabolical plot with which he
has been charged.
The woman, Vine dublin, is is said,
has made written confession, which
is in the hands OF the mayor, stating
that she and Chamberlain planned
the scheme and have been working it
for the past five weeks. A letter was
also taken from Cham berlain signed
"Vine, (which said she had sent a note
to Holbrook to call at 2 o'clock.
A Minneapolis Tribune reporter. who
had talk with him, remarked that
if found guilty the penalty would be a
severe one.
"Pshaw," he retorted, "this matter
will appear in an entirely different
light when I have chance to tell my
story"
"But what defense can you have
when that woman is not your wife,"
"She is my wife, just the same"
"Mrs. dublin has denied that she is
your wife"
A smile only was vouchsafed at this
statement. He continued hurridly to
justify himself.
"The old man exaggerated this
matter. He says 1 shot all around
him, but can prove that there was
only one load in the revolver"
"You cannot deny that you took his
money and jewelry and assaulted
him."
mo, but l bad right to. / will
make all this look different in court.
1 will fight it to the last"
The latest condition of affairs is a
proceeding for the purpose of making
the woman in the case co-defendant.
The county law department had
drawn up copy of an indictment
prepared, when it was thought best by
the mayor, VINO is taking an interest
in the case, that the woman should be
a co-defendant. In consequence the
Indictment was sent back to be cor
rected, and the name of the woman
inserted.
One of the boarders at the Windsor
states that Chamberlain has talk
ed for some time Of great
money-making scheme that he had
The notes which he compelled Mr..
Holbrook to sign were in Chamber
lain's possession few days ago and
were exhibited by him to several of