The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-09-29
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.

Geo. Impey, who gave such impOr-
tant testimony at the examination OF
VIM Conway Wednesday. afternoon, left
the city this afternoon for the place
northeast of Worthington, where he
was found by the officers. He is work
ing with threshing crew there, and
will be on hand at the December term
of court to give his testimony at the
trial. To FREE PRESS reporter he
stated today that tie affair had been
a great lesson to him, and one that he
would remember always. The reason
why he did not speak to the officers
what he knew Of the affair was be-
cause he did not desire to become
mixed up in it In any way. Now he
was glad that he had spoken and con-
sidered that he had done his duty.
The reason why he was enabled to be
made so much of confident by Con-
way was that he had told him that he
was perfect stranger in MankatO, had
no friends, and that his family lived
in California. Conway thought that
there was no one to whom he would
give away his information, and did
not hear of Impey having brother
in-law in the city until he had made
the damaging confessions to Impey.
When he did hear that he had been
deceived in this he was visably agi-
tated. The longer he kept still about
the matter the more uneasy he be-
came, and believing himself to be the
only man who knew of the murderer,
he began to fear that his own life
might be in danger, if the murderer
should desire to remove the principal
evidence against him. He was quite
willing to come back. Among other
things that Conway said to him was
that they did not have time to rob the
body, because they were frightened
away by hearing some foot steps. He
asked Conway how he concealed the
bruise on his forehead where w alraven
struck him with his cane, and he re-
piled that it was done by combing the
hair down over it.. Conway's thumb
was also swollen up to double it's nat
ural size, owing to a blow received
there also.
The physicians examined Conway
yesterday and found the scar on his
forehead, and also that his right
thumb had been dislocated and is not
well.
The officers believe that Conway
was holding the revolver in his hand
when his thumb received the blow
from Walraven's cane. Walraven
was left handed and struck across the
side of the revolver. but it is not
thought that the cane hit the trigger.
The marks on the cane are said to ex-
actly fit parts of an American bulldog
revolver of 38-calibre. The revolver
has not yet been found.
The officials state that they have
other evidence j ust as conclusive as
that put on yesterday. but that it will
not be used until trial takes splace in
December, and they have no doubt of
securing conviction of both Layne
and Conway.
Byron Hughes states that he had
conversation with his client, Conway,
and that he fatty denied making any
such statements to Impey as the lat
ter testified to. Mr.. Hughes states
that he considers Impey's testimony
as very fishy.
No good reason has been shown why
Impey should not be believed. His
statemen is, throughout severe cross
examination, were as straight as a
string. He could certainly have had
no objecJin making the statements he
did unless they were true. If Conway
is guilty, he made mistake in tell
ing abont it afterwards, but he seems
to have thought that he was perfect
ly safe in telling it to Impey. The
officers first learned of this confession
from lmyey'S brOther-ln-law
lmpey went to Eagle Lake the day
before the murder and did not return
until the next night, and says that he
is very thankful that he was away at
the time.
1t is likely that the defense will
waive further examination when the
case comes up again Saturday.
Another important clue was found
the other day. In carefully eXamin-
ing the grass where the struggle took
place, one-half of a broken shirt sleeve
button was found. The other half of
it was found on the sleeve of Con-
ways shirt. This is taken to show
that Walraven's cane struck the but
ton at ConwaY's wrist and broke it,
An interesting story concerningLayne