The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-09-08

he was dead. Her grief was uncon-
trolable. By this time other neigh
bors arrived, and Sheriff Glynn and
Deputy Phillips and Coroner Shoe
maker were soon on the ground. The
body was taken into the house and
DR.. Andrews found that life was
gone.
1t was found that Mr.. Walraven's
pockets had not been rified, and the
money was in his pockets. His watch
was in his pocket, but his watch
chain was broken in two places. The
cane which he carried had two linden
tations and was slightly splintered, as
though it had been struck against
some hard substance with great force.
Two large cobble stones were also
found on the lawn, and are such as
can be picked up in places on the
streets. They have Jagged edges. The
cane evidently struck one OF these
while held in the assasin's hand or
struck the trigger of the revolver. 1t
is hardly likely that so deep an in
dentation would be made by hitting
the latter
The police were soon at work on
the case, but there was no clue to as
sist the search for the murderer. The
struggle took place between Mr.. wal
ravens house and the house of Mr..
McBroom, in which were living two
ladies who had moved in two days be-
fore. They heard the noise and shot
but were too much frightened to look
out. Had they looked out they could
probably have been able to give some
testimony that would throw light Oh
the case.
The streets were lighted with a
bright moonlight, but the place where
the murder was committed was in the
shade of some large trees. There
were but few people on the street at
the hour named.
Fred Boehmer went home past Mr..
Walraven's house shortly before the
occurrence, and when between Fred
Kron's house and the McBroom house
heard a man whisper as though to a
companion, "hold on" These words
were repeated twice. Mr.. Boehmer
stopped to listen, but could hear
nothing more and could see nothing.
This is the only circumstance which
would indicate that more than one
man was engaged in the attack. 1t
would make it appear as though two
men had known of Mr.. Walraven's
habits and were lying in wait for him
and that one mistook Mr.. Boehmer
for him.
There are two theories advanced as
the cause of the crime. One is that
the assault was made with intent to
rob Mr.. Walraven, but that he gave
the robber so warm reception that
he drew revolver and shot Mr.. Wal
raven. Having aroused the neighbor-
hood by the struggle and the shot, he
feared to remain to get the booty and
fled. The breaking of the watch chain
supports this theory. A good many
people knew of Mr.. Walraven's habit
of carrying sums of money home with
him at night.
The other theory is that the attack
was made out of revenge. Various
men have lost money in Mr.. Wal
ravens card rooms and it is thought
that one of these, in desperate fit
waylaid him to get his money, ano
not succeeding shot him. 1t is moi
known that Mr.. Walraven had any
enemies. He was an exceedingly hap
py disposition and had as many friends
as any man IN the city. Life to hin
was a pleasure and he could be happy
where other men would fail.
Yesterday forenoon Drs. Andrews
and Warner held postmortem ex
animation of the remains. 1t was
found that the bullet had passed di
rectly through the heart and took {
slightly downward course and lodged
!, under the skin on the right side OF
J the back. The ball was 38 calibre
The fact there were no powder burns
on the clothing showed that the re
volver was held several feet from thu
victim when fired and that the muir
derer was not lin the grasp of his vic
tim. The only other marks found OF
Mr.. Walraven's body were two Sigh
scratches on his face. When frs
found, his head was towards his house
and his cane was under him.
Mr.. Walraven was thirty-three year.
of age, and five years ago married thu
! youngest daughter of Geo. Pete
hoerr. He has been for some year
proprietor of saloon and restaurant
He has lived in the city for man.
J years and started in by working in
brick yard, then in the oil mill, anC
has been in the saloon business 70
T ten years past. He was well liked b.
all who knew him. He belonged t.