The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-10-26

wanted to kill himself, but he used the
weapon trying to liberate himself and
companion. He succeeded in getting
into the Jail corridor, and then met
with such resistance by the deputies
that his attempted escape failed, but
not until he had dangerously wounded
Deputy Horst, who is still suffering
from badly injured hand.
The attempt of Ermisch to escape,
and the shooting of Deputy Horst
created great sensation, and no doubt
was the means of deciding Governor
Nielsen let tie death SCI, tlo 30 o4-
ecuted. Up to that time the date of
hanging had not been fixed and there
was a belief that the governor might
place the young men in prison for life.
wonigkeit Repented and Cried.
Wonigkeit parted with his mother
Wednesday morning. The woman
could barely push her hands through
the spaces in the cell door, but they
were eagerly caressed by the boy, while
he cried quietly, and said few words
that could not possibly afford the
mother the slightest solace.
During his last few days of life,
Wonigkeit studied a Scripture calendar
and seemed to derive con siderable men,
tai comfort from tracing the proverbs
and promises ON the little sheets of
paper.
There was no thought of sleep in the
sheriff's household, which is in the Jail,
nor for any one in the remotest way
connected with the hanging, until the
law had been obeyed, and the bodies
had been placed i'll collins and removed.
Were Old in Crime.
The crime for which Ermisch and
Wonigkeit were hanged was the MUIR
der of William Lindhoff, bartender.
These two young desperadoes, wearing
masks, at about o'clock on the even
ing of May 2, entered the saloon of L.
II. Kohlman, at the corner of Wabasha
street and College avenue, commanded
everybody in the room to throw up
hands and demanded the cash at the
bar. Lindhoff refused and turned to
get his weapon, but was shot and NOR
tally wounded by one of the highway
men.
Though Ermisch was but 10 and
Wonigkeit less than 81, it was shown
to the court and public that from child
hood they had been criminals. They
were sent to the reformatory for bur-
glary, and after two years they came
back to ST. Paul, armed themselves
with revolvers and amused themselves
on the Highways leading to st. Paul by
holding up farmers in broad daylight
and robbing them Of their watches and
cash. After few days of this sport
they murdered Lindhotf.
Murderous Attempt at Escape.
After the conviction an effort was
made to induce Governor Nelson to re-
prieve the young men to life imprison-
ment in the penitentiary. But the true
desperate character of the murderers
soon came to light. Ermisch secured a
revolver, through his mother, and at
tempted to carry out the plot for es-
cape laid between himself and WONG
keit through the passing of notes. He
shot and painfully wounded his death
watch and escaped part way through
the jail. It was his intention to corner
the death watch in the end Of the CORR
dor on his cell floor, compel him to
give up the key to Wonigkeit's cell, and
then release his partner in crime. But
the death watch was too quick and
foiled his scheme. Whatever intentions
the governor may have had in the mat
ter, this daring attempt made it impos-
sible for clemency to be extended.