The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-04-19
Them.

Of Them
S. G. Peterson. Scandinavia
about thirty years of age, came t
Mankato on the train from Kasota a
three G'clock Saturday intending
to work in stone quarry. He work
ed in Widells quarry four years ago
but left the city, and during the pas1
winter has been chopping wood for {
farmer who lives between Kasota ano
st. Peter. Yesterday he was paid off
and decided 10 locate in Mankato
When he reached the city he went to
the Stahl House and took rest of a
few hours. This morning he started
out to see how much the city had
grown since he left it, and whether
the wine sold here is as red and
sparkling as it used to be. He found
his way into a saloon near the Omaha
depot, and fell in with TWO strangers,
who were soft spoken and mild APP
pearlng. One was dressed like d
''dudu, as Mr.. Peterson puts it, and
the other had on a brown over-coat
torn on one shoulder. One of these
parties set up the beer and then
Peterson thought that with such po-
lite company he must hold up his
end Of the treating. He ordered ''dre
beer" and pulled out a big pocket
book well lined with bills and silver,
and paid his fifteen cents. The
strangers took mental observation of
his wealth and then became extreme
ly friendly and confidential. They
asked him to walk ways with them,
and he was glad to consent.
After going few blocks, he asked
them where they were going, and de-
INJURED to go any further. They then
said that they knew Of some women
nlrth Of the city and asked him to 60
with them and get acquainted, Peter
son had not been in town for some
time and was out to see the sights.
ana answered that he "didn't care if
ne dld, although he was not much of
ladies' man anyway,
The three kept on walking until
they came to secluded spot a short
distance this side of the Widell
quarry, where they came to man Sit
ting by fire. Then, according to
Peterson's accd1nt, the ''dudu Teller"
grabbed him by the throat, with one
hand in front and one behind, and the
man with the brown over-coat drew a
revolver and held it to his face and
told him with an oath to give up his
money. This man helped the other
to throw Peterson down and went
through his pockets, taking the
pocket book. They took the money
out, three SO bills and $3.50 in silver,
and threw away the pocket book
Not being satisfied that they had
taken all that Peterson had, they
took off his coat and examined
the lining, and pulled off his shoes
and looked into them, and carefully
examined his other clothing. They
got every cent that he had.
Peterson was in the meantime |
'crying like a baby" as he states, and
begging them to spare his life. To
use his own words: "They made me
swear before God that l would not |
tell anybody of what had happened. |
swore this and everything
else that they asked, and then when
they left | ran as fast as l could to
town and told the affair at the city
hall. l could not find any policemen,
SO l told Janitor Smith, who took me
to County Attorney Benedict's office.
If l had not cried like baby they
would have killed me. That was all
that saved me. l would know the
men anywhere. The one who was sit
ting by the fire when we came up got
up and went away when he saw the
other two robbing me. There was
nobody in sight. had been drinking
alcohol, and had one full bottle with
me and another bottle half full. The
lObOSIO OOOh UWO UOUUlCS. UC-
sides my money"
Mr.. Benedict drew up a complaint,
charging robbery in the first de-
gree against the three parties, whose
names are unknown, but who are sup
posed to be trampS.
Chief Yates drove out north of the
city with Peterson startinu aft 10 |
O'Clock, which Peterson thought was
about an hour after the robbery oc-
CURED. Peterson states that he was
not drunk, but had been drinking
considerable.
Chief Yates and Officer Scheiman |
found three tramps about fire near
the place where Peterson claimed to |
have been robbed. They were the |
same that were locked up last night,
and released at eight o'clock this |