The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-08-09
BARTENDER ARRESTED.
A SECOND ARREST r1ADE AT BLUE
EARTH CITY.
Lewis Olson Narrowly Escapes a
Lynching and is Brought to This
City and Locked Up-= Party
Suspected==Coroner's Jury Brings
i'm a Nom Commlttal Verdict.

! Another turn was given to the mys-
terry surrounding the death of Clara
Ober at Blue Earth City, by the arrest
Thursday night of Lewis Olson, who
was Jacob Freund's bartender. He
was arrested for completely in the al
legged murder of Miss Ober. Great
excitement followed the arrest, and
Olson was attacked by mob, who
broke in the front Of the calaboose
and wanted to lynch him, and might
have done SO had not Sheriff Melon
aid and the other officers used their
utmost endeavors to protect the pris-
Oner.
Public sentiment at Blue Earth
City seems to be almost unanimous
that Freund and his bartender are
guilty. The reason for the acts of
violence is said to be that while the
people think the two prisoners moral
ly guilty Of the girls death, yet they
| fear that convincing proof will be
lacking and that they will escape pun
ishment through the action Of the
| courts
There is third party suspicioned
as being connected with the crime,
and he is supposed to have furnished
the horse and buggy to Freund, as the
latter has none, and both men are
said to be close friends. This man
may be arrested later.
The foundation for the general be-
lief in the guilt Of the parties is the
close connection between Freund and
the girl. 1t is claimed that they were
heard talking together on the day be-
fore the disappearance OF. the girl, land
that Freund seemed to be urging the
girl to do something, which she was
reluctant to do, which is construed to
be the voluntary coming forth to be
drowned. 1t is claimed that buggy
drove away from Freund's saloon,
stopped at pump on the way towards
the mill dam and then went to the
latter place. Different people heard
screams from that direction, and some
even got UP to see whether their chill
dren were all right. 1t is rumored
that the stone found in the quilt eX-
actly fits hole in Mr.. Freund's yard.
There are innumerable other rumors
at Blue Earth City, all having the eff
feet Of connecting the prisoners with
the drowning Of the girl, but whether
there is any foundation for any Of
them will only be determined at the
trial of the case. When the public
mind is infiamed with excitement it
is easy to see how rumors may become
started and receive belief, which at
other times would be secuted, or at
least not be accepted without jnvesti-
cation. In this case no satisfactory
motive for so enormous a crime as has
been charged has been shown. If the
officials are holding back facts, this
may be shown later, of course.
The funeral of Miss Ober was held
at Blue Earth City yesterday after
noon, and was the largest ever held
there. People turned out from all
around, and the procession to the
cemetery was very long one.
Olson was brought to this city on
the 1910 o'clock train last night and
was lodged in Jail by Sheriff Sandy
Mcdonald, who also brought back the
man Campbell, who was. bound over
to the grand jury for horse stealing,
and who will remain in the Blue
Earth county jail until his trial.
Olson was placed in a cell on the
second floor of the Jail, in order to
keep him apart from Freund, who is
on the first floor. 1t is the intention
to keep them apart, that they may
not compare notes and concoct a de-
Tense ii they are guilty. Sheriff Nc
donald left strict orders that nobody
except his attorney should be permit
ted TO talk with Olson. The latter is
a man about q years of age, and has
been Mr.. Freund's barkeeper for the
past year and half. He strenuously
denies any knowledge of the crime.
His examination is set for Wednesday
next at Blue Earth City.
Mr.. Freund's examination will take
place at Blue Earth City on Aug. 18th,
and he will be taken there for the
purpose. He is man of some means,
having several buildings at Lake
Crystal, both business and dwelling.
He is said to be worth from $4,000
to $4,000. The people of Lake Crys-
tai. where he formerly lived, as well
as his acquaintances in this city,
speak well of him and will require
proof before believing him guilty.
The officials of the iail saw that