The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-01-03
A PECULIAR HOLDUP.
TOWN TREASURER SCULLEN, OF
SOUTH BEND, ROBBED.
While on the Way to the Town
Clerks House, he is Relieved of all
the Towns Money, About 5000
Some Features out of the Ordinary
Developed i'm The Case--No Clue to
the Robber Yet Found.

Isaac +. Scullen, Tor many years
town treasurer of South Bend town.
ship, reported to the police Mondayeve-
ing that he had been held up and rob-
bed on Matthews hill, short dis
lance west of the Blue Earth river
bridge. He said that he was on his way
to the residence of Gustav A. Hutton
gren, the town clerk, to make set
Element, and that he had 1896 of the
towns funds with him, besides his
account books When he got as far as
the hill he was held up by a masked
man of medium height wearing a
light overcoat and cap, who presented
a revolver and ordered him to hold up
his hands. The robber then went
through his pockets and took all the
money, a gold watch, and the treas
urer's books. He then disappeared in
the woods Scullen is staying with
his brother, A. D. Scullen, who occu-
pies G. A. Chapman's house in LIE
Huillier, and he ran to the house, Sc
cured a team and drove to the city
hall, where he told his story. Sheriff
Bowen was notified and made search
of the ground and found the books
short distance away from the spot
where Scullen said that he was robbed.
The officers have failed to find any
clue to the robber, although diligent
search was made last night and to-
day.
Mr.. Hultengren lives in the hotel
building at South Bend, and to 60
there, Mr.. Scullen would go up the
Mathews hill, which is not far from
where he was stopping. The hour of
the holdup was not far from seven
o'clock, and the full moon made the
surroundings nearly as light as day, |
but no one saw or heard the affair, so
far as is in evidence, save the princi-
pals.
Mr.. Scullen has been on trip to the
northern part of the state and has only
lust returned after an absence of
number of weeks. While away,
Hughes, Rice & Hughes wrote to him
about settlement, at the request OF
the residents of the town, and re-
ply was received that he would be
back about this time. The reason
why the letter was written was be-
cause it was thought that Mr.. Scullen
had moved away, and it was thought
that he GU ebtto turn the public
money known to be in his custody
over to someone else.
Mr.. Scullen states that he kept the
money secreted in his brothers house.
He returned to the city yesterday
afternoon and decided to settle his
affairs at once by turning over the
money and books to the town clerk,
because he wanted to go away again
and did not want to be bothered with
the office. He says that he passed a
man on Matthews hill, and had gone
about ten feet when he was surprised
to hear the fellow swearing at him.
He turned about and faced revolver
turned over what he had to the burg
lar, the latter told him that he had
pal up in the woods who was watch
ing them, and that it would be best
for him to go right along about his
business.
Scullen's bondsmen are David Her
bert and Charles Huntz, both of South
Bend. The bond is for $500, and it is
said that they are not altogether
pleased at the turn which affairs have
taken.
The records at the court house show
that Scullen drew S104.90 on March
9th, and 1884 33 on June 29th, and
that there is still $26. IA in the county
treasury due the township.
Mr.. Scullen says that his watch has
his name in it.