The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-06-04
FOUND HIS MAN.
The Constable of Jackson County
Arrests an Alleged Horse Thief.
Judd Butler is Traced to MankatO and
Arrested Friday Night.

Constable Jno. w. Muir,of Jackson
Minnesota, arrived in the city Fri
day in search of Judd Butler, a horse
trader, for whom he had warrant
charging horse stealing. During the
evening he ran across Butler on Front
street aud had him placed under
arrest.
Butler is charged with stealing a
a span of horses, harness and buggy
from a man named P. w. Peterson, of
Ida Grove, Iowa, last September
The authorities have been after
Butler ever since, and Sheriff Muir
has been tracing him from place to
place until he finally located him in
Mankato, and made the arrest as
stated.
Butler was locked up Friday night,
and the Iowa authorities were noti-
fled by wire of the arrest and signitied
their intention of coming at once to
get the prisoner. The sheriff states
that the team and buggy have been
disposed of by Butler.
Butler was seen by a FREE PRESS
reporter Saturday morning, at the city
hall. He said that he was not the
man that the Iowa officers are after,
but it was another man who had
given the same name to Mr.. Peterson.
The latter is livery stable keeper at
Ida Grove, and last September a
stranger giving his name as Judd
Butler hired a span of bay horses
valued at 5000, and single buggy
and light colored harness. He never
came back. and Mr.. Peterson has been
| looking for him ever since.
Butler gives the following account
of his movements since last Septem-
Der: "My home is in Storey county,
Nevada, and have not been in Ida
Grove for thirteen years. l am horse
trader, and last September worked
through northwestern Iowa, between
Ledyard and Mason City, trading
horses. then went to OwatOnna
and remained two months. Went to
Waseca in January and spent the
balance of the winter, leaving there
April 18th and going to the northern
part of the state. 1 recently came
back and have been to Faribault,
Mortified, Austin, Albert Lea and
Wells, and thence to Mankato, ar
irving yesterday with another man
whose name I do not know, but who
fell in company with me yesterday.
My camp is in the outskirts of the
city, have been in the horse trad
ing business for the past eighteen
years, and have two brothers in the
business. l do not know any other
Judd Butler, but have heard
that there is man of that name at
Lake Crystal. have been in Man.
kato once year for the past six
years, and am no stranger in this
part of the country.
"My arrest was mistake, and l
am sure that when the Iowa officers
arrive to identify me, they will find
that l am not the man whom they
are looking for, will not go to Iowa
without requisition papers, anyway.
OF course deny the charge of steal
ing the horses and buggy, and know
nothing about it,"
Constable Muir was informed by
postal card of the theft and has been
on Buffers trail for several days. He
droye to Wells and thence to Mime
sofa Lake, always little behind
Butler. He put up his team at the
City Hotel Friday, and while he
was there Butler brought some horses
to a watering trough across the street.
Mr.. Muir afterwards swore out war
rant for Buffers arrest, charging him
him with grand larceny in the second
degree. Officer Kelley served the
warrant after ten o'clock, finding