The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-06-18
THE TWO SENSATIONS.
Further Information Regarding
HenderSOn'S Exploits.
Hundreds of People Visit the
Jaeger School House.

G. M. Henderson, whom A. E. Mil
Ter claims is fire bug, was lying on
table in the exercise corridor at the
jailMonday afternoon when the FREE
PRESS reporter called. His eyes were
red and his cheeks watery from cry
ing, and he was completely unmann-
ed. He said that the charge against
him had broken his heart, owing to
the disgrace which it had brought
upon him. He said that he
knew nothing of the fires
and that the charges made
by Miller were false. He said that he
had a set-to with Miller at midnight
Friday night, on the prairie. He
wanted to arrest Olds, iwho ran away,
but Miller would not let him, he said.
Henderson further claimed that he
had the Garden City robbery traced
down and was about to arrest the
culprits. He did not know anything
about Gray, but was after other
parties. He said that he was also at
work on the fire bug case, and had
that traced down, when the present
charge was made against him to do
him up.
Supt. Spencer states that Henderson
was not in the empty of the Omaha
road in the Garden City case, land that
he never spoke to Henderson but once
and that was when Henderson enquir-
ed what there would be in it for him
if he found the thieves. MIR. Spencer
replied that the road would compen-
safe him if he found the thieves and
recovered the stolen property, other
wise there would be nothing in it for
him.
Henderson called on Attorney Cray
Saturday afternoon and said that he
had the Garden City case about work
ed up. Mr.. Cray surprised him by
saying that the thief was already ar
rested, and the goods recovered. Hen
derson had not heard of Gray's arrest.
Henderson later retained VIM. f.
Hughes to defend him. He talks very
much at random and not like sane
man. He says that he joined the Ma
tional Detective Association of Chica-
go three years ago, and that last WIN
ter he went to St. Paul and asked
Gov. Clough whether he could do de-
tective work in the state, and that
the governor told him that he could
do all that he wanted to. Henderson
was unable to secure bail and was
committed to the county Jail.
Miller is doing detective work for
the city in the fire bug case, and the
mayor and aldermen have known of
his work. He began on the case i'm
mediately after the burning of Mar
tin Wiltgen's barn. He states that
the intention of Henderson was to
have the Jefferson barn fred this
week Wednesday night, and while
the fire department was there to come
up town and fire J. H. Michaels barn.
Miller told the police of this. and
three officers were to have
been stationed in the barn to capture
Henderson in the act. Friday night
was so moonlight that the plans were
changed by Henderson, who insisted
on setting the Jefferson barn afre at
two o'clock that morning, so Miller
states. This disconnected the plan.
When Henderson started the fire,
Odds shouted. and Henderson and
Miller ran away. Other men came
helped Odds put out the fire. This
led to Henderson's arrest Saturday. as
it was feared that he would leave the
city. Miller is an enthustic amateur
detective.
Hundreds of people yesterday drove
out to the Yaeger school house to see
Silas Gray's abode under the floor.
Sheriff Bowen places the number OF
visitors at 800. The sight was novel
one.
' Miller says that Henderson told him