The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-26

August Wendt, the DecOria farmer
who is charged with being accessory
to the grand larceny charged against
Mr.. and Mrs. Anton Diemel, was ar
rested at his home last night by Dep
utySheriff Phillips and brought to the
city and lodged in Jail. He was taken
before the municipal court this fore
noon and the warrant was read, charg-
ing him with grand larceny in the
first degree. The state was represent
ed by A. r. Pau, who has been re-
tanned by John G.. Gerlich to assist
County Attorney Hughes in the pros.
ecution.
Wendt is not bright appearing
man, and did not seem to fully COM
prehend what was going on. He was
allowed until two o'clock to retain an
attorney. He secured the services of
Schmitt & Wilson, and this afternoon
the hearing was set for Tuesday at
ten o'clock. The case is not one
admitting of bail being given, and
the defendant was remanded to Jail.
The specific offense charged in the
complaint against Wendt is the steal
ing of a Milwaukee harvester and
binder during the nighttime. 1t is
claimed that watchers who were
placed to spy on the premises saw
him remove the machine at three
o'clock yesterday morning from Mr..
Gerlich's barn to his own. While the
charge is not set up in the COM
plant, it is also claimed that he and
Mrs. Diemel drove seven cows from
Mr.. Gerlich's farm to GAINESVILLE and
delivered them to Mr.. Amberg, and
that Wendt received check for $110
and two dollars in money for them.
Mr.. Amberg had been to the farm and
arranged there for the purchase of the
cows, which Mr.. Gerlich considered
cheap at S25 each.
Wendt was asked by the FREE
PRESS what statement he cared to
make, and said: 81 deny the truth of
the charge against me. Whatever l
got from the Diemels l paid for.
Diemel came to me and asked
whether 1 did not want to buy some
machinery, and as there was some
that wanted, and he offered it very
cheap, l bought some. l also bought
some cows of him. took the har-
vester at six o'clock yesterday morn
ing, and not at three, as claimed. I
helped Mrs. Diemel drive the seven
COWS to GAINESVILLE last Saturday, and
the check for them was given to me
for her, and 1 gave it to her. 1 do
not own any farm, but l rent the
Hills farm near Gerlich's. l am un-
married" 10 ~. Pc. .~~.
County Attorney Hughes took the
early morning train for St. Paul and
returned on the I'LL While in St.
Paul, he saw Gov. Clough and had no
trouble in securing requisition papers
on the governor of Missouri for
Anton Diemel, who was yesterday ar
rested on arriving at Gilmore, Mo-,
with the first carload of cattle, etc.
The papers were forwarded to JEFF
ferson City, and telegram sent to
Sheriff Bowen, who left Yesterday
afternoon to bring Diemel back.
Deputy Sheriff Phillips went to
Mapleton yesterday to stop the second
carload of goods, which it was rumor-
ed was to be sent by Mrs. Diemel.
Then he went to the Gerlich farm
to arrest Mrs. Diemel. Mr.. |
Gerlich and John Redmond !
were also there. Mrs. Diemel
claimed to be sick in bed |
and she and her parents put up a
strong talk to the officer. Mrs. |
Diemel said that she knew something
of the law, as she had "lawed it" for
three years. She said that the officer
was required to give three days notice
before serving warrant. Her father |
also eXpOunded the law,and said that |
a warrant cannot be served after sun
down, and that it was then 7:O5 D. N.
1t was exactly six o'clock, according
to the officers watch. Her mother
claimed that she had a judgment of
ST. 900 on the goods. Mrs. Diemel
was placed under arrest, but was
to remain at the house, and
Mr.. Redmond was left there
to keep her under surveillance.
1t was learned that Mrs. Diemel
ordered both cars. They were to be
loaded at Mapleton, and one was filed
with horses and cattle and started
for Gilmore on Saturday. The other
was to be filled with furniture and
started Tuesday or Wednesday.
Diemel came to Mr.. Gerlich's farm
June 9th last and worked there all
summer. He wanted to rent the farm
aud said that he was expecting some ;
,ash, and would buy all of the stock
Ind machinery. About Sept. Sth he i
occurred six years lease =.