The Saint Paul globe., 1897-09-20

the central station, but no specific
charge was made against them, as the
authorities do not credit the murder
theory to any extent, and say the
prisoners are merely being held TO
await further developments, also to
testify at the coroner's inquest, which
DR.. Nelson will conduct today or to-
morrow.
The claims of Larson's relatives that
his death was not accidental are based
upon the fact that he is said to have
been a powerful swimmer, and they
assert that he would have been the
last of the party to have drowned ur-
less injured in some way before be-
ing thrown into the water. 1t is alleg-
ed by them that, according to the
story Of the Others with the exception
of Minehart, none of the party was
stupidity drunk, and that being pos
sessed of his faculties it would have
been no task whatever for Larson to
have saved himself. This being the
case, the family refuses to believe the
drowning accidental and declares the
matter warrants the fullest investiga-
ton. 1t is true that the prisoners at
the station admit that Larson was not
intoxicated to such an extent that he
could not take care of himself, as 1t
is cited that he walked perfectly
straight, talked nationally, and him
self procured the boat in which the
trip was attempted but nevertheless
all maintain that the capsizing of the
boat was purely accidental, and their
stories are so nearly consistent that
the authorities are of the opinion that
their version Of the affair is the truth.
Supporting this conclusion are the
facts that there are no marks of vio-
lence upon the body and Larson was
too strong to have been held under the
water by any Of his companions. Yet,
on the other hand, it is urged that the
fact that the Smith woman eluded
the police for several days and the
disappearance of Minehart are suspt-
cious circumstances.
Concerning the disappearance of
Minehart, nothing is known beyond the
fact that he is said to have been seen
for the last time Friday, but the police
do not think his leaving the city par
ticularly strange, as he is said to have
been known as a tramp" railroad
man, accustomed to go from place to
place without a permanent residence,
working here and there for a short
time, without making many acquain
tances and going away without inform
ine any one Of his Intentions. AS to
her actions, the Smith woman claims
she made no attempt, whatever, to
elude the authorities, but was in bed
two days as a result of the accident,
and knew nothing of the search of the
police for her AS soon as she did, she
says, she notified Chief Goss of her
Whereabouts, and asked if she was
wanted. She says she was tod she was
not. and that she made no effort to get
away Furthermore, she says, when
the officers went to the home of Mrs.
Nancy Davis, on the upper flats, Where
she is stopping, yesterday, they simply
told her to report TO the station, going
away and leaving her and that she
went to headquarters later of her own
accord. The fact that Ryan and Memo
Voluntarily sought the police when
there was thought to be some mystery
in the case, is held to be evidence that
they had nothing to fear from an in
vestigation, and both men are strong
i'll the assertion that there was no kind
of trouble whatever in the boat, main
tanning that the story related by them
to the police Friday, that the boat had
capsfzed by striking the bridge pier,
was correct.
If there was a crime committed the
authorities held that some motive
should have been developed by this
time. Minehart, they say, only knew
Larson as a passing acquaintance, hav-
ing met him for the first time the day
of the drowning, it is said, and both
Ryan and Memo assert that they knew
the dead man onfySeesually, claiming
never to have associated with him but
L; n hot 10
The Smith woman has known Larson
for some time, havingsat one time lived
with a Mrs Cole at Lilydale, but no
reason for wishing him harm, it is said,