The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-01-01

Monday morning. Don't remember
about the talk with Rush. Heard
about the shooting four days after l
came to. Do not remember anyth ing
that happened on the day of the
shooting or the three following days.
The first / remember saw two men
before the cell, one from Eagle Lake
and one from Madison Lake. This
was the first time that / heard what
l had done. Do not remember the
talk with Sheriff Bowen on the day OF
the arrest. Since | learned and knew
of my wife's death, think | shall die
over it, instead of being glad,'
as witness claimed l said.
Do not remember ever hav-
ing threatened to kill my wife, and
never had such thought or intent in
my mind. Do not remember any
talk with Chief Yates or any one else
on Nov. I'd. Do not recOllect any
talks in the jail about having killed
my wife. At times while keeping
the American House was drink
ing quite heavily. My wife and the
girls at times charged me many times
with having said or done things that
l had no recollection of. When my
son, Louis, kept the saloon bar, l set
tied with him at night, put the
money away and forgot next day
where 1 had put it. Don't recollect
seeing Mich Brules on the morning of
Nov. I'd. Don't recollect any trouble
with my wife over note which she
was writing. Have no recollection of
having fired a revolver at my wife
that morning. Don't remember the
talks with Fred Kron and Jacob
Wagon at the jail.
On cross examination, witness said
that the Friday before the shooting
he visited several places and
got home at HOO p. M, worked
until midnight and then went
back to the Corner Cafe, where 1
stayed an hour and half Then
went home and went to bed, and got
up Saturday at 900 a. m. Witness
detailed what he did Saturday show
ing good memory regarding the
days doings. Drank whisky and beer.
He said that he must have been in all
of the saloons, because he did not re-
collect when he got home. l must
have been so drunk that [ did not
know anybody. Here Balser's mem
DRY failed him, and he could tell moth
ing about Sundays doings. He said
that when he was drinking he never
ate. He said that he must have been
on the railroad track Sunday, and
must have stood on the bridge. He
saw number of men, but didn't re-
member talking with anyone. Wit
ness answered 81 don't know" to
most of the questions regarding Sun
day and Monday. Didn't remember
trouble with his wife Sunday night.
Had the revolver in his coat pocket
for three weeks up to and includ-
ing Monday morning, His wife
had the revolver before that
and when he went into the
country got it from his wife, put it in
his pocket and left it there. Got
drunk Saturday and it took three OF
four days to get over it, Everything
that happened during this time was a
blank. During the last two years
have been drunk six or eight times SC
that l did not remember anything
Sometimes these lasted week OF
more. Saturday morning l asked my
wife to help me make out the bills
and she said that she would after
dinner. Saw the newspaper reporters
in the Jail the second week L was in
Jail. Don't remember any converse.
tion with them about HOO a. no. Mon.
day. My leg was sore all summer.
Came to myself the Thursday after
the shooting.