The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-12-16
LAWRENCE'S DEATH.
Sioux Falls Man Dies in This
City.
Strange Hallucinati0n of a Sick Man,
Who Thought That There Was
Plot Against Him.

William Jefferson Lawrence, of
Sioux Falls, S. d., died at the City
Hotel at nine o'clock Monday
forenoon, of pneumonia. There is
rather strange tale connected with
his illness.
About month ago, there arrived
in the city from the west, over the
Omaha road, gentleman with a gray
spIinkling through his hair. He
went TO the City Hotel and registered
as VIM. Jefferson, and gave it out
that he had come from Sioux City.
In lew days he asked Landlord Him.
melman to keep 500 for him, saying
that he had $l10 in all. He thought
that he would stay a while. About
three days ago, he purchased small
telescope valise of o. w. Schmidt.
Jefferson was nice appearing man
quiet and pleasant, aud created a
good impression at the hotel. He in
formed Mr.. Zimmerman and Mr..
Schmitt that he had been engaged in
leather and harness business at Sioux
City, but had gone out OF business,
aud desired for certain reasons to be
out Of sight for a time, and had con-
cluded to stay in Mankato.
Late last Tuesday afternoon, Jeffer-
son came into the hotel office in very
much of hurry. He wanted his
money and said that he was going to
leave. Mr.. Zimmerman was at New
Ulm that day, and the clerk did not
know anything about the money and
could not hand it out. Jefferson then
dropped his valise and bolted out of
the tuilding, without even his over
coat.
Out of breath from his hurried
walk, Jefferson entered Mr.. Schmidt's
harness store and called him to to the
rear of the building and whispered to
him that three insurance men who
were stopping at the hot"l had plot
ted to Kill him and had hired man
named "Big Bill" to do it that night.
He begged to be allowed to hide in
the store and 10 sleep there that
night, and he had had no sleep the
night before and the matter was
worrying him Mr.. Schmidt suggested
that the police be seen about the
matter, but jefferson said that they
were mixed up in the plot and it
would not be safe to trust himself
with them. Mr.. Schmidt, argument
failing, finally yielded to his entrea-
ties and permitted him to stay in
the store. A customer coming
in, jeff .rson slid between a
couple Of trunks aud was out of sight
in a moment. After the customer
had left, Mr.. Schmidt found his
strange caller almost asleep where he
had crowded. Mr.. Schmidt tried to
reason with him that b imagination
had probably deceived him, but as
this did no good, he conducted Jeffer-
son into the basement, where the
man soon had himself hidden in some
burlaps.
After supper, Mr.. Schmidt found
Sheriff Bowen and Mr.. Zimmerman,
who had returned from New U m, and
the three went into the basement and
prevailed upon j, fferson to return to
the hotel, where he was put to bed.
Mr.. Himmelman did what he could
for the man, but as he appeared to be
sick, DR.. Warner was summoned, and
pronounced the case pneumonia. The
next afternoon, Jefferson WIS deler-
ious. Saturday, it was difficult to
keep him in his room. He got away
once, and was found in Mr.. Himmel-
mans room, under the bed, with his
feet sticking out. When Mr.. Him.
melman tried to pull him out from
under the bed, the sick man screamed
as though he was badly frightened,
calling for help. Jefferson gradually
grew worse, and died this morning,
despite the best of care which was be
slowed upon him by Mr.. and Mrs.
Himmelman and all possible medical
assistance.
Friday, Jefferson called Mr.. Him.
melmaD into his room and contided
to him the fact. that his name
was not William Jefferson: but
William Jefferson Lawrence, and that
he had been living at Sioux Falls. He
said tt at he had dropped his last name
because he had not desired to have his
whereabouts known at present, for Ger
tain reasons.
The deceased was widower, and has
q daughter, Mrs Grace Lassing. living
at Rock Rapids, Iowa Mr. Himmel
man telegraphed to her this morning,
and she replied that she would come on
the first train. Mr. Lawrence, before
he died stated that he belonged TO the