The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-11-04
SELF : CONVICTED.
Frank Stevens Gets Three Years
and Six Months.
When His Trial Was Nearly Over, He
Pleads Guilty to Breaking into the
New Ulm P0stoffice.

at $50 a. M yesterday The grand Jury
had already,completed it's labors and
been discharged. 1t returned two in
dfctments against Frank Stevens,
one charging him with forcibly break
ing into the New Ulm postoffice on
the night of Sept. 18th last with the
intent to steal, and the other charges
him with the larceny of money and
stamps from the postoffice safe. An
Indictment was also returned against
Louis Ninmerfrau, who is charged
with uttering counterfeit currency at
Dundee.
The civil case of John Butler ct al.
VS.. j. @. Ives ct al. was continued un-
til the next term, on representations
made by Lorin Cray for the plaintiff.
This morning, the trial of Frank
Stevens on the indictment charging
him with forcibly breaking into the
postoffice with the intent to commit
larceny was begun. When Judge
Lochren asked Stevens whether he
was ready for trial, he replied that he
had no lawyer, but that he supposed
that he was ready because he could
not help himself. He did not say this
in very pleasant tone of voice.
The court asked VIM. f. Hughes, OF
this city, to act as Stevens attorney.
Mr.. Hughes replied that he had talked
with Stevens briefly yesterday but
that the defendant had given him to
understand that he did not care to
have an.attorney.
The court said that he would be
glad to have Mr.. Hughes sit by the
defendant and see that his rights
were fairly preserved. Mr.. Hughes
complied with this request.
Mr.. O'Reilly, special assistant to
District Attorney Robt. G.. Evans,
conducted the case for the govern
ment, Mr.. Evans occupying seat at
the table.
Stevens, as soon as Jury was called,
began to play with some sticks which
he had, making a balance and hang.
ing a large magnet on one side and a
tobacco sack on the other. Then he
pushed these over to Chief Deputy
Marshal Sheehan and told him in a
voice that was audible for some dis.
lance that the official had taken every
thing else from.him and that he could
take these if he wished. Mr.. Sheehan
examined the pouch and found a
variety of articles, including a rubber
valve with brass chain attached to
it. He allowed Stevens to play with
his articles.
1t seemed as though Stevens was
playing the insanity dodge for the
benefit of the jury, or else that he is
not balanced mentality
Mr.. O'Reilly outlined to the jury
what the government intended 70
prove. He said that the theft of
money and stamps would be shown.
1t would also be shown that Mont
gomery, Ward & Co., of Chicago, had
received valise from st. Louis, ex-
press prepaid. After waiting, for a
letter for few days, the firms police
had unlocked it and found it to con-
tain over $500 worth of postage stamps
and letter from Frank Stevens,
written at St. Louis, ordering a num-
Der of articles, to be paid for with the
stamps. The valise and it's contents
had been handed by the firm to Post.
office Inspector Meagher, of Chicago,
who wrote decoy letter to Stevens,
and took the letter to st. Louis and
mailed it and waited until Stevens
called for it. When Stevens got the
letter and had read it, Mr.. Meagher
had taken him into custody. Stevens
had admitted sending the valise and
letter, but had refused to say where
he got the stamps.
Postmaster John Fl. Wendendorf,
of New Ulm, was the first witness
called. He testified to finding the
safe broken open and the drawers on
the floor. A pick, sledge hammer and
drill were found near by. The COM
bination had been knocked off and
driven back. There had been stolen
$3.50 from the postal fund, $l4213
from the money order fund, and
$712 IS III postage stamps.
The other witnesses examined were
Adolph Klause, VIM. j. Julius, Geo.
L. Robertson, Albert Kiesling, VIM.
81. Moody and Walter s Mayer.
When the government had about
completed its case, Stevens withdrew
his plea Of net guilty and entered a
plea Of guilty. Judge Lochren then
sentenced him to hard labor at Still
water for three years and six months
and to pay fine Of 800. He was
taken down this afternoon. The other
Indictment was noIled at Mr.. o 'Reilly's
request.