The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-05-20
Sheriff Obarion, Of Iowa, Makes
an Arrest.
Traces Two Boys Charged With Steal
ing Money and a. Team to
MankatO.

MIN WlUn grand larceny. Lie war
rant jointly charges Nelson and
Walter Giddle with the larceny
of $500 from the Illinois
Central depot at Storm Lake,
on the night of Feb 18th last. The
sheriff has been working hard on the
case and trailed the two young men to
Mankato. Giddle is in the country
and may be taken any time, as the
sheriff has telephoned to all surround
ing towns in the direction which he
took.
Sheriff Obarion stated to q Free
Press reporter Monday afternoon that
Nelson and Giddle are also wanted
for the alleged theft of a team of
ponies, buggy and harness at Onewa.
Iowa. The stealing of the money
from the depot was a great mystery,
as it was evidently done by some one
who had the keys. Other parties
were suspected at first. Giddle
was employed at the depot in a
minor capacity, and carried keys.
He came from poor but respectable
parentage, and no one would shave
suspected him had he not during the
early spring purchased $50 bicycle,
$40 gold watch, and other luxuries,
paying cash for them. He was then
watched.
Nelson is Scandinavian~and did
some work at retouching pictures, etc.
He also belongs to very respectable
family, and no one would have sus-
pected him. He VS. companion of
Giddle, and a photograph which the
two had sat together for is in the pos
session of Sheriff Obarion. 1t shows two
bright looking young men, with
smooth faces.
Soon after Giddle was suspected in
connection with the depot robbery, he
and Nelson left the town and next
turned up at Onewa, Iowa, where it
is claimed that they stole the team on
April 2Sth. The officials got on the
wrong track for time, having been
informed that the young men, or par
ties looking like them, had been seen
driving south.
Through young girl with whom
Nelson was keeping company, Sheriff
Obarion learned that the young man
had gone to Onewa, but he arrived
there just after they had gone. He
followed up the letter writing clue,
and learned that the young lady bad
sent letter to parties in Man
kato. Then he took the train for
this city, arriving here Saturday. The
police were enlisted in the work, and
it developed that young men looking
like the picture exhibited by the
sheriff had been seen in stores.
Monday morning Sheriff Obarion re-
ceived telegram from Attorney L.
d. Higgs, of Storm Lake, saying that
a letter would arrive for Frank
Garberson, and asking him to see
where it went to. The sheriff
Thought that the name might be a
fictitious one adopted by one Of the
young men, but searched the direc-
tory of the city and found that a
Frank .Garberson has a blacksmith
shop in West Mankato. He inter-
viewed Mr.. Garberson and learned
that he has relatives at Storm Lake,
who are well-to-do people there. Mr..
Garberson said that two young fellows
whom he formerly knew at Storm
Lake, had been stopping at shis house
for week, having driven into the
city with team of ponies. He told
where they could be found.
The sheriff found Nelson planting
corn in an adjacent field and placed
him under arrest, and lodged him in
the county Jail. At the same time
he sent someone else to Mr.. CARRIER
sons house to tell Giddle that Mr..
Garberson wished to see him at the
shop. Giddle had driven away at 9:45
a. m. with, his baggage and
a canvassing outfit, going west across
the Blue Earth river bridge.
Sheriff Obarion then sent Gates
Phillips to Lake Crystal on the 1:08
p. m. train, in search of Giddle, who
is the man most badly wanted. He
also telephoned to St. James, and all
other points in that direction, and it
is not thought that Giddle can es-
cape.
Nelson would say nothing after
being arrested. He was told
that he was held as a witness,
Mr., Garberson did not suspect that
there was anything wrong with the
boys, and did not know how long they
intended to stay. tits supposed that
the team which Giddle is driving is
the one stolen from Onewa.
Much credit is due to Sheriff
Obarion, who has been on the trail for
week, and who displayed much de-
tective ability in the careful manner
in which he followed up the clues.
The police are also entitled to share
| of the credit. The sheriff will remain
in the city couple of days. longer, to
d roI for nfIl1o