The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-03-03
TWO BOYS UNDER ARREST.
Charged With Having Felonlously
Assaulted Hal Wing, the
. Chinaman.
One Admits Being an Accessory,
but the Other AffirmS His
Innocence.

Lester hOlIlQS, OCu0TWlS0 AuOWn dS
"Let." Rollins Of this city, and Fred.
Bager, we're placed under arrest last
Saturday evening and Sunday morn
ing on the charge of having committed
simple assault upon Hal Wing, the
Chinese laundryman, week ago last
Sunday night.
The assault incriminates the young
men for the 'sandbagging" reported
in HE GAZETTE of last week. The
warrant for assault is a temporary one
and will be changed as soon as County
Attorney Clague arrives in this city
and takes up the work of prosecution
The young men were arrested on a
statement given out by another young
man, who, while not implicated in the
crime in any manner, was jocosely told
by Fred. that such an assault was
about to take place. He paid no at
tention to the threat, because he did
not believe that such an offense could
be committed by the two persons un-
der arrest. After the "sand-bagging"
had been done the young man in ques-
ton accused Fred. of having been one
of the parties, and Fred. owned up to
it, saying that he had been pulled m
to the affair by his older accomplice.
The third party kept still until Satur-
day morning last, when he considered
it his duty to inform the authorities of
what he knew. As soon as his informa-
ton was impaired warrant was sworn
out for the arrest of the two boys, and
the one made out for Rollins was
served about eight o'clock last Satur-
day night. Rollins was found at bis
home by Sheriff Pease, and the officer
at once landed him in the county Jail.
The warrant for Fred. Bager was not
served until Sunday morning. In the
meantime Fred. had been placed in
the "sweat- box" and had practically
acknowledged the whole affair. I'M
mediately after the warrant was served
he was placed alone on the second
floor of the county Jail.
The arrest of the two boys caused a
great deal of excitement when it be.
came known. People generally we're
surprised that two young men of this
city could have committed such an as
sault, and it was not until they heard
the evidence that would be adduced
that they we're willing to believe that
the authorities had the right parties.
The boys we're seen at the county
Jail Monday morning by q GAZETTE re-
porter. Fred. Bsger broke down i'm
mediately when the reporter, who had
often befriended him, entered the cell
rooms. The reporter expressed his
surprise, and Freddie said that it was
very hard to think that he had been
pulled into the "sand-bagging." He
said that Rollins had been after him
almost every day for week or more
to go in with him on the deal, and
that in weak moment he relented.
He said that he had no knowledge
when the "sand-b -bagging" was to be
committed, until few hours before it
was done, when Rollins appeared at
the depot and told him to get out the
articles if he had them in his posses
sion.
L took a shot bag from Billy
Brammer's desk," he said, land hand
ed it to Let Then I gave him the
shot that belonged to Gus (Thiering),
and he fixed up the bag, using piece
of string that we use in the railroad
Office to tie around the sack just over
the shot, making the sand-bag. Let.
wanted me to stand outside and
keep guard while he went in
in and did the sand-bagging,' but ]
wouldn't do it. l was up by the G.. A
R. hall when he went in, and as soon
as l heard Hal Wing screaming,
skipped out. Honestly, Schmahl,
had no thought of robbing the China
man. I was getting more money than
I knew Rollins would get out of Wing
but Rollins led me into it, and sup
pose that l am in. l never had any
intention of getting money out OF tht
DEAL"
| "Freddie" gave the writer severa