The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-05-20
NELSON TALKS.
Knows Nothing of the Storm
Lake Robbery.
Gittle Suggested That They Leave the
Country With the Livery
Team.

Walter Gittle has not yet been ap-
pretended, but it is not thought that
he can escape He is driving the
team of ponies taken from Onewa,
Iowa, and on the sides Of the wagon
is printed the sign Nelson & Co."
If he does not abandon the rig, he
ought to be easily traced. Gates
Phillips, who went west Tuesday af-
ternoon In search of Gittle, had not
returned up to the middle of this af-
ternoon, and is supposed to have gone
to New Ulm and.other places.
A Free Press reporter had talk
with Fred Nelson in the county Jail
Tuesday afternoon. Nelson talked
freely about the matter of his
arrest by Sheriff Obarion of STORM
Lake. Iowa. He denies any knowl-
edge of the theft of $500 from the
Illinois Central depot at Storm Lake,
and says that he never suspected
Gittle of having had hand in it I'M
til after his arrest yesterday. After
thinking it over he does not know
what to believe about it. He says
that he and Gittle were chums, and
he remembers that Gittle suddenly
began to buy luxuries shortly after
the rObbing of the depot, where Gittle
was working as messenger boy and
had the keys. Gittle is seventeen
years of age, and Nelson is nineteen
Nelson's story continues:
"Giddle and l, some time ago, con.
cluded to go out and look for WORK.
We went to Fort Dodge first, and
canvassed for book on Cuba. Then
we went to Ida Grove, where man
taught US to retouch pictures. After
that, we went to Onewa and staid
there six or seven days. Getting out
of money and unable to pay our board
bill, we concluded to canvass through
the country for jobs at retouching
pictures.
"We went to livery barn at One
wa and nired a team aud carriage
Gittle did most Of the talking, but we
both hired the team. We drove out
into the country, and after being
gone Two hours, Gittle suggested
that We take the team and skin out ,
l told him that he was the boss
and had the say. We then drove
south about fifteen miles and turned
and drove due north, coming to Man
katO. We knew Mr.. Garberson, and
for that reason came here and board
ed with him.
"GiJGie seems 10 have skinned OUT
again and left me in the lurch this
time. We were asked yesterday
morning 10 help man plant corn,
and l helped him but Gittle
would not do so. While | was
away at work, Gittle hitched up and
took all OF my extra clothing and
every thing III the retouching business
that | have half interest in, and
drove away without saying word to
me. l do not know where he went
and do not believe that he intends TO
come back. L think that he went
away intending to leave me. l think
that ne intended TO do this last Sat-
urday, A party OF US went fishing to
Lake Madison, but he went down
town and | had difficulty In finding
him, and then he pretended not to see
me.
Il am willing to go back and stand
my trial if l have to, on the horse
stealing matter Gittle's father is
night Waterman at Storm Lake, and
my father has little farm
Nelson states that he and the
young lady who has been writing to
him from Storm Lake are engaged to
be married