The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-03-10
WAS HE ROBBED?
Contractor Browns Experiences
in MankatO.
Left for his Wisconsin Home Yesterday
Without Waiting to Put in
any Bids.

n. DTOW0, G00 hlCQldQQ center, WIS,
contractor who fell in with evil COM
pany, as related in Saturdays Free
Press, was detained at the police sta
ton Saturday night and was allowed to
depart for his home Sunday. He did
not wait to put in a bid on any of the
jobs he was figuring on, and which in
cluded the new St. Joseph's hospital
and the Catholic parochial school build
ing at Madelia
Mr. Brown is the senior member of
the firm of A. Brown & Son, and stated
to a Free Press reporter that he had
been in the contracting business for
thirty FIVE years. He exhibited a num-
Der of excellent recommendations,
among others being letters from Off
Gals in ST. Paul where he has done
work
According to Mr.. Browns account of
the unfortunate condition in which he
was found. he came to Mankato Friday
to study the plans of the hospital and
other buildings and to put in bids. He
brought 81, 450 with him and deposited
81, 400 in bank so that he could &C
company his bids with certified checks,
as required With about $40 in his
pocket, he started out in the evening,
and visited different saloons, going
from one place to another, and setting
them up to the crowds. Being,a good
fellow" was rather expensive, but he
did not care so long as everybody was
having good time. He returned to
the City Hotel, where he was stopping,
at about eleven o'clock.
Saturday, he started out again.
Shortly after dinner he met man who
wanted him to go along with him.
Brown asked him where he was going,
and the fellow said that he had house
little further along and they would
go there Brown replied that he was
lawful dry" and wanted to go where
he could get drink. While they were
walking Officer Daniels came up and
took them both to the city hall There
was not enough evidence, to hold the
other man, and Brown was locked up
until he could sober off Brown said that
he did not know what he was locked mp
for, unless it was deal on the part OF
the other contractors to get him out of
the way. He asked whether that was
the way every stranger who came to
the city and got under the influence OF
liquor was treated He said that it was
the first time in twenty years that he
had been in the condition that he was
found in.
Mr.. Brown could not seem to realize
that he had been saved from probable
robbery He first attracted attention
when he and his companion were seen
behind some freight cars near the
Omaha freight depot The other man
had him by the coat collar and demand
ed that Brown pay him what he owed
him, which Brown said that he would
do. 1t was seen that Brown was com
pletely under the influence of liquor
while the other man was not. Depot
officials telephoned to the police sta
ton and Officer Daniels responded
This was about 100 p IN.
Browns companion inouced him te
walk down the new Omaha track and
when the officer came in view he had
Browns gold watch out When he saw
the officer he got Brown to walk along
further, The couple had reached
desolate place beyond the sand pit IL
West Mankato, and were making for a
clump of trees when the officer took
them into custody.
When searched at the city hail.
Brown had no money but still had his
watch. The other man had only "a
cents. Brown said that he thought
that he had been robbed $50. but was
not sure, and did not know who to sus-
pect He did not care to prosecute any
one as he did not care for the money as
he had plenty more. He gave refer
ences to a number of banks for his
standing.
In reference to his companion, Brown
SAID that he had never seen him before
and did not owe him any money. He
went with him because the fellow asked
him to