The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-11-17
A MYSTERY.
John Mohler Found Severely
Wounded.
sliif Skull Is Fractured, 1t Is Claimed,
By Falling Down q
Stairway.

JO0n MOQl0I, WHO utS Ludu0 1hdhnooo
his home, off and on, for good many
years. lies in an unconscious condition
at the city hall. and whether or not he
will recover is question about which
there is grave doubt. There seems to
be a good deal of mystery surrounding
this case, for Mohler is suffering from
a severe wound on his head for which
no explanation has yet been given to
the complete satisfaction of the officials.
Mohler was brought to the city in a
top buggy at shortly after "wednesday
morning by Thomas Maher and man
named Mitchell. He was unconscious
and was left by his companions at the
city hall in charge of Officers Morrow
and Thilgen. Mahe1 informed the Off
GERS that Mohler had been found at the
foot of a stairway this morning, and
had presumably fallen down. How
long he had been there was not known.
He had been rooming with Mitchell IN
Makers house, but Mitchell did not
miss him during night. Some liquor
was drunk on the premises last night.
Maher stated that he and Mitchell
had had no breakfast, and would go
and get some and would then return to
the city hall and give further partic-
ulars regarding the matter. They were
not seen at the hall again and search
of the hotels failed to bring them to
light. 1t is thought that they lost no
time in returning to Makers farm.
which is seven miles from the city in
Belgrade township.
DR.. E. J. Davis was summoned to
treat the injured man and found him
suffering from a severe blow on his
head, the brain oozing from his right
ear. The skull was fractured and the
wound was an ugly one. DR.. Davis ex-
pressed the opinion that it was doubtful
whether such wound would be in
fiicted by falling down stairs. and he
thought that the case was one that
merited thorough investigation.
Chief Bruels Wednesday called up
Sheriff Block at St. Peter by telephone
and briefly recited the facts in the case
to him and suggested that the matter
ought to be investigated. Later he re-
ceived the following reply by telegraph:
ST. PETER, Nov. Is.
CHIEF OF POLICE: Have called the
attention of county attorney to the
matter you telephoned about this morn
ing. Investigate and report who in
jured man is and his home. This county
can give no instructions without such
information. J. II. BLOCK.
Mohler was unconscious all day. A
question is likely to arise whether Blue
Earth or Nicollet county should pay
the expense of his care, and while this
point is being settled he remains at the
city hall. He has been working for
Maher for a week, husking corn. Pre-
vious to that, he was employed by John
81. Michael as member of threshing
crew. His home is undoubtedly in
Mankato, and he has daughter, Mrs.
Just, living here. He is about fifty
years of age.
When brought to the city Mohler
had no coat. Mitchell stood in the back
of the buggy and supported him and
held fur coat in front of him to pro-
tect him from the cold. The officers
consider it strange that Maher did not
return to the city hall and give further
information in regard to the matter as
he promised to do.
The records of the police depart
ment show that Mohler was arrested
on Oct. 14th on the charge of disorderly
conduct, and it is said that he is ad-
dicted to drink.
DR.. Davis would not express an
opinion this afternoon as to Mothers
chances of recovery. He considered
the wound very dangerous one. and
inflammation 1ikalv tn set in