The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-02-24
A BRAVE OFFICIAL
St. Peters Deputy Postmaster
Distinguishes Himself.
Captures Robber Monday Morning Single
Handed, After a Gun Play on
Both Sides.

postoffice at st. Peter early Mondaymorn-
ing, resulting in the capture by Deputy
Postmaster Will Gresham of would
be robber, after each had narrowly
escaped being killed by the other.
Mr.. Gresham. who is about twenty
one years of age and is son of the Tor
mer postmaster and nephew of the
late Walter Q. Gresham, secretary OF
state under President Cleveland, sleeps
in room in the rear of the postoffice.
At about four o'clock this morning, he
was awakened by hearing some one in
the post office. He went to the door
and as he had made light the bur
glar saw him and at once opened lire
on him. Mr.. Gresham dropped to the
floor and crawled back for his revolver.
His over coat was hanging in his
room opposite the door, and in the I'M
certain light the burglar mistook the
garment for the official and pumped
five bullets into it.
In the meantime, MIR. Gresham had
procured his weapon and advanced to
the firing line. AS the burglar fired
the fourth shot at the overcoat, young
Gresham stepped into the doorway and
fired at the burglar but missed. The
robber then fired his fifth and last shot,
and Gresham blazed away again. The
burglar dropped and Gresham bounced
upon him like tiger and at the point
of his revolver disarmed him and made
the fellow lie still until he could Sc
curely bind him.
Young Gresham dressed himself and
then took his prisoner to the Nicollet
House and turned him over to the
night Waterman.
The robber was placed in Jail and
gave his name as Chas. Ballentyne He
is stranger at st. Peter, about 80
years of age. and we'll built. He has
the appearance of being tough,
The second shot fired by Mr. Gresham
struck Just above the burglars heart,
but note book carried in his vest
pocket and his suspender buckle saved
his life. The bullet glanced off, graz
ing the skin slightly. Mr.. Gresham
was slightly wounded on one hand
When searched, Ballentyne had in
his possession a full kit of burglars
tools. There were a dozen or more OF
these tools sewed in the lining of his
clothing and distributed among his
pockets. He also had crow bar and
other heavy instruments in the post Of
flee, which he was probably prepared
to use on the safe He had $50 in
bills and So in silver on his person.
Ballentyne had gained entrance to
the postoffice by saving the lock off the
rear door and was on the inside and
ready to operate on the safe when dis
covered by Mr. Gresham. To show how
good shot Ballentyne is, every bullet
that he fred struck the overcoat, and
twelve holes were found in it. The
fact that he mistook the overcoat for
a human being is fortunate thing, as
it gave young Gresham time to procure
his gun and diverted the burglars fire.
Mr.. Gresham is the hero of the hour
at ST Peter, and he deserves all the
compliments that have been placed on
his pluck and nerve. He was the man
for the hour and added lustre to his
family name.
Ballentyne was taken into court that
morning and arraigned The hearing |
was continued until Saturday at 1000
a. M, in order that both sides might
have time to prepare. 1t may be that
the case will come before the United
States court in this city at the April
term.
1t was learned later that a black
smith shop at Kasota was broken into
last night and some tools stolen, some
of those found in the st. Peter post Of
flee being recognized as the same, 1t
is believed that there were several in
the gang at Kasota, but Ballentyne did
not seem to have any confederates at
st. Peter.