The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-06-01
THE INVESTIGATION.
Conduct of Police at the Shoot
ing Affair.
Witnesses Blame One of the Attorneys
For the Unfortunate Ending of the
Controversy.

investigate the conduct of Chief Bruels
and Officer Thilgen at the Keene-Lob-
dell shooting affair met Monday al
the council chambers and took the evil
dence of all the eye witnesses who
showed up. Aid Weed did not attend
the meeting, but Aids. Meyer and Leon
ard were present, and also Mayor Cur
rier. Aid. Jordan happened in during
the latter part of the session, No one
else except the reporters was present.
Aid. Meyer spent some time during
the afternoon looking up parties who
were present at the fracas, but gener-
ally they declined to appear and give
testimony, not wishing to mix up in the
matter. The committee did not have
power to subpoena them, and as con-
sequence only one witness aside from
the police put in an appearance. Inc
evidence taken was very favorable to
the police, indicating that the trouble
had subsidized until stirred up again by
the arrival and talk of one or two at.
torneys. Then everything happened so
rapidly that the police did not have
time to interfere. They were not on
the same side of the battering ram as
Mr.. Lobdell even if they had wished to
interfere, and it would have been dan
gerous crossing to where he stood.
Chief Bruels was the first witness
called, no other witness having ap'
peared up to that time. He said that
some one at the seat of the South Front
street trouble had telephoned to the
station for a policeman and Officer
Thilgen went there, and afterwards
telephoned back that there was no
trouble and he could just as we'll come
back. He was about to come, when
Mr.. Keene telephoned that policeman
was needed. went there then and
talked with both Keene and Lobdell
The matter quieted down. and Lobdell
told his friends to 60 home. just then
Attorney Pau came on the ground and
then everything happened within two
minutes. Lobdell got stick and began
to batter the door in. I heard Mr.. Pau
say to Lobdell, "Of course you have a
right to smash in the door and get into
the building" saw no revolver up to
the time of the shooting. When the
battering began, w. N. Plymat asked
whether that was not disorderly con-
duct. Things went so quick then that
! did not have time to think what to do.
Had no idea that either party was
armed or that there would be shooting
done. There was nothing disorderly
before the battering, The stick was
laying in the gutter. Lobdell was not
excited when he told the boys that they
could go home and he would settle the
matter in the afternoon. Saw no gun
in anybody's hand until two shots had
been fred. Twas II to IA feet from
Lobdell when the first shot was fired.
After the shooting began, did not
want to rush into the shower OF bullets.
After the firing ceased, ! went to Lob
dell.
Harry Shissler said that when ne ar
rived on the scene Mr.. Bruels was talk
ing to Keene and Lobdell. Then Mr..
Plymat came and consulted with Mr..
Keene. After Keene had gone into the
building, Harry Lille, Mr.. Lobdell
and Frank Lobdell khad hold of the
timber and began to pound. l saw
Keenes gun through the window.
Keene warned Lobdell that if he came
in he would shoot. Did not hear what
advice Mr.. Plymat gave to Mr.. Keene.
Think Mr.. Lobdel had hold OF the
timber at the first rap or two on the
door. Mr.. Bruels was across the tim
Der from Lobdell. Mr.. Pau said to
Lobdell that he had as much right in
the building as Keene had. just before
the shooting, I said 'look out, one OF
the fellows has got gun" Then the
shooting began. There was not time to
stop the battering before the shooting
began. The timber only struck the
door once before the shooting began.
When the men picked up the timber
they went right at the door without
waiting.
Chief Bruels said that owing to Mr.
Pfau's advice, he had not acted quickly
for fear of being rash. A person would
need about 1000 thoughts minute tt
grasp the whole situation, complicated
as it was by the previous law suit. L
Mr.. Pau had not come there would
have been no trouble. The advice o
the attorneys kind of ''sicked" the par
ties on to each other.
Officer Thilgen said that he got to tn
scene of trouble at nearly eleven o'clock
He saw no trouble at that time. Mr.
Keene had said that he had telephonet
for him. Keene said that he had takel
possession of the building and asked m
to come inside and protect him. con
cluded not to do that, but stayed Of
tba outsida While 7 was there Keen