The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-12-13
BOLD HOLDUP.
Decoria Farmer Robbed OF $50
Last Evening.
Two Strangers, Given a Ride by W
H. Manney, Leave Him Uncon-
scious on the Road.

One of the best planned ana most
successful holdups that was ever per-
petrated in Blue Earth county occur
red last evening. W. 81. Manney, who
rents G. Lulsdorff's farm in Decoria
township, six miles southeast of the
city.-was the victim, and he was rob-
bed of about 800, as nearly as he can
say.
Mr.. Manney has resided on Mr..
Lulsdorff's farm for number OF
wears, and is we'll known as an indus
trious and Woodworking farmer. He
was intending to make an investment
in land and was getting 5000 together
for the purpose. Tuesday he marketed
some wheat, and yesterday brought in
a load of hogs and sold them to Chas
J. Macbeth, receiving $50 for them.
He had brought some money from
home with him, and after paying a
note at the National Citizens bank he
visited the First National bank and at
about six o'clock started for home,
with roll of bills in his pocket.
Mr.. Manney drove out along the
Pohl road, and when between Mic
Juliar's residence and the school house
q stranger who was on foot stopped
him and asked whether that was the
road to the Kennedy bridge. Nancy
replied that it was and invited him to
get in and ride Manney had three
wagon boxes on his wagon, and a
board across the top one to sit on.
The stranger climbed in behind the
board, but at Manney's request he got
up on the seat with him. The stranger
then spoke about the weather and gave
Manney a cigar, at the same time
lighting match and holding it for
Manney to light his cigar.
After proceeding third of mile,
and when near the Shostok farm, an
other stranger hailed Mr.. Nancy.
This man came off from private road
from the Shostok meadow, and asked
whether he was on the right road to
st. Clair. Manney replied that he was
not, but that by going to the next cross
road he could save time in getting
back to the st. Clair road. The man
asked whether he could not ride as far
as the cross road, and Nancy gave
his assent. The fellow then climbed
upon the wagon, standing on the plat
form outside the box.
Mr.. Manney had not driven more
than a few rods further, when the sec
ond stranger grabbed him by his fur
overcoat and shirt front and drew him
over Manney let go of the reins and
clutched for the seat to prevent him
self from going to the ground. The
man held on, and with the assistance
of his pal who was on the seat threw
or dragged Manney down to the
ground The fall from the high seat
stunned Manney, who did not regain
consciousness for some time. He
then thought that he had been robbed
of his team, but aid not think of his
money. He walked home, where he
arrived at half past nine o'clock and
learned that the team had come home
at eight clock, his father having Sc
cured the horses as they came along
the road. 1t was then ascertained
that he had been robbed of his money.
His shirt front was torn at The neck
where it had been sliced by the rob-
Der, and two buttons were off his fur
coat. He was also badly bruised about
the head and shoulders but felt no
other ill effects from his encounter.
This morning Nancy came to the
city and reported his loss to the city
and county officials. He was unable to
describe either man very we'll, as it
was dark when he saw them. The first
one that he met had black beard and
a peculiar looking face. Both men
wore overcoats. He remembers that
two men on bicycles passed him going
up the cemetery ravine.
AS P. b. Finnegan was driving in
from his farm last evening, he met
Mr.. Manney driving up the ravine.
As he drove by, buggy containing
two men passed Manney, also going up
the ravine. The buggies passed on
opposite sides of the high wagon, 30
that he could not get good look at
the men in the other buggy.
Whoever perpetrated the robbery was
well acquainted with Mr.. Manney's
movements and had probably followed
him during the day. One had posted
himself on the main road, and one at
q short cut that Manney sometimes
takes. No suspicious characters were
noticed around the stock yards or at
the two banks that he visited. He was
in one saloon, but did not exhibit his
money there, and had but one glass of
beer during the day.
1t is probable that the robbers are
well acquainted with the roads in that
section, or they would not have made
the inquiries that they did. The spot
selected was the most secluded along