The Mankato free press., 1902-06-20
THE STATE RESTS
Defense of of the Tankes is
Taken Up.
Tanke Will Try to Prove an Alb, and
That One of WeIIner's Enemies
May Have Shot Him.

Henderson, Mimi, June III. d.
Block of st. Paul was recalled by the
state in the Tanke trial yesterday
morning and stated that Tanke had
told him at an examination that he
had met Raftman and Sauer at 3
O'Clock one day in June, 1899, at
Union hall, and also on another occa-
sion. Tanke also told Block that
Herman Schneider, at Williams saloon
in New Ulm, on New Years evening,
1899, first told him of Wellner's death.
Herman Schneider was the next wit
ness for the state.
He testified that Tanke had seen
him at Williams saloon at New Ulm
at or 10 o'clock and that Schneider
had there asked him if he had heard
ANYTHING of the Wellner murder,
to which Tanke made no reply. William
Danheims' testimony was in regard
to an old road alleged to have been
taken by Tanke on the night of the
murder. Otto Koeke of New Ulm had
known Tanke before he went to st.
Paul and stated that he saw defendant
have revolver.
Sheriff Mcmillan of Nicollet county
identified the watch chain worn by
Tanke when arrested, and claimed by
the state to have been Wellner' IS.
McMillen admitted he was interested
! in the prosecution of the Wellner case,
but only as sheriff of Nicollet county.
He knew rewards had been offered,
but knew they could not be accepted
| by public officers. He had began IN
yestigations of the case as soon ss ne
| was elected to Office. 1t was at his
suggestion that the Minnesota river
had been searched for the revolver.
The testimony of Michael Mueller
| was as to conversations heard at the
county Jail of damaging nature.
On one occasion, Mueller testified, he
had heard Tanke say to his wife thai
he couldn't help her out, or she
couldn't help him out. Again Tanke
said, according to witness, that if he
knew what he did now, he could have
bought them all out. Witness testified
that on another occasion he heard
Tanke say that if he got twenty years
he would Just as soon be dead.
Anton Lockway, of ST. Paul, wht
claimed to identity the revolver takel
from the owner, as the one owned b.
Tanke, admitted on cross examination
that he was not familiar with fire
arms, knew nothing of different make
of guns, and the only way he coul'
identify a revolver was by the nick Of
the guard
i, The state rested at 1 :45 yesterda.
. afternoon and w. H. Leeman imme
diately opened for the defense d
promised to prove an alibi for Tanke
showing that he left the Wellner farI
| at 5 10 instead of about as the stat
: contends and took a goose to al
parents at New Ulm, reaching tha
place at s O'Clock instead of $3.50. ID
! then changed his clothes and went t
the dance at Schumacher s hall, wher
f he stayed until II o'clock, going tror
there to Union hall, where he remain
ed until a. m.
3 Leeman outlined the story that Mrs
3 Tanke will tell as follows: She sal
+ Wellner Whose wife she then was
were awakened by a noise on tn
1 night of the 31st of December, 1895
! Wellner dressed and went out and
t few minutes later she heard a shot
She started out but was met at th
door by a man who forced her to 81
down and tied her hands He the
q demanded her pocketbook, securing
and a watch and chain and left. Sh
' sat a short time and then called he
+ daughter, who united her and togethe
they went to her fathers, who return
ed with them and found the body g
8 the state claims.
The defense also proposes to sho'
that Wellner had number of enemie
and at one time had four horse
poisoned and that he might have bee
t killed by some malicious person wit
; whom he had had trouble.