The Mankato free press., 1902-06-20
TWO OSHOTS HEARD.
More Testimony in the Tanke
Case.
The Defendant Alleged to have said
II Have Killed 0ne," Might
Kill Another.

Henderson, Mimi, June An the
case of Frank Tanke, charged with
the murder of John Wellner, the first
witness for the state yesterday was
w. W. Wiimerr of Arlington. At the
time of the mysterious death of Well
ner he was living near Klossner sta
tion and short distance from John
Wellner farm On the night of Dec.
81, 1898, at about 8 10 he had left a
neighbours house and was travelling
along the road toward Klossner station
when man on horseback rode by in
the direction of the station. Willmert
recognized the rider Frank Tanke
the defendant. Witness testified that
Tanke dismounted when near the de-
pot and jumped on train which was
just pulling out for New Ulm. The
horse turned around and passed Will
inert again, gslloping off toward the
Wellner farm.
In September, 1899, Wilmert, was
employed on the Wellner farm. Tanke
was still there. He (Tanke) and Mrs.
Wellner, the witness said. were living
together as husband and wife. Will
inert asked Tanke one day where the
body of John Wellner was found on
the morning of Jan. 1, 1885, Tanke
said at the southwest corner of the
barn. He then asked Wilmert if he
had been around there at the time of
Wsllner's death. Wilmert said he had,
and that he had met man on horse
back, riding toward Klossner station
on the night in question. Tanke then
hung his head. . .-
Fred Stolse, employed as baggage
man at New Ulm for the Minneapolis
& st. Louis, testified that he saw
Tanke get off the train which arrives
from Klosner station about 8 :45 p.
M, on New Years eve, 1898. Will
liam Danheim was living mile east
of Klossner station on Dec. 81, 1898.
On that evening at about o'clock he
heard the rumble of passenger train
on the other side of Lafayette station,
eight miles away. He heard two shots
fred about half minute apart, then
he heard the train whistle for Lafay-
cite station. The shots came from the
direction of Wellner's farm, 80 miles
off
Ernest Sauer of New Ulm was al
the Union hall bar with a Tony Rolf,
man on New Years eve, 1898, al
about 10 o clock. Sauer testified that
Tanke came in shortly and that Rolf
man made remark displeasing te
Tanke, who then said 81 have killed
one; it won't make no difference if
kill another
Tanke said Roffman afterwards
made up over glass of beer a.
Schmucker's hall. Tony Roffman
who had been with Sauer on tina
night was the next witness. He Cor
roborated Sauer's story as to meeting
Tanke in Union hall saloon and tn,
threat the latter made. Fred FRANKIE
of new Ulm, in his testimony . cor
roborated Will Mart's story as t.
Tanke's being at Roth's saloon on tn
evening of Good Friday and on Will
Merits throwing the dice box over. t.
Tanke and saying, "Shootl shoot T
The latter replied he had nothing t.
shoot with, as he had thrown it away
Witness was employed at Wellner farm
from March to August, 1899, an,
while there heard improper languag
used by defendant and Mrs. Wellne
and had also found them in comprom
ising positions. Court adjourned a
| noon with FRANKIE still on the sand.
The first witness examined Thurs
day afternoon was ]. d. Biliingsley,
builder of st. Peter, who had mad
plans of tbs John Wellner house an
barn, also complete model of tn
barn. These exhibit were introduce
in evidence. Gottlieb Bieraeugel, til
| father of Amelia Tanke, and the frs
person to find the body of John Well
ner, was tine next witness. He live
about 140 rods from the Wellner house
Mrs. Tanke came to his house abor
4 80 a. m. on Jan 1, 1899. He wer
back with her to the Wellner house
They first went into the house, br
did not find Wellner. He then wer
to Carl Fishers place, got him out {
bed, returned to Wellner's house an
finally found the body of Wellner ly
ing face downward at the southweI
corner of the barn. He had on wor
coat, a pair of drawres, stocking
and pair of carpet slippers. Aft
going into the house and telling Mr.
Tanke of the finding of the body the
returned home. Fischer then wei
to another neighbor, JOS Wild, al
together they returned to Wellner's.
Carl Fischer's testimony was co
roborative. Joseph Wild of Arlin
ton, Sibley county, but living clio
by the Wellner's at the time of {
murder, corroborated the two previo
l witnesses and added the testimol
5 that the lantern found in Wellnel
? closed hand was still burning. Su
: day morning, Wild looked about t
r premises for tracks. The impressi
{ of a No. overshoe was found on