The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-08-08
HEARING TO-DAY.
The LoffeImachers Before Com
missioner Eberhart.
They Deny That They Sent Obscene
Observation-Disclosures Released on
$1,000 Bail Each.

3 Deputy United States Marshal G. A
/ Nimocks of Minneapolis and Sheriff
John A. Mcmillan of st. Peter arrive,
in the city last evening, having il
custody John A. and Albert Loffel
macher, who are charged with having
sent obscene matter through the mails
The defendants were taken before
United States Court Commissioner
Eberhart and were released on 81, O0(
bail each, their father, August Loffel
macher, going on their bonds.
The Loffelmachers live in Ridgely
township, Nlcollet county, and are
old residents, the father having been
born there. They are farmers.
Adam Vinegar, who runs thresh-
ing machine, is the COMPLAINING viii
ness. A letter was mailed to him at
Fairfax from New Ulm. March Gath,
that was disgusLingly indecent. 1t
contained a pen drawing on each side,
with obscene remarks written under
meath, and reflected on the character
of highly respectable people in the
neighborhood.
Tony Weisner of New Ulm claims
to have been in the postoffice at
New Ulm the day the letter was mail
ed, and to have looked over the shout
der of Albert Loffelmacher as he was
amxing stamp to letter addressed
co Adam Vinegar at Fairfax
Vinegar's letter was taken from the
Fairfax postoffice by John Mans and
was at once turned over to the au-
thorities. Sheriff Mcmillan of st.
Peter was too busy with the Tanke
case to give attention to the other
matter until recently. He has now
been working on the case for some
time and is convinced that the right
parties have been arrested. The thing
that remains is to prove the charge.
The Loffelmachers were seen by a
Free Press reporter this morning. The
defendants are young men, John being
the older and Albert mere boy. They
deny the charge absolutely and say
that they know nothing about the pre-
paration or mailing of the letter.
Albert admits having mailed two let
tiers about March 22d, to which he
affixed stamps in the New Ulm post
Office, but he says that they were bust
ness letters that were typewriter by
his brother and were sent out of the
state. He denies that anyone looked
over his shoulder in the postoftice.
He was alone at the desk.
According 10 the Lotfelmachers,
obscene valentines have been mailed
in that neighborhood fol. several years.
Their hired man received nine in one
day two years ago, which he put in
the stove without opening.
Sheriff Mcmillan states that large
number of obscene letters and draw
ings have been mailed to different |
persons, men and women, from the |
New Ulm and Fairfax postoffices, for |
some months past, and the people are
indignant. a.
At recent term of the district court
held at st. Peter, a cattle poisoning
case was up. John Loffelmacher was
arrested on the charge of poisoning a
cow, and man named Lynch was
charged with poisoning four cows
No indictment was found against
Loffelmacher, and he was discharged,
but lynch was indicted and tried.
The jury disagreed, and the case will
ZONE up at the next term again for
rial OIL. i
Some time ago. farmers barn
vas burned. and it was said that
racks led to the Loffelmacher farm.
from these reports, it is clear that the
Ioffelmachers are not popular with
ONE of the people there, and that
here is serious discord in the neigh
,orhood. (
Two years ago, John Loffelmacher !
ave a dance, and he says that he was :
bliged to quiet some of the attend
nts. 1t was the custom at the
ances in that neighborhood for {
hooting to be done, and several young
zen have gotten bullets through their
ats, according TO August Loffel
lacher. The family claim that there
, no reason why anybody should
have it in" for them.
Five witnesses were summoned for ;,
ne hearing today on the part of the o
overnmenU. They were Sheriff Nc ;
lillian, Postmaster l.. B. Krook or !.
'ew Ulm, Postmaster T. M. Rea of Fair G
TX, Tony Weisner and John Mans. !
August Loffelmacher has retained .
7. E. Young of this city and Albert 8
faender of New Ulm to defend his :
ms. County Attorney @. e. Davis :
st. Peter came to the city this :
forming to assist in the prosecution.
The hearing was commenced at II t,
m. and lasted two hours. The five s
illnesses named above and G. R. o
avis testified for the government.
N. Dickson of st. Paul, deputy "
nited Estates district attorney, con- 9
1cted the case on the part of the gov Il
'nment.
The defendants put on no testimony, +
nd both were held to the United
5ates grand jury by Court Commits
oner Eberhart, in the sum of 81, 900
,ch which was furnished nv tho II