New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-07-22
GAVE HIM COAT OF TAR
Farmers Near Fairfax Punish an
" Alleged Thief.
Seized by Mob and Given Coat OF
Tar and Grass.
VIM. Kahle Man Who Was Humili
ated by Neighbors.

| ated by Neighbours. E
Fairfax was all excitementlas Satur-
day morning, says the Fairfax Stand
during the night previous a number Of
the residents of staid old Camp town
ship had so far forgotten themselves
as to humilate a neighbor by treating
him to coat of tar and feathers, be-
sides subjecting their victim to other
indignities. n sst* t.
: AS near as can be learned the
community has for some time been ag-
grevated by numerous petty crimes,
and the hand of supicion has pointed
to VIM. Kahle, the victim of Friday
nights depreciation. The straw that
broke the back of patience was when a
harness belonging to Camp township
farmer last week disappeared, and it
was generally alleged that the party
who was guilty of the other mis-
demeanors was responsible for the dis
appearance of the harness. Then they
made the mistake of deciding to take
the law into their own hands and deal
out punishment to the accused.
Shortly after II O. clock Friday even
ing a gang of about Is men and boys
gathered at the home of Kahle, who
resides on the Lunde place about five
miles west of Fairfax. ! The active
work was done by about Is men we'll
organized. When they reached the
Kahle home they made demand upon
him for the return of the harness or
it's equivalent in cash. Kahle denied
having the harness or knowing any
thing of it's whereabouts and refused
to dig up the price to pay for it. The
leaders then proceeded to take bodily
hold of him and load him into a
buggy. Just then one of Kahle's sons
started for the woodpile to get an axe
to protect his father, and a squad Of
four took charge of him. Another boy
started for a neighbours to raise an
alarm but he was likewise prevented
from carrying out his designs. The
eyewitness states that every member
of the party seemed to know exactly
what part he had to perform and he
went at it with will. II
Kahle was driven to a grove about
one-half a mile north Of his farm and
after being taken out of the buggy
what clothing he had upon him was
removed. He was taken to a tree and
with couple OF ropes he was pinioned
so that he could not get away. Then
his prosecutors tormented him by yell
ing in unionism Hang the DIN S---n
Of - = = Efforts were made to
have Kahle 'fess up for some crimes
with which he was charged. Failing in
this the marauders had four cans of
tar each containing long spoon, and
then they proceeded to daub their
victim with tar and foxtail grass.
When they had him decorated to their
satisfaction they departed telling him
that if he did not get, out ofthe country
in "a hours they would pay him an
other visit. In this they did not make
; their word good.
Two sons of the victim hurried to
Fairfax for aid, but nothing was done
{ until the next day when Judge Russell
! issued a warrant for the arrest OF
: Gideon Anderson, charging him with
assault and battery. Mr.. Anderson
Il was taken into custody by Deputy
i Sheriff Albrecht on Saturday after.
& noon. When brought before the court
}, he entered a plea Of not guilty and the
I case was continued until Saturday
afternoon at 2 o'clock. a. V. Rieke
!, was retained to look afterthe interests
/ of the defense and County Attorney
! Murphy handled the case for the state.
II Kahle moved into this section Of
!, Minnesota about seven years ago,
and he soon attained an unsavory
! reputation. # he was guilty as charged
j by his neighbors he was entitled to q
fair trial and they made the mistake
Of their lives when they took the Law
n into their own hands. On rare oc
/ casions after the commission of some
! blood -curdling crime there NIGH
! possibly be some excuse for actions o.
: this character, but Of the kind witt
which Kahle is charged, never. The
81 people generally condemn the act.
3 Il