New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-07-15
COLEMAN en- GIVEN I 4 TICKER
Minneapolis Detective Presented
With Gold Watch.
Was Given Him For Securing Con
viction Of Tankes.
His Sensational Work in Connec-
ton With Noted Case.

Besides receiving a reward of $3.50
from the state Of Minnesota and other
emoluments, Detective Thomas j..
Coleman of Minneapolis has been Civ
en- handsome gold watch for his sue
scessful work in connection with the
John Wellner case The ticker was
gift from several gentlemen who were
deeply interested in the Lafayette
mystery and was a substantial way of
showing appreciation of the efforts put
forth by the slueth.
The presentation was made while De-
tectiye Coleman was in the city last
week, the time piece being ll-jewel-
ed affair ofElgin manufacture. It was
Of gold, with an expensive hunting
case, and bore an appropria inscrip-
ton. To several persons in New Ulm
Detective Coleman proudly exhibited
the watch, expressing his appreciation
of the generosity of the honors and
asserting that he would value it as one
OF his most treasured possessions.
Coleman's connection with the fam
Gus Tanke murder case was most con-
spicuous; it might be said, spectacular,
When John Wellner was murdered on
the night of December 81, 1898, his
slayers apparently left not the slight
est clue upon which the authorities
could work. The sheriff OF Nicollet
county seemed powerless to unravel
the9mystery and a score or more de-
tectives who were attracted by the re-
wards offered followed false scents in
nocuously. q
For nearly three years nothing was
learned which would point to the guilt
of anyone or lead to the arrest of the
perpetrators of the crime. Interest in
the horror had almost disappeared
and to all intents and purposes the
officers of the law had given up the
case as one having no solution. In
the fall of 1901 Detective Coleman
came to New Ulm to work upon one of
a long series of crimes in the township
of West Newton. On evidence secured
by him two important arrests were
made and his success with the case, as
we'll as with another transgression,
attracted the attention of Sheriff Nc
MILAN of St. Peter
That officer enlisted Coleman's aid
| to run to earth the Wellner murderers
and the detective set about his task
Systematically. In a quiet way and
without arousing suspicion of any sort
| he gathered his clues and on October
II, 1901, caused the arrest of the
suspects, Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Tanke.
Then followed three of the most
| sensational trials ever held in Southern
! Minnesota. The first was interrupted
by the death of juror but at the con-
clusion of the second Frank Tanke was
| sentenced to make reparation for his
acts by suffering the death penalty.
Then his wife made confession
exonerating her husband and herself
received a life sentence in Saltwater.
| Upon the strength of her story, how
ever, Tanke received third trial, only
to be sent to join his spouse at Still
water. #5D
Practically all of the evidence in
the case was obtained by Coleman and
to him is ascribed the credit for
ferreting out the crime. Contrary to
expectations he was able to build up
| strong case for the state and ultimately
convicted his suspects. With what he
was paid by relatives of the dead man
and received from the state, it is under
stood the case paid him between 50. 200
| and So, 500.