The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-11-27
Unexpected Evidence favorable to De-
Tense in kugherz Case.
Alleged SWindIer Who Closely Re-
sembIes Defendant.
Was In the City Last Summer, Work.
ing Another Graft.
Consulted Evan and Thomas Hughes,
Who Take The Stand.
From SATURDAYS Daily.

| from OaCuIuayS DAILY
A surprise was sprung in the Hug
hertz case this forenoon, that was al
most as unexpected by the defense a
it was by the state. Thomas and Eval
Hughes took the stand for the defens,
and told story that was not only re
markable in itself but that will nj
doubt have weight with the jury in its
efforts to arrive at true understand
ing of the case. 1t was not evidence
of the direct and positive kind, but
was such as tends to raise doubts, anC
the tendency was favorable to the CON
tention of the defense that the witnesses
for the state are honestly mistaken in
their Identification of Klughertz
as the man who defrauded the
Mankato Savings bank out of $1,000.
The circumstances of the case, as told
by the Messrs. Hughes, are that they
were visited by strange man at their
office in June, July and during the
forepart of September, five times in
all. This man said that he was the
missing heir to $4,000 estate left
by DR.. Chapman of Kansas City, who
had died in May, leaving five heirs. He
said that when a boy he had severely
pounded another boy, and fearing the
consequences to himself had fled from the
state and never returned. He had gone
into Nebraska and joined a German
family who did not speak English, to
hide from the world, and had become
so much like the family that he still
had a marked German accent. Later
he had engaged in the cattle business and
had ranches in Montana, Texas and the
Black Hills. He had gone under the
name of johnson, which was the name of
the German family, but his true name
was Walter l.. Chapman, and he desired
to engage the Messrs. Hughes to Sc
sure his share of the estate of his faith
er for him, the attorneys to receive a
proportion.
The Messrs. Hughes wrote to the pro-
bate court of Kansas City, asking for
information as to the estate, and learn
ed that it was as had been stated by
their visitor.
The reply was sent by one of the SONS
of DR.. Chapman, to whom the letter had
been referred, and this son stated that
he had had brother who had run away
from home after pounding another boy,
and had never returned. DIR. Chapman had
left the estate to be equally divided be-
tween the five heirs, but the missing
son was not to receive anything unless
he presented himself personally at Kan
sas City, and was then to receive the
income of his share of the estate. The
writer expressed the opinion that the
man johnson was fake.
The Messrs. Hughes urged johnson to
go back to Kansas City to establish his
claim to the estate, but he refused, on
the ground that he was still afraid on
account of the assault. He wanted the
attorneys to 60 there and conduct the
negotiations. They asked him for his
photograph, but he had some excuse fol-
not having one.
The attorneys soon became convinced
that the man was an imposter, although
he told stories that tailed in detail and
were very PLAUSIBLE. He was dressed
as farmer, and said that he had beer
out buying cattle. He did not say where
he was stopping or how he reached the
city further than that he came witt
some cattle on a freight train. On hi:
last visit, which was the forepart Of
September, he had appeared to be in
hurry to leave. He did not go to the
office in the day time, but went t.
Thomas Hughes residence in the evening
He said that he was sick and was going
to the Rochester hospital for treatment
This was the last seen or heard of him
Yesterday afternoon Evan Hughes
happened to be in the court room while
the Klughertz trial was on, and looked a
the defendant. He was at once strucl
with the strong resemblance which h
bore to the man johnson, and the NOR
he looked at him the more the similari
ty grew. About two o'clock this mornin;
he awoke and fell to thinking about tn
matter, and the thought struck him tina
perhaps johnson and the man who de
frauded the Savings bank were one an
the same. This morning he spoke to hi
brother about the matter, and the latte
accompanied him to the court house an
looked at the defendant. He, also a
once saw the strong resemblance and tn
attorneys for the defense were told c
the circumstance. They called til
Hughes brothers to the witness stan
and they told the story there briefly.
johnson said in one of his converse
lions with the attorneys that he ha
been in Mankato several years ag
They believe that if he is the man WI
wronged the Savings bank, it may
that he is the one who obtained $6(
from two parties in a similar mann'
ten or twelve years ago, as that ma
looked to be the same as the one WI
committed the crime last September.
Another witness called to the star
, by the defense was Rev. F. E. R. Mile
-rh<> ,rod,,ood a diarx which ha kaaI