The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-14
THE ST. PAUL GLOBE SATURDAY NOVEMBER Il 1903
ERNST MAKES DEAL
FROM BEHIND BARS
Assigns Creditor a Satisfied
Mortgages He Insane or
Feigning Insanity?

QueSllCQaDlS -CuSliSoo lliCliiOoo WiiiA~
locked in a cell in the county Jail?
Developments which came to light
yesterday leave but little doubt that he
is, ample proof of such startling ale
cations being furnished by papers filed
with the register of deeds.
The records in the office of the regis
ter CT deeds show that MIR. Ernst as
sigped to one of his creditors mort
gage on Thursday Nov. ~, which had
been satisfied by him on Thursday,
Nov. 5.
Both transactions were made by the
banker since his incarceration in the
county Jail.
The mortgage in question was orig1-
nally made by Frank Kneissel and wife,
being made out in favor of Ernst. Inc
amount involved was but 500, and
having paid the amount, with accrued
interest, Kneissel went to Ernst
week ago Thursday and demanded
satisfaction This satisfaction was
signed by Ernst at the Jail, and in
signing such a satisfaction the banker
relinquishes all claim upon the mort
gage.
Regardless Of the fact that only
week had elapsed since the satisfac-
ton of mortgage had been signed by
Ernst and delivered to Kneissel, the
banker, late Thursday afternoon, made
an assignment of this same mortgage
to M. c. Dyplatz, of Chicago, who is
one of Ernst's creditors. This assign
ment was turned over to the attorney
representing Mr.. Dyp1atz as security to
the amount of 500.
Deal Is Exposed.
The irregularity of the transaction
came to light yesterday,when both pa
pers were filed for record with Regis
ter of Deeds Fitzgerald.
Mr. Kneissel, who held the satisfac-
ton of mortgage upon his property, APP
peared at the office of the register of
deeds at 1920 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, and had the instrument placed
upon the records. At 12:40 o'clock, or
just two hours and twenty minutes
later, the assignment was filed for rec
ord along with a number of other as
signments which had been made out to
Dyplatz by Ernst
The satisfaction having been placed
upon the records the assignment was
.cf no force, and was nothing more
than a worthless piece of paper in the
hands of Mr. Dyplatz, fact which
Mr.. Ernst could not help knowing,
since only week had elapsed since he
had, by his own signature, relinqulshed
all claims upon the KneisSel mort
gage
This latest feature in the Ernst af-
fair caused much comment about the
court house and among the bankers
creditors yesterday. A number of them
were of the opinion that Ernst must be
paving the way to get out of his trou-
b1es by means of the insanity dodge.
"The man is either insane, feigning
insanity or he has more nerve than he
has yet been credited with was the
comment of one of his creditors, when
he learned of the transaction referred
TO- ut was naturally supposed that
his alleged crookedness- would be at an
end when he was locked up, but from
all appearances he is as handy with
pen and ink in prison cell as he ap-
parently was in his own office before
there was any suspicion attracted to-
ward him.
Files Nine Assignments.
Nine assignments, aggregating $4,725,
made by Ernst to his creditors, were
filed for record with the register of
deeds yesterday. Six of these assign
ments were made out in favor, ofJM. G.
Dyplatz, of Chicago, the same party
who came into possession of the as
Segment already referred to.
complete list of the assignments
filed yesterday, together with the
names of the mortgages and the
amounts for which the mortgages were
originally given to Ernst, is as fol-
lows:
Assignment to M. G. Dyplatz Of mort
gage for $575, made by Theresa Held
and husband; assignment to Dyplatz
of mortgage for $500, made by w. H.
Albert and wife; assignment to Dy-
platz of mortgage for $500, made by
Joseph Nolz and wife; assignment of
mortgage for $500, made by Peter Hal
sted and wife; assignment of mort
gage for $780, made by Ferdinand
Spiegel and wife, and an assignment
of the Kneissel mortgage for 500.
These assignments are all of recent
date and appear to have been made by
Ernst since his incarceration.
Aside from the above assignments,
Ernst gave assignments to Michael
Baasen, of Milwaukee, of two mort
cages, one for $500, made by Helen
Dorm, a widow, and the other by George
Dox and wife, in which the amount in
volved is $1,000. Another assignment
is in favor of Elise Baasen, of Mil
waukee, being that of a mortgage made
by Paul Wolkerstorfer for $3.50.
More Startling Disclosures.
1IiSlSdi VI q lSl-up lie COlilpilcd-
tons of the affairs of Mr.. Ernst there
is now every reason to believe, from
the manner in which his troubles are
multiplying, that many startling dis
closures are yet to be made.
Whether the true facts will be
brought out by the grand jury investi-
cation, Or whether it remains for the
proceedings in bankruptcy to disclose
them, is not yet known, although there
IS little doubt that the truth will event
ually be ascertained.
The grand jury took up the Ernst
case late Thursday afternoon, at which
time but one witness was called. Yes
terday afternoon two or three other
witnesses were before the grand jury
to tell what they know regarding the
business affairs of the banker, but the
examinations were short, and before
the grand jury had adjourned for the
day the Ernst case had been side
tracked and the ordinary Jail cases
taken UP.
From the witnesses who have thus
far been called it is certain that the
grand jury has not thus far gone into
an investigation of any of the numer-
Gus charges against Mr.. Ernst except
the one preferred by Father John B.
MetZler, of Chippewa Falls, who is
responsible for the arrest of Mr.. Ernst.
1t was intimated from a very reliable
source, however, that the grand jury
had not finished with the Ernst investi-
cation, and that the jail q ses had
been taken up by the grand Jury pend