The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-15
CAN'T PROVE SPRENG
SLAYER OF GERHARD
Continued From First Page

of Identifying Louis spreng, an inmate
of. the asylum as the slayer of DR..
Gebhard. They left this city with this
object In view. Mrs. Julia Spreng.
mother of the insane man, also went to
Rochester Monday to visit her son.
a Her errand became known to Somsen
and Brooks, and before the train came
to a standstiIl they alighted and Sc
cured a conveyance and were hurriedly
driven to the asylum. They immedi-
ately were ushered into the presence
of Spreng, and Brooks says he recog-
nized, him as the murderer, although
he does not answer the description
given by Brooks at the coroner,s in
quest. Mrs. Spreng visited her son
after Somsen and Brooks had been
there, and he. told her Of their visit,
but the real object of their call was
kept from him.
Why sprens Was Committed
spreng was committed to the asylum
by Judge S. A. George Nov. 81. The
complaint was made by Mrs. Juliana
Preisinger, who resides near the Spreng
home. Spreng became infatuated with
her daughter and called at the house
several times. His attentions did not
meet with the approval of the girl and
he was told that he was an unwelcome
visitor on account of being mentally
unbalanced.
Spreng is thirty-eight years old and
of small stature. He hasa high fore@
head and is blond, and has very
1s<~1a{ Of hni cd
at the inquest that the murderer had
dark hair and a luxuriant growth. The
Spreng homestead is located half a
mile southeast of DR.. Koch's home and
it contains ten acre plot which is
used as a truck garden. The house
stands against the hillside. The son
assisted his mother in cultivating the
soil.
Mrs. Spreng was seen by a Clio be
reporter this afternoon and said that
her son was home all the evening on
the night of the Gerhard murder and
she could not understand why he
should in any way be connected with
the crime. Attorney Somsen, brotheE-
in-law of DR.. Koch, engaged the sery-
ices of Attorney Albert Steinhauser.
and sent him with detective to the
Spreng home to make a search for
blood stains and secure other evidence
against the insane man, but they were
unable to discover any clews to con-
meet him with the crime. They asked
for the clothes which he wore on the
evening of the murder, but were told
that they were taken by Spreng to
Rochester. The man with Steinhauser
r
ed the citizens committee.
Calls 1t Deception
Mayor Silversen was very indignant
when he heard of the deception which
had been practiced on Mrs. Spreng and
said that the committee had enough
evidence without hiring detectives to
practice deceptions The entire pro-
ceedings in which Somsen and Brooks
are involved are a farce comedy and
citizens generally are indignant at the
way the defense is attempting to con-.
meet innocent people with the mur-
der.
The grand jury failed to indict Sher-
iff Julius and Chief of Police Klaus on
a charge Of assault in their attempt
to secure finger prints of DR.. Koch
shortly after his arrest Those who
were persistent in their efforts to in.
dict the sheriff were A. J. Eckstefn,
chairman of the county commissioners
George w. Someryille, w. d. Abbott
and County Attorney Hoidale. The
sheriff feels jubilant and says he did,
what he considered his duty.
The grand jury took up the murder
case today and examined nearly twen-,
ty witnesses. Witnesses testified that
the hammer belonged to DR.. Koch and
that the bottle sent to the murdered.
man contained poison. Brooks was
one of the witnesses and testified that
DR.. Koch was not the man he saw.
through the transom as being the mur-
sderer. Other witnesses testified that
they heard the dentist appeal for help
in the most piteous tone of voice and
that they were audible for nearly a
block. Those appearing as witpesses
were: Miss Lydia Schaptkaim, Chief
A, Klaus, William Cavanaugh, DR.. G.
B. Weiser. Joseph Weissenborn. DR.. G..
F. Reineke, Miss Frances Resch, Tony
Simmet, Miss Cecilia Martinka, DR. L.
A. Fritsche. George Schmidt. Joseph
Polta, Edgar Dingler, Alt Heinz and
Alf Keller.