The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-11-11
People, However, Take No
Stock in the Theory.
Election Is the All Absorbing
Topic of the Day.
For the Moment Murder Mys-
terry Is Laid Aside.
Especial to The Free Press.l

New Ulm, Nov. 9.-One of the Twin
City newspaper correspondents sent
here to cover the Gerhard murder mys-
terry is filled with dope" He persists in
filling his paper with weird tales of a
cocaine fiend whom he suspects of hav-
inc murdered the dentist. This space
writer imagines that he is discussing
new phase of the case. AS a matter
of fact DIR. Koch on the day following
the murder related to a newspaper man
the story of the appearance of the dope
fiend in this city about a week before
the crime was committed. The fellow
remained here but a day or so and while
in his nervous condition he was as meek
as a lamb, and did not get angry when
refused the drug. 1t is strongly sus-
pected that the dope iend story is re-
tailed before the public at the present
stage of the proceedings for the purpose
of diverting public attention. The au-
thorities take no stock in the Twin City
tent to let him be strung by certain
persons who have an object in view.
The latest story in connection with the
dope fiend is that he was at Fairfax
the day following the murder. While in
a saloon there he discussed the murder
with a man who came into this place and
made several remarks open to suspicion.
"The man and his companion came to
Fairfax on bicycles" said Mr.. Nichols,
the local miller. Zone of them said he
was a dentist. They went into sa-
loon and ordered glass of beer and sat
down at a table. They picked up daily
paper in which they read an account of
Gebhard's murder. They talked in an
undertone and finally one of them said:
you know the murderer was caught at
lie Sueur.' Shortly afterwards they
left the place and rode out of town.
And to think that man who had
committed such horrible crime would
remain in the vicinity while he had an
opportunity to make tracks. HIS must
have known that the authorities were
looking for him, and that the man whom
he had seen gazing at him from the
transom could furnish a reasonably good
description.
The people of New Ulm have been
long suffering, and their patience is
about exhausted. They are getting
rather tired of the 'dopey" stories which
are sent out about the Gerhard MUIR
der. Patience will cease to be virtue,
and there'll be more excitement than
ever in New Ulm if the string fends per-
sist in their work.
The clue suggested in letter from
Dr. Robert c. Gerhard of Black River
which he said "LoOk out for Ed" was
run to earth. A telegram from Warrens,
Wis, where Ed Gerhard is employed,
says that he was at work on farm
five miles out in the country the night
that his brother was murdered in New
Ulm. This proves conclusively that Ed
Gebbhard had nothing to do with the
affair.
Another clue that has not been fully
developed is the robbery theory At
first it was given out that Gerhard was
not murdered for his money, because his
safe, containing $50Ol was not molested
and his watch and other valuables on his
person were left. The detectives say that
this does not overcome the robbery
theory, because when the murderer saw
Brooks looking over the transom his only
thought would be to get away and to let
the money and valuables 60, because
they would be evidence against him in
case he was arrested. Arguing this
way, the detectives are still inclined to
believe that Gerhard may have been
murdered by robbers.
Several business men whose wives
have expressed a liking for DIR. Gerhard
are under the watchful eyes of the de-
d
airy measure, and no real suspicion at
taches to anyone of them.
1t is said that DR.. George R. Koch
whose name was connected with the af
fair in an embarrassing way contem-
plates demanding an examination by a
committee of citizens so as to vindicate
himself in the eyes of the people to
clear his reputation. This is something
that should have occurred to him sew
eral days ago when the finger of sus-
picion was first pointed toward him.
Today the murder mystery is laid
aside, and the results of the election fur
nish food for all.
Last night a committee of citizens
called on DR.. Koch to interview him as