The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-12-16


ed to be employed by the defense. These
circumstances lead to the belief that
the prosecution of DR.. Koch was expect
ed by him fully as early as anybody
else had any idea of it.
The hammer with which DIR. Gerhard
was murdered has been identified by a
party testifying to the citizens COM
mittee as one that the witness saw on
the Koch premises. DR.. Vogel has Civ
en- the testimony of being summoned to
dress DR.. Koch's burnt hand. On the
day after the murder, the doctor spill
ed carbolic acid over the hand, for the
purpose, many think, of obliterating
marks received in a struggle. He poured
alcohol over the wounded hand, and a
few moments later, according to his own
report to DR.. Vogel, set fire to the alcohol
while putting a piece of wood in the
stove.
The sheriff was seen by The Free
Press man but refused to talk further
than to say that the doctor appeared
in good spirits. The sheriff would not
allow the prisoner to be seen.
The room where the murder took
place was seen by The Free Press man.
This office is now occupied by another
dentist, DIR. Mihleis, who came to New
Ulm three weeks ago from Ellsworth,
Wis. The rooms have been cleaned, re-
furnished, calcimined and reprinted,
much to the regret of the detectives.
Places where the wood finish with the
blood finger marks have been sawed out
and taken away are very plain. Many
people who have not seen the office have
doubted Mr.. Brooks report that he
looked through the transom. Nothing
could be easier. A man of ordinary
height can easily stand on the banister,
and holding with his right hand to
the corner of the wall, which is convex,
can look through the transom and see
nearly all the interior of the office where
the murder was committed. 1t ought
to be easy to recognize an acquaintance
through this transom, even with the
seem remarkable that Mr.. Brooks should
say at one time that the murderer had
bo nd Of onpthar tip,n that ho had
not; at one time that he had a small
moustache and at another time that
perhaps he did not at one time that he
(Mr Brooks) could recognize the man if
he should meet him and then again that
he was afraid he could not.
Mr.. Brooks was rather unaffable. He
was not kindly disposed towards GER
tain newspapers in which his conduct
has been criticized He was a little
morose, decidedly reserved and withal
appeared as one who knew more than he
would like to tell. Some of his acquaint-
ances prophesy that he will relieve his
HIilu Soine VA VI lnc CoHCedlcu lottu
they think it bears-some day when he
is under oath and confronted by court
officers.
Attempts have been made on many
occasions by various representatives of
the press to secure a photograph of Dr.
Koch, but without success. One of the
doctors relatives who was known to
have photograph of the accused man,
was vainly importmed for a large part
of yesterday to allow the newspapers
to have cut made from it.
The line of prosecution is pertty well
known. The defense will point to the
fact that Koch was at home at least
ten minutes before the crime was COM
mitted. They will emphasize his pre-
vious spotless reputation and non-of
fensive relations with his associates,
but their trump card will be the state
ment of Editor A. f. Brooks that he
does not recognize the prisoner as the
man seen by him through the transom.
1t is on the latter testimony that the
prosecution is preparing to train its
heavy guns. 1t will seek to rob Brooks
testimony of any value it may have in
clearing the accused by trying to prove
that he could not have secured very
good mental picture of the man, at least
not good enough to swear as to his
IDENTITY.
They will say the glass in the tran
som was not clear and that if it had
been Brooks did not take long enough
look to get clear picture of the face
and they will further say that the muir
derer's face was distorted and that the
expression was not the same as he
would wear ordinarily.
Many people hold to the view that
Brooks will not make very good wit
ness for the defense because he has told
so many conflicting stories.
One of the members of the citizens
committee has in his office collection
of prints in ink made by the fingers of