The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-03-11
GARDEN CITY ROBBERY
Thieves Supposed to Have Stolen a
Team at New Ulm.
Two Strangers Hung Around the Store
Monday Afternoon.

Sheriff Williams returned yesterday
afternoon from Garden City, where he
went to investigate the robbery of John
& Thurston's store. He states that the
amount of money taken was something
over $50, besides three checks, one for
$l.S5, one for about SIT, and one of I'M
known amount that came through the
mail.
The explosion completely wrecked
the safe, blowing the door nearly off. The
floor was shattered, and one wheel of the
safe went down into hole. The plaster
was knocked off the ceiling, but no
goods were damaged by the explosion
1t appears that nobody heard the ex-
plosion, and it is not definitely known
when it occurred. The story of two men
having slept in a box car was also found
by the sheriff to have been without foun-
dation.
Entrance to the building was gained
by prying open the front door with a
chisel. Near the safe was found two
pieces of soap that were used to deaden
the sound of drilling through the safe,
which was a large one. A pasteboard
box was also found, that had been used
as dark lantern. A little hole had been
made in one side and candle placed in
side of the box. The only light came
through the hole in the box, which was
turned on the point where the safe was
being drilled.
It was thought that team had been
stolen from iveryman at New
Uln Monday, and that the parties
who stole this team were the ones who
robbed the Garden City firm. During
Monday afternoon, a stranger drove up
to the store with team that answered
the description of the stolen team. The
horses were tagged, as though having
been driven long ways. The man asked
permission to write letter, and was al
lowed to use the desk, which is near the
safe. He was there some time, and
when he got done he offered to pay for
the use of the desk. Before this man
came to the store, another man, who had
formerly worked in the neighborhood,
came into the store, carrying satchel
and package wrapped up in cloth. He
hung about the store for some time, and
then departed. Neither of the men was
seen after leaving the store.
The man who drove up with the team
was a gentlemanly appearing fellow, tall,
well dressed, with heavy black mus
tache, cut off squarely above the mouth
The other man was dressed like labor
er. His whereabouts are known:
The sheriff of Brown county has been
out seeking the team, and has sent
messages around the country.
Sheriff julius of New Ulm was in the
city last evening, looking for the team
While at the city hall, a telephone mes
| sage was received from New Ulm, say
ing that the team had been returned by
the person who had hired it. Today
Sheriff Williams called up the New Ulm
liveryman, but was able to get no in
formation in regard to the person who
hired the team, the liveryman content
ing himself with saying that he was vel
acquainted with the persons who had the
team. He would not say where they hae
gone with the team.
Sheriff Williams has gone to New Uln
to probe the mystery further. 1t i:
strange that the liveryman should have
gotten out a warrant so soon if he was
we'll acquainted with the parties who hat
the team. From present appearances
it would seem that the party who hat
the team was not the party who ap
peared at Garden City, as was though
at first.