The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-07-15
Two Men Arrested This Forenoon For
Attempted Holdup.
They Had Attacked George Painter, a
Red Jacket Farmer.
Appearances Indicated That They
Were After His Watch.
Young Fellows Under Arrest Are James
GilIen and George White
From Mondays Daily.

What looks like an attempt at hold
up occurred on Front street at few
moments before ten o'clock this fore
noon. AS George Painter, well. known
Red Jacket farmer, was walking north
on the east side of the street, after leav-
ing the National Citizens bank, he was
accosted nearly in front of Schroeder &
Murphy's hardware store by young
man who turned out to be James Gil
len, formerly of Mankato. Gillen ask
ed him what time it was, and Painter re-
piled that he did not know. At that, Gill
len seized hold of his arm and jerked
him two or three times and asked him
whether he did not have a watch. To
this, Painter replied that he did not.
Gillen's companion, who subsequently
gave the name of George White, APP
preached Painter at this point and called
him a scurrulous name. The two then
walked away and Painter went across
the street and reported the matter to
the police. Accompanied by Officer
Bienapf, he went on a search for the
two men, whom they soon found in
Frank Lorentz' saloon. Painter identified
them positively, and the officer got them
out on the street without trouble. Then
Gillen refused to go to the station and
struck at the officer, and in warding of
the blow Mr.. Bienapf was obliged to let
60 of White, who Immediately took to
his heels. The officer held to GiIlen and
took him to the city hail. TIE young
fellow fought all the way to the hall,
and it required four men to get him
into a cell.
Then Officer Bienapf started out to
find White. and ten minutes later To-
Gated him in the Corner Cafe. White
also resisted arrest, but was subdued and
placed behind the bars. Both he and
Gillen had been drinking but did not
appear to be drunk. Just what their
intentions were in regard to Painter is
uncertain. That they intended to rob
him seems to be the general impression,
and that may have been the case.
Gillen got into trouble several times
while a resident of Mankato and the
last time was told to remain away from
the city on threat of prosecution for
some offense. The officers did not know
that he had returned until this morning,
and it is likely that he and White had
not been in the city long.
The two men will probably not be ar
raigned before tomorrow afternoon, as
this will give them chance to sober off
and the officers chance to investigate
the case further. White is unknown to
the officers.
Gillen and White were arraigned this
afternoon on warrant charging them
with assault in the second degree, with
the intent to steal Painters watch AMI
other valuables. Their examination was
set for July 18th at p. M, and they
were committed to the county Jail in de-
fault of $500 bail. They, are also eharg-
ed in another warrant with the use of
abusive language, but this warrant was
not served.
Gillen told Isaac FELTON, early this
morning that he had just arrived from
Seattle, Wash, and introduced his COM
panion to him as "Mr. Donahue." He
asked Mr.. FELTON, to be at the bank at
about a quarter to ten o'clock as Dona-
hue had check for 500 which he want
ed to get cashed, and he wanted to be
identified, so Mr.. FELTON, presumes. Gill
len said that he wanted to have long
talk with FELTON,, as this might be his
last visit to Mankato