The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-01
WEAVING A net
In GERHARD CASE
Citizens Committee Not Ready to
Make an Arrest as Yet #
Popham Returning.
9 - ..- ia
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
New Ulm, Minn.y Dec. 1.-Citizens
sof New Ulm are almost hourly expect
ing important developments in the Geb-
lcitizens' committee pushing the inves-
litigation along what are original lines
i'm this state, but George M. Popham,i
sthe Chicago attorney employed by the
sGebhard family, will return to New
aUlm on Friday or Saturday and give
ibis personal attention to the case. Her.
man Gerhard, one of the brothers, az
rived from Black River Falls, Wis, last
might and will be here to meet his at
storney. a
The citizens committee will cooper
tate with and consult Mr.. Popham, but
lit has not employed him, and just at
present it's only legal adviser is Albert
smittee. The committeeman realize that
later on they will need several lawyers,
but say they will not go outside the
state for help. They are hampered for
funds and the ACCESSIBILITY of appeal
ing to the county and state for >appro-
fpriations is under consideration.
More Witnesses Examined.
More evidence was taken today be-
fore Justice Henningsen. The method
iof procedure in this case is unique in
this state, never having been adopted
before, it is said, but is strictly in ac-
cordance with the penal code. SINH
lar action has been taken In Wisconsin
and Michigan and the presidents are
held to be ample.
The committee designs to establish
the guilt or innocence of Dr.. Koch in
this preliminary inquiry. Subpoenas
are issued as in other hearings. and if
a warrant will be issued to compel his
attendance. No arrest will be made
today.
The committee says it has no intent
to prosecute DR.. Koch. 1t realizes that
he is innocent in the eyes of the law
until proven guilty, and aims to give
him the benefit G Of eysry ID DOUBT not A Is
the public that the committee has gath
cred evidence which it believes SHOULD
be weighed by court duly constituted
Heard Cries and Appeals. -'
Among the witnesses before the jus
itice today was one who heard the cries
and appeals, of man, presum
ably DR.. Gerhard, at the time Of
the murder. Whether or not evidence
Z lis developed that is of first Importance
the committee has discovered some in
teresting, not to say extraordinary
things, which have more or less bear
ing. on this strange case. =.
B. L uOudS SololudI, but
Isleuth who had large part in ferret
ing out the Wellner murder and was in
strumental in sending two to the peni
stentiary for life, has come to New Uln
and expects to "get busy' at once
He says he resolved at the outset t.
give officials and detectives a mont
in which to solve the mystery, and
failing, to enter the case himself. H
is confident, APPARENTLY, that he can &C
scomplish what has so long puzzled
others.
Powder Contained Poison.
The powder sent to DR.. Gerhard i,
IA bottle thru the mails several day
before his murder has been analyze,
by chemists of the state university VIII,
report that it was a poisonous com
pound. This, Of course, substantiate
the theory that DR.. Gebhard s life wa
sought by some unknown enemy an,
that when ne escaped a poison potion
"a personal interview and encounter wer
fresorted to.
Tt is said that DR.. Koch was asked t.
appear before the committee, but re
fused to do so. This has provoke,
some criticism,