The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-11-11
STORY TOLD bYk0CH
Continued From Page One.l

1t might be explained right here that
the hammer in question was the proper
ty of DR.. Gerhard, and was common
claw hammer such as carpenters use
The handle was one the doctor made
himself. This hammer was picked uI
after the murder by +. H. Behneke, the
man who broke open the door leading .tc
DIR. Gebhard's office and was the second
one to enter the room where the murder
was committed Policeman Weisenborr
was the first person to enter the death
chamber. Neither Brooks nor Cavanaugf
was present when the door was broken
open. Mr.. Behneke made him way uI
the stairs to the scene of the tragedy
while a crowd of at least fifteen men
stood on the sidewalk below, apparently
afraid to go up the stairs. Had they ex-
i hibited a little more bravery the murder
er would undoubtedly have been captur-
ed.
On Saturday Sheriff Julius and Chief
of Police Klause searched the Koch home
and it is reported that they found hand
kerchiefs similar to the one which was
picked up in DR.. Gebhard's office on the
night of the murder They bear the same
vi IN. II Anb Go loco 70 ,lpry
how the handkerchief bearing his I'M
tails got into DR.. Gebhard's office. Not.
withstanding appearances are against
Dr. Koch, the people of New Ulm will
not believe him guilty of such das-
tardly crime. In fact they refuse to be-
lieve that he would be guilty of any
crime.
One of the detectives is alleged to have
made the remark that there will be
some developments after election. What
did he mean by this? To some people
the remark sounds significant. Can it be
that certain officials are holding back
until after the votes are counted fol
fear that any move they might make
now would affect a certain element wher
it goes to the polls on the morrow
Generally speaking New Ulm folks are
10th to believe that any official charg-
ed with the duty of experimenting Grim.
inals would prostitute his office to the
extent that is insinuated by some.
The scandal monger is busy. The
name of the dead dentist is being banded
about in frightful manner by people
who make the ascertain that he was not
all that he appeared on the surface. II
is said that the name of young lady
has become linked with his and that his
unfaithfulness to her caused the trag-
edy. But this distressing story is not
believed by those who knew the dentist
best. He was a noble young man, they
say, incapable of base act. He was
pure in thought and deed.
Statement From DR.. Koch.
Several newspaper men called at the
Koch residence yesterday morning and
Dr. Koch gave out the following state
ment of his movements on the night
of the murder of Gerhard. This is the
first authorized statement that has been
made by him for publication:
81 left home about Gas. | got to my
office about seven o'clock and there
met DR.. j. H. Vogle and got a box with
bottle of perfume, which DR.. Vogle had
gotten for me in the afternoon. | took
it to a lady friend. | arrived at heI
house about 7:l5 or 1920. ] was there
until $40 o'clock. / had professional
appointment with Charles Stuebe Jr.
at eight o'clock. l got back to my office
about Sis and turned on the electric
light and found that Stuebe had been
there and had left l 'phoned to Stuebe
and he said that he would come the next
day i went into Hoidale & Somsen's
office and met Asa Brooks, August Vo-
gle, Henry Somsen, Ginar HoidaIe, Rich
ard Higgs and DR.. Vtgle. They were
playing cards. The game was fve-hun-
bred. | stayed there until about $50
While there | sang popular songs with
some of the men who were not playing
cards. William Reed, Charles Schran
were singing in an adjoining office. From
the office of Hoidale & Somsen | started
for home. At the corner of Minnesota
and First North streets, half block
away from the Office, | met Miss Crone
and Miss Lauman. Talked with them
for few moments and then | walked
from First North street to Center street
and then l walked up Center street as
far as Reinharts' barn, about seventy
five feet off Minnesota street, then /
remembered that | had not turned off
the light in my office and l started Dac
to the office and in front of Alwins drug