The Minneapolis journal., 1904-11-21
STATE NOT READY
TO MAKE ARREST.
Would Weave Net Closer Before
Taking Extreme Measures in
Gebhard Case.
DR.. Koch Apparently in Good
Spirits New Bloodstains Are
Found; Alibi Attacked.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
! New Ulm, Minn.,. Nov. 2l:-If DR..
George R. Koch is innocent of all con-
nection with the murder. of DR.. T.. A.
Gebhard, he faces train Of unfortu-
nate circumstances, the like Of which
has brought about the conviction Of
many men. AS the symptoms Of some
dread disease one by one show the pres
ence in the system Of its victim, so
have the circumstances connecting the
oped one after another.
The eliminating stage has long been
passed in solving the mystery surround
ing Gebhard g murder, and the detec-
tives have at last abandoned all theories
save the one that holds DR.. Koch as the
theory they have followed closely, not
leaving uninvestigated even the slight
est circumstance that might tend either
to prove or disprove his guilt. Claim
ing to have strong circumstantial evil
dence Of his guilt, the detectives are
still waiting for something further to
develop. Just what this is, has not
been made public, but many in New
Ulm think it is the hope that Asa P.
Brooks, editor of the New Ulm Review
will consent to identify Koch as the
man whom he. saw leaning over the
murdered dentist.
Brooks Is Not Positive.
Seen by T Journal, Mr.. Brooks
said: The only thing can testify to
is that I did not recognize the man as
Koch: He answers somewhat to Koch g
description, but personally I do not
think it was he. However, could not
swear positively that it was not"
Mayor Charles Silverson is chairman
has undertaken an investigation indie
pendent Of that carried on thru the
county attorneys office. This commit
tee has temporarily retained George M
Popham, the Chicago attorney, who
came to New Ulm at the request of the
vising the committee and the work il
kept secret.
Popham Not Ready.
| AT the. mass meeting Saturday night
Mr.. Popham gave his opinion Of tn,
case, and it is. thought that his view i
the one taken by the citizens commit
tee. Mr.. Popham said that while th
4 detectives had strong cireAmstantia
{ man suspected, yet IN view Of al III
possibilities, he did not think 1t advis
i able to start criminal proceedings q
once. - - $ ssss
/ The man under suspicion will no
leave the city,, said Mr.. Pophan
"and there is always in circumstantia
s szSSncs xo ths BE- dalH. # f b mjsas
A wait Of few days will do no har1
and in the meantime more evidenc
may be secured against the suspect. A
least, the case against him will not sui
fer by a ten day delay.'
From this it is believed that if tn
the case directly before the grand jury
which meets Dec. 13. In this way th
l state g case may be strengthened, an
:. it would not be compelled to divulg
its evidence, as it would in a preIim
8 nary hearing. The evidence can b
!, considered by the grand jury, and !
4 an Indictment Is returned, he can the
be arrested.
Koch Not Especially Worried.
DR.. Koch was seen by the Journ,
representative and appeared in goo
+ spirits: Asked about his own case, b
u replied that he knew nothing MOI
T than that he is under suspicion. He a
d serted he did not know what evidene
q the officers have against him. He got
about his regular business every da
and does not seem greatly worried. III
hand, which was accidentally iniure
shortly after the murder, has healed.
4 More Blood Stains.
Al The evidence that stands against D
IKoch, while it is purely circumstanti
4 and may be the result Of peculiar G.
incidences, is particularly strong. Ad
ed to the fact that his handkerchi,
= and lead pencil, similar to one he
: known to have had, were found in Il
murdered man g office, in the fact tn,
blood stains were found on the door
the creamery. at the foot Of the hi
near the Koch residence. These stail
were plainly the imprint Of a BLOOD
hand and have been preserved. II
door, which is never locked, leads
10 the engineroom, where hot and co
) water can be obtained at any hour
le the day.
e Mr.. Moos, the manager, thought not
ing Of the blood stains, as his boys hi
ID been in the habit of skinning rabbi
1T in the yard and carrying the offaI
IF the engineroom to throw it into t.
8, furnace. The. boys say that tn
skinned no rabbits the night Of t
IS murder and that for several days pl
~ viously had been skinning them in t
Sc engineroom.. Besides, the blood stai
Of were higher on the door than a b
would naturally reach.
,s. However, all contention over t
al blood stains will be settled as soon
a chemist determines whether the bio
is human. q,
Alibi Attacked.
Koch Is alibi, the detectives confer
~ presents three vulnerable points.
Il reported in The Journal of M