The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-11-11
'DETECs' IN THE AIR
Have Failed to Solve the New
UIm Mystery.
Pipe Yarn About a Dope"
Fiend Sent Out.
This Fellow Was as Harmless
as a Little Kitten.
Who Owned the Hammer Is the
Question Asked.
Especial to The Free Press.l

Especial to The Free Press]
New Ulm, Nov. Sit seems rather
strange that after a weeks investigation
it should just come to light that the
hammer used to fracture the skull OF
DIR. L. A. Gerhard, and which had much
to do with causing his death, was not
the property of the dentist. 1t has been
said, and the statement was made by
parties who were well acquainted with
the dentist that the hammer was his,
and that he made the handle himself.
1t is said that after he had made the
handle he called the attention of DIR.
Reineke to the fine piece of work and
they both laughed over the incident. Now
it is claimed that the hammer belonged
If it is fact that the authorities have
just gotten on to this piece of evidence
they certainly have been slow, or else
somebody has been mistaken in the
identity of the hammer. If it is proven
beyond doubt that the hammer was
not the property of Gerhard, there is
basis for the belief that the murder of
the dentist was premeditated.
But few, if any people here, take
any stock in the story that cocaine
fiend committed the horrible crime 1t
is fact that fellow claiming to be
dentist was in this city about week
before the crime was committed. He
remained here about two days and then
disappeared No one saw the man
standing in front of the building, where
in Gebhard's office was located. on the
night of the crime, or at OILS, as was
reported in one of the Twin City newspa
pers. The socalled dope fend was not
seen by anyone for several days prior
to the murder This slope" fend call
ed on DR.. Koch, gave the latter his
name and remained in his office for
some time. DR.. Koch relates this story:
about four days before the murder,
man came into my Office" said DR..
Koch, "and said he was a dentist in
hard luck. He said he was a graduate
F., from the Chicago Dental college, and
told me his name, but don't remember
it. He went into my workroom and sat
down on a couch, where he STAYED for
nearly three hours while l treated sever
al patients. He then left, but heard he
was about town later.
"While this man was sitting on my
couch my coat hung on rack directly
above him. There were two handker-
chiefs in my coat pocket, and the man
might easily have extracted one of them,
although 1 do not know whether he did
or not.
''Of course, l do not know whether
this man had anything to do with the
murder, but if he did that might ex-
plain how my handkerchief came to be
in the dental office"
DIR. o. c. Stricken bears out DR.. Koch
in saying that such person was in New
Ulm on Saturday before the murder The
man called on DIR. Stricken and asked
for cocaine. He also visited a Minneso-
to street saloon and asked for a drink,
explaining that he was "broken down.
dentist
The theorists argue that the man, see-
ing light in DR.. Gebhard's office, went
there for some cocaine. Being refused,
he became angry and struck the dentist
with hammer. Seeing what he had
done, he sprang upon the helpless man
and mutilated his body with hammer
and knife. When the handle of the ham,
mer became covered with blood, he drew
out the handkerchief secured in DR..
Koch's office, wiped the handle and
dropped the kerchief, little thinking that
the crime might thus be charged to an
innocent man.
However, those who saw the stranger
declare that he was as harmless as a
kitten.
Another clue to the slayer of DR.. Geb-
hard was unearthed yesterday, and
caused well-known business man the
painful necessity of entertaining two de-
tectiyes, who questioned him closely as
to his whereabouts on that terrible
night. What the officers learned is un-
known.
The clue was given by prominent So
ciety woman, who said that the business
mans wife had confessed to her that if
she were to marry again, DR.. Gerhard