The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-05
NEW ULM MEN
SPUR OFFICIALS
Second Mass Meeting May Be
Held in Movement to Fathom
Gerhard Murder.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
New Ulm, Mimi, Nov. 5.-The ex-
element over the fendish murder of
DR.. l.. A. Gerhard is so great and gen
eral that there is talk of holding an
other mass meeting to spur the officials
to further efforts and if possible, to
introduce new material in the ma
chinery of the law used to ferret out the
crime
This meeting has not been called, and
may yet be doomed inexpedient, but a
dissatisfied element favors it and there
is talk today that it may be held on
Monday evening.
The mass meeting held last night
was instigated by. citizens who felt
that the prosecution ought to be
strengthened by the offering of addi-
tional rewards for information leading
to. the apprehension of the murderer.
"A citizens committee was instru-
mental in securing the state reward of
5000, and it was felt that some etfec
tive work could yet be done along this
and other lines. County Attorney
Hoidale, it is said, was not consulted
by this so-called citizens committee,
and naturally did not warm up to the
movement to g i've it public Endorsement
and sanction.
1T was thought in some quarters that
he would withdraw from the case, but
the promoters of the meeting disclaim
having this object in view.
County Attorney Sustained.
Last night s meeting was called to
order by Philip Lesch, who suggested
that, it would be best to place the work
of ferreting out the criminal in the
hands of acommittee of citizens and also
to leave in it's charge the prosecuting of
the case when arrests were made. Judge
b. f. Weber was chosen chairman and
called upon County Attorney Einar
Hoidale to explain his position.
~ Mr.. Hoidale, in a speech which
burned with feeling, explained in de-
tail every action he had taken 50 far,
and contended that his acts had been
those of a Jealous official. The sentiment
against him arose, he said, because he
had refused to disclose every new clue
and latest development.
bt When he had finished his remarks the
audience, comprising about 1000 per
sons, rejected the proposal Of citizens
committee and indorsed the work and
attitude of the county official
Excitement Continues.
The excitement in New Ulm and
vicinity is still at full tide. Everybody
is discussing the affair, and countless
theories and explanations are advanced
The widest rumors are in circulation
The affair IS so mysterious and obscure
in all salient aspects save the one that
that the popular mind is almost over
whelmed in confusion and amazement
81, New Ulm is being flooded with Gle
tectives, four or five more arriving to-
day. Others who have no special claims
for sleuthing are here, generally will
clear up the mystery if the officials
IS will act upon it.
County Attorney Hoidale is hard al
work upon the case, but will not tall
Of his plans or say whether any impor
tant evidence has been found.
=, George Gerhard, a brother Of thu
. Black River Falls, Wis, tonight anl
pRessure will be brought to bear upo1
him TO engage additional legal help TO
the prosecution.
1.-The story told by Mr.. and Mrs. N
B, Neumann of having seen a man g
E up DR.. Gebhard' IS stairway shortly be
fore the time Of the murder, while
confederate crossed the street, is no
receiving much attention from the de
tectives and the police. They believ'
Mr.. Neumann and his wife mistook {
stairway a few doors uptown for tina
of DR.. Gerhard s rooms.
Murder Probably Not Planned.
+ ,ss$ Whoever did the deed, it seems pos
five that he did not enter the denta
offices that night with murder in hi
FFheart. He had with him no weapon
except a pocketknife such as the ordi
4 SO murder, it seems hardly probabl
that he would have depended upo1
picking up his weapon after he reache
fithe office Of his victim.
E{1 He locked the door presumably whe1
he went in, but this may have mean
some score with the dentist and resor
ITO the use of fists if necessary
MI Words, it is presumed led to blows
aand then came the blow from the fata
s7hammer.
s7f Outsider May Have Done It.
# With his victim PROSTATE at his fee
gand frenzied with the sight of blood, j
lis presumed the murderer then resolve
ito finish his crime and prevent an
statement that would disclose his ide1
isstity.
III Suspicion points to no one, and opir
sion is evenly divided as to whether tn
criminal is New Ulm man or an ou
slider, who travelled to. this city from
distant point to satisfy an ancier
y@ If the latter theory is correct, it mus
shave been an enmity about which non
sMof the murdered man s New I'll
friends or Wisconsin relatives knew
sNIdis brother, Robert Gerhard of Blac
HstRiver Falls, says his brothers. rel
+
|Were cordial, and that, as far as l
E5knew, he had not personal or bus
i5ness enemy in the world.
aS Baxter's Startling Theory.
&t William Baxter of the Baxter Dete
ative agency of Minneapolis, says he b
Slieves that the person who murdere
aGebhard was woman dressed in man
F 8clothes. ~'-
III He asserts that he has clues ar
scraps of evidence supporting this tn
Cory, and contends that the accomplis
sEment of the crime in all its hideo,
#features was not beyond the strengt
gksof a woman, who may have had a De
#sonal grievance, real or fancied
u Asa P. Brooks, who saw the murde
Ger, has said from the start that he a
Speared to be rather slight in form az
Xof a pale and refined complexion. TT
features of the face were too large ar
coarse, he believes, however, for
woman g.
The Kidneys
a