The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-11-03
RAFFLES' IN IOWA
Heightened Burglar Run to Earth
in HaWkeye State.
Prof. Gates Has Been Living
a JekyI-Hyde Life.
Was Caught in the Act of Blow.
ing a Safe.
Interesting Recital of fan Educa-
tor and a Churchman.

sioux city, Dct. 3D.-kaffleS, H0r-
nung's gentleman burglar. has pro-
totype in real life in the person of Prof.
Charles 4. Gates, educator, churchman
and thirty second degree Mason. who
was caught last week in the act of burg
larizing the safe in the office of the
treasurer of Benton county, at Vinton,
Iowa.
In many respects Gates record sur
passes that of Raffles, for he simulated
a sincere purpose to reform so success
fully that after having once been detect
ed in the theft, he was not only for
given, but an absolute pledge to secrecy
was exacted by him which protected
him III his future career of crime for an
entire decade and enabled him to con-
tinue Jekyl-Hyde existence without
once exciting suspicion in the communi
ty in which he moved.
1t was not until he essayed to blossom
forth in the role of finished safe-blow
er that Gates came to grief. He was
too proud to associate with other safe
blowers and didn't realize that safe
robbery cannot be conducted success
fully without at least two assistants.
The explosive used by him attracted
two night watchmen to the scene. mas
much as he was not afforded the protec
ton of an assistant who could warn him
of the approach of danger, he was dis
covered in the very act of robbing the
safe AS an amateur craftsman, he was
inferior to Raffles.
But safe blowing was not Gates only
forte. Within the past year his lodg-
ing apartments at Oh Lafayette street,
contain evidences that he had long been
engaged in the profession of robbery.
Two revolvers of late model, an elec
trio fashlight and quanptity of jew
elry, apparently stolen, were among his
effects.
Gates was one of the most brilliant
men in the class of "a at Iowa college,
Grinnell, the famous Congregational in
stitution of learning at Grinnell. Imme-
diately upon leaving the college he be-
came principal of schools at Marble Rock.
He quickly achieved fame as an edu'-
Gator, and was given more responsible
positions each year. At the annual meet
ings of the Iowa State Teachers asso-
citation Gates gradually developed promi-
nenee until he became an acknowledged
leader. He was eloquent, brilliant in de-
bate, good mixer, seemingly a thor
ough Christian, and especially popular
among lodge men because of his activ-
ity in Free Masonry.
The first exposure came in the early
nineties. At one of the state teachers
meetings, text books valued at $4,000
were stolen from the various book
ings 1t created sensation for day.
Some very shrewd detective work was
done and the books recovered. 1t was
found that Gates had placed them where
they were found. 1t was ineonceivable,
but Indignation was so great that 1T was
decided to formally prefer charges OF
guilt against him and conduct his trial
before a tribunal of teachers.
II. II. Seerley, president of the state
normal school, at Cedar Falls, was APP
pointed to defend Gates. Prof. a. H..
Owen of Keokuk, was designated as the
prosecutor, and Prof. j. j. Mcconnell,
now superintendent of schools at Cedar
Rapids was agreed upon as judge and
empowered with judicial functions, so
far as the State Teachers association
was concerned.
After a trial lasting all night in the
course of which bitterness and eloquence
were much in evidence, Gates broke
down under fire of rigid cross examina-
ton and confessed all. He swore that
| it was his first offense; that he had been
tempted when temporarily out of mind,
because of over indulgence in morphine,
and that he would take a solemn aoth
before his Maker never to again take
what did not belong to him.
The teachers agreed to give him the
chance to reform, and pledged them
selves never to mention the. occurrence.
The fact never became known that such
trial ever took place, until after his
arrest at Vinton.
1t is the theory of the prosecution
that Gates has been committing thefts
of various kinds for the past ten years,
while masquerading under the cloak of
piety. 1t seems to have been mania
with him. Indeed, he himself attributes
his career of crime to the use of NOR
phine habit, to which he says he is
4. addict cd