The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-01-20

1
Gebhard, was the principal witness in
the trial in Judge Webber's court today.
As soon as his name was called by At
torney Somerville, Koch quickly arose
from his chair and took the oath and
seated himself on the witness stand.
i He appeared at ease and during the
examination for the defense, he made a
very good witness. He was on the stand
little over two hours this morning. He
gave in detail his movements on the
night of the murder and his statement
today, did not differ materially from
that which he made in his abb on the
Sunday following the murder. He de-
MED absolutely that he had ever had
any contention with DR.. Gerhard. De-
MED that he had ever spoken i'll of him;
denied that there was any ill feeling so
for as he knew, between DIR. Gerhard and
himself. He was asked in regard to the
statement made by Elmer Hoidale, to
the effect that he had referred to Geb-
hard in slurring manner, OF had called
! him bad name. The converse ton
which took place between Hoidale and
Koch, was on Friday morning following
the murder. Then Koch stated that the
erence to Attorney Pfaender and it was
brought out that Pfaender and Koch had
always been friends. Were schoolmates
together, and that as soon as Koch
found out that Pfaender was taking
sides with those who thought him guilty
of the murder of Gebhard, he felt that
it was breach of friendship. DR.. Koch
stated that while in the practice of den
tistry he opened an office at Lafayette,
few miles from New Ulm, and also one
at Hanska. His reasons for so doing
was to get acquainted with the farmers
living in that section and that he had
no intention of keeping these offices
open permanently. At the time that he
closed his office at Hanska, DR.. Wood,
with whom he had office rooms, was pre-
pairing to move his office to his residence
on side street, but that Koch did not
care to move his office to side street,
so concluded to close it up entirely and
move his chair back to New Ulm. The
witness gave a detailed statement of
his movements on the days following the
murder of Gerhard. He stated that
on the night of the murder he wore his
cravenette overcoat, brown derby hat
and pepper and salt coat, and vest and
striped pants. He said that on the day
of the murder, he wore the same suit.
The next day he changed his clothes,
wearing a brown checked suit and his
was the suit he wore to attend the flu
neral of DIR. Gerhard, on which occasion
he sang with several other gentlemen.
This choir was made up of William AL
win, A. j. Vogel, Attorney Somsen and
George Koch. He stated that after the
funeral, he came down street and step
ped into Alwin's drug store and was in
formed by some one there that Somsen
wanted to see him Immediately. This
was Thursday afternoon. He went up
into Somsen's office and was then in
formed of the fact that his handker-
chief had been found in Gebhard's office.
He said that he did not think much of
the matter at the time, he did not con-
slider the situation in which this placed
him; but afterward when he found that
many of his friends were talking of the
matter, he felt very bad. Koch made
a strenuous denial of sending bottle
containing poison or any other substance
to DR.. Gerhard. He was shown bottle
which was found in Gebhards office and
Sample" on that bottle, replied, that he
did not. He denied that there was at
any time a hammer answering the de-
scription of the one found in Gebhards
office. He denied that there ever was
such a hammer on his fathers premises.
He defined that he had ever had any
conversation with the man Ulen, who
testified for the state, that he had con-
versed with Koch at Koch's office in
Hanska and during which conversation,
Koch was alleged to have made the
statement indicating that some one was
going to kill Gerhard, and also intimat-
ing that he would like to have Glen do
the job. Koch swore that he did not
remember of ever seeing any such man
as Ulen and denied that he knew any
such person. Koch testified that on the
night of Nov. lst, on his way home
he saw a rabbit and went into the house,
came out again, went to an old building
and looked for a gun and some car
tridges for the purpose of shooting the
rabbit. He claimed that it was light
enough for him to see RABBIT, that the