The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-09-29
Claims He Acted Promptly
When Told of Murder.
Had No Wrongful Communlca-
lion With Defendant.
Announces He Is Gut of Politics
in His BaiIiWick.

New Tim, Mimi, Sept. 27.-This
weeks issue of The New Ulm Review
will contain long statement from the
pen of County Attorney Hoidale, giving
in detail his part in the prosecution OF
the murderer of Dr.. l.. A. Gerhard, and
answering some of the criticisms that
have been heaped upon him by clti-
zens of this county and some of the pa
pers of the state, in which it was charg-
ed that he was negligent of his duty
and played into the hands of the de-
Tense.
In the beginning he says that 'the
fair and good name of this community
has been doubly besmirched and stained
by scattering broadcast charges to the
effect that the writer, the board OF
county commissioners and to some eX-
tent the sheriff and the coroner, were
engaged in plot or conspiracy, or were
lnuINluudIlN IloNeu ny 9oiio 'oii'ioii "N
sign to conceal facts going to prove
who was guilty of the homicide"
Further explaining the reasons why it
is necessary for him to make state
ment, he continues:
ION the night of the homicide l re-
tired at GAS and was called about an
hour later The coroner and the po-
lice officers were then in charge of Geb-
hard's office. Hurried inquiries of the
officers and an interview with the eye
witness quickly led me to believe that
we were confronted with a mystery
which required quick action, as we'll as
more skill and experience i'll work OF
that kind than any of our local men
could furnish Inside of half an hour
after l arose l called up the police
headquarters at st. Paul and informed
the man in charge of the facts and
asked him if he would see to it that a
detective, skilled in criminal investiga
tons came out on the very first train
| urged the importance of this strongly
and he promised to do what he could.
by the time l had finished telephon
ing, the body as well as most of the
exhibits had been removed. Early in the
morning, and before the time for the
train to have left st. Paul, | agair
telephoned to the st. Paul police head
quarters to inquire if detective had
been sent ! was notified that the night
man had said nothing of it. | then
Immediately telephoned to the Pinker.
ton agency and they sent Mr.. Rydell.'
Mr. Hoidale then tells how he ex.
hausted all of the means at his com
mand to get detectives and bloodhounds
trying some different addresses, and in
all cases being informed that it was i'm
possible for any of them to come at
that time. The charge that he was
furnishing relatives of the defense with
information impaired to him by the
Pinkerton men he answers in this way:
81 say without qualification that nc
person saw those reports while they
were in my possession, except the spe
cial committee appointed by the county
commissioners to cooperate with me il
the matter pertaining to the detection
of the murderer. Nor were the con
tents of these reports discussed or dis
cussed by me with anyone except tn,
detectives and the officers. And here
want to say that never once did any
relative or friend of DR.. Koch ask me
to disclose any of those contents, O.
ask me for permission to see them
professional honor and understand wha
sense of professional duty is will hav'
no difficulty in believing this, but i
may not be easy for those who accuse
me of violating my official oath, TO
such as they do not realize that Their,
are men upon level higher than tina
upon which they move.
"My action in writing this is no
prompted by any desire to make polit
ical capital out of the situation; nor il
it written in the hope that it will re
suit in financial gain or business ad
vantage do not expect eves again t.
be a candidate for any office in tn,
gift of the people of this county. Thi
is determination not born of recen
developments.
''In all my actions connected with thi
sad and disagreeable affair | have ha,
but one guiding star-one light to poin
out the path of duty-and that has BEEF
Do