Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-02
New Ulm, Mimi, Dentist Unani.
mously Acquitted of Murder
ing Dir. Louis A. Gebhardt
HISTORY OF ArRoclous CRIME
On November I, 1904, Dr.. Gebhardt,
Another Young Dentist, Also of
New UIm, Was Found Murdered In
Such Brutal Manner That Even
Intimate Friends Did Not Know Him.

Mankato, Mimi, Aug. 2.--After de-
liberating three hours, the jury in the
case Of DIR. Koch, charged with the
murder of DIR. Louis A. Gebhardt, at
New Ulm. voted unanimously on the
first ballot to acquit the defendant.
The court room was crowded with
expectant persons. many Of whom
We're personally acquainted with the
defendant or the murdered man, and
some with both. When the verdict
was read, the friends Of DR.. Koch
greeted IL with deafening applause.
Miss Ida Koch with a bound reached
her brothers side and threw her arms
around his neck and cried with joy.
THE other members of his family
quickly gathered around and the scene
was q pathetic one as we'll as a joy
Gus one.
DIR. Koch individually thanked and
shook hands with the jurymen as soon
as they were discharged.
Koch is feeling elated at his exoner-
alton. 1t is said that he may not prac-
tice dentistry at New Ulm again, the
associations being such for the last
year that he is anxious to forget them
History of Crime.
On the night Of Nov. l, 1904, there
occurred murder in the little city Of
New Ulm, the atrocity Of which start
led the inhabitants OF the entire state.
DIR. Louis A. Gebhardt, young dentist,
single, and 30 years of age, was found
murdered in his office. with his skull
fractured by two hammer blows near
the base OF. the brain, his carotid ar
terry and jugular vein severed, and
numerous knife slashes across his face.
So disfigured and bloodstained was his
face that even his most intimate
friends failed for some moments to
recognize him, until papers in his pock-
cts established his identity. There
were signs of desperate struggle, In
the overturned furniture and the
blood stains on the walls and almost
every article in the room. 1T was
apparent that the murderer had made
his escape thru the window of an adj
joining office, breaking the screen and
clinging to the telephone wires and
dropping from them to the alley be-
low.
Efforts were at once made to capture
the murderer, and the leading citizens,
headed by Mayor Silverson, formed
committee to assist the authorities in
gathering evidence. devoting their time
and money to the public spirited pur-
nose. Evidence began to accumulate.
A handkerchief and an old hammer,
with broken claw, Clipped face and
IL 40 ,on found living
few feet from the murdered man. The
handkerchief had been used to wipe
the blood from the handle of the ham,
mer. An advertising pencil was found
lying in a CONCEALED pool of blood.
Cause Of koch's Grief.
The initials on the handkerchief were
deciphered and they We're found to be
&C. r. X" There was but one person
in New Ulm who bore those initials
and that was DIR. George r. Koch, an
other young dentist, unmarried, and "a
years of age. Suspicion began to point
to him, but he was of wealthy and
influential family, and such person
could not safely be charged with the
crime until considerable evidence had
been secured. DR.. Koch's brother-in-
law was the law partner of the
county attorney and that seemed to
act as handicap. The citizens COM
mite procured the services of a CHI
cago lawyer and proceeding was
started in the justice court against
nameless person and evidence was TAX
en-. which was later placed in the hands
of the grand jury and an indictment
returned Six weeks after the murder
DR. Koch was taken into custody.
Dr.. koch's Actions.
The actions of DR.. Koch were in
large measure those Of an innocent
man, but one set of circumstances
counted largely against him. 1t was
thought that the murderer must have
injured his hands in making his es-
cape and about the time that DR.. Koch
was suspected he claimed to have
accidentally burned his hands with
carbolic acid. A day or two later he
claimed to have accidentally burned
them again with alcohol, which he had
placed on the other burns. The result