The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-28
DIR. KOCH GIVEN
LIBERTY ON BAIL
His Retrial for the Murder Of
Gebhard Will Be Held at
G Maakato. 2.

Special to The Journal.
New Ulm, Mimi, Jan. 2s:-As told
in slate editions OF u n a
Yesterday afternoon, Dr.. George R.
4 Koch was admitted to bail, and at
O'Clock last evening passed thru the
for oe't the % time 1ne being: The dentist was
admitted to bail of $4,000 by. Judge
+ Webber, who also granted the request
of the defendant s counsel that the
new trial Of the case be held In Blue
Earth county.
L., L. Brown of counsel for the de.
PENDANT, presented an affidavit signed
byI Drs. Fritsche, .Schoch and Weiser,
that the defendant was suffering phys,
icaI Injury from his confinement in Jail
and that he was emaciated and had
lost much of his bodily strength.
The attorney called attention to the
disagreement of the jury and asserted
that in other states 1t had oeen the Gus
tom to grant bail under similar condi-
Childs' Strong Statement.
General Childs, for the state, object
s ed to the granting of bail. tie SAID
that the criminal intent was especially
strong in this case; that there was a
correlation of remarkable series OF
circumstances, all consistent with the
. theory of DR.. G. R. Koch's guilt, and
it was incredible that the proven facts
could exist with respect to any other
person than the defendant.
General Childs continued, in part:
emo hypothesis has been suggested,
and no hypothesis, tolerable to a "a
tional mind, could sbe suggested, on
(which it might be asserted with any
Edegree of force, that the murder was
committed by any other person than
Dr.. Koch. Of no one else might it be
Ia hot "a 1acaaanG. IT,
Ftempted to kill him; he had handker-
chief marked G. R. K; he had Vogel
lead pencil; he had hammer like the
one introduced in evidence; he passed
the window Immediately preceding the
Ehearing Of the footsteps; he had 'the
injuries on his hands; he had the tech
tnical skill which guided accurately to
tthe vital vessels; he looked like the
man seen in the act Of committing the
murder.
: ssHere is an array Of circumstances
rarely equaled in number and incrimi-
mating force, and all consistent with
the theory Of DR.. Koch's guilt. Add to
these facts that no hammer was pro-
, duced by the defendant; that, the over
stcoat was alleged to have been stolen
the overcoat, too, which, by the great
weight of evidence, was shown to have
Fbeen worn by the defendant just before
the murder-and the alleged removal Of
4 the blue box from the defendant g cup
board few days subsequent to the
improbable by its nature, because. it
precluded the possibility Of the finding
of it being authenticated by any dis
interested party'
II Judge Webber said he had looked up
Numerous authorities; that most cases
Hhis case, but, in view Of the fact that
N DR.. Koch did not attempt to escape
q after the murder, he felt perfectly safe
The bondsmen who provided the $780,
q 900 necessary to iberate the defend
4 ant are E. G. Koch, his father; William
Charles stuebs, j: Klossner, Jr, and
d Charles Wagner. 5ro&' &. =.
i >a Defense Wins Point. ."' r..
The state insisted that the change
of venue be to Redwood county, but
Judge Webber refused to grant the
motion for the reason that the county
is in his district.
The states attorneys then pleaded
that. the new trial be held in Walton
wan county. The defense had insisted
upon Blue Earth. Judge Lorin Cray
vas then appealed to, for both the lat
answered that he preferred Blue Earth,
and Judge Webber then set Mankato
as the place.
The next regular term in Blue Earth
county begins Feb. 7, but other bust
ness will probably be taken up first, so
that the Koch case may not come up
0Ati1 March. .s r.: :,
Koch Family Reunion. s.s:
in the Koch household last night. The
. aged father and loving sisters Of the
. defendant welcomed him in an affect
|. ing manner when he returned home
Scores Of his neighbors and friends
called upon him.
DR.. Koch was in his office today and
says he will work there until his next
trial. He is pleased that Mankate
was selected, as he has relatives ano
friends there with whom he can stay.
To Attack Gebhard's Character.
Senator Somerville says that the de
Tense will improve the interim at its
disposal in gathering evidence that: Dr.
Gebhard was not what he seemed and
in establishing a motive for his taking
81 off that can by no stretch Of the imagi
nation be connected with DR.. Koch, the
defendant. The attorney says it vii
be shown st Mankato that Gerhard hae
Bitter enemies here Of DIR. Koch are
advising citizens to arm themselves il
view of the fact that he is no Longer
ISL behind the bars. While Koch made
some friends during the trial, many
s. here are more confirmed than ever il
| the belief that he is the murderer.
IA. The Fashion Center.
The great Plymouth Clothing House.
SENATORS EULoeIzE HoAR. T..