The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-08-04

pers after the accounts of the Koch
case have been cut out. The bailiffs
carefully read the papers first and ex
purgate them. The Jurors are also al
lowed to receive letters if they contain
no reference to the case. The bailiffs
read these letters and if there is moth
ing Objectionable in them they turn
them over to the persons to whom they
are directed, but otherwise they read
the portions to the Jurors that the lat
ter are allowed to hear.
As the trial draws toward a close
the interest increases, and each after
noon sees the court room filed beyond
its seating capacity.
Yesterdays Testimony.
/. H. Sickle gave about the same tes-
timony yesterday afternoon as the 9th
er two handkerchief experts had done.
He said that there was a difference in
the quality of DIR. Koch's handkerchiefs,
and they sold Tor five to fifteen cents
each The blood stained linen hand
kerchief would retail for about twenty
five cents.
A. Il. Bowling of Detroit, Mimi, who
up to 1902 conducted a business college
at New Ulm and had rooms in the Otto
meyer block, near Dr. Gebhard's office,
testified that he was frequently in DR..
Gebhard's office and that the latter had
an old hammer that he kept with his
tennis outfit. 1t was an ordinary sized
carpenter hammer and was rusty. He
did not recollect whether or not it had
an home made handle or a broken claw
1t was similar to large carpenters
hammer exhibited by Gen. Childs, but
was not as new.
Clerk of Court Thorne testified that
Mrs. Kasz gave her testimony at the
second trial Friday, April 2Sth
Miss Fitzpatrick was recalled and tes-
titled that she had gone with DIR. Geb-
hard just once, and that was some time
ut tit Nihtti DtIOlt uCdtH' IL
was the first year that she taught in
New Ulm, but she could not recollect
the exact date.
Henry n. Somsen said that his broth
er in law, Dr. Koch, wore his pepper and
salt coat and vest and brown striped
trousers the forenoon after the homi-
eide. The evening before, DR.. Koch
had entered the witness office. where
card game was in progress, at 500 p.
m. and left thirty or forty minutes
later approximately. The witness had
seen DIR. Koch at his residence Wednes-
day evening, practicing music for the
funeral, and Thursday forenoon at the
funeral, when he wore new suit. and
that afternoon III witness office, where
the conference was held after Dr. Koch
had been told of the suspicious Dr.
Koch was in the office twice. about thir-
ty minutes in ALL The witness did not
see Sheriff Julius trying to have an in
terview with Dr. Koch or tell him that
he couldn't or try to prevent it. The
defendants hand that afternoon. There
was nothing on the hands to cause sus-
picion. The witness identified the de
fendant's clothing and told how he had
worn the same Oyercoat and hat after
the homicide that he had worn before.
The witness told of his own two over
coats and his clothes closet in his office.
DR.. Koch wore his cravennette over
coat for two weeks after the murder,
and three or four weeks after Nov. lst
said that the overcoat had disappeared
from his office. Detective RydeII, who
was working for the state, was fire.
quently in the building Dr. Koch did
not have the hammer in evidence in his
office, nor was there any mark on the
wall so far as the witness knew. Cross
examined, the witness said that he had
bought no cravennette overcoat or ship
ped in one last fall or winter.
His New OyerCOat.
"Were you in Minneapolis Nov. 18th
last?" asked Gen. Chids.
Il don't remember" replied Mr. Som
sen.
Were you in the Plymouth Clothing
House in Minneapolis on that day." re
piled Mr.. Somsen.
Il don't remember. sir"
Did you have shipped from the
Plymouth Clothing House in Minneapo-
lis to Henry N. Somsen, New Ulm.
Mimi, on Nov. 18th, last, by express,
one rain coat and six pairs of hose?"
THAT is correct"
What was that rain coat %
st was a dark red cravennette over
coat that had become so old that [
have since used it for hunting. | wore
1t to Minneapolis to go to the foot ball
game, but it was so cold day that |
went to the clothing house and bought
a heavier coat and had the old one and
the stockings shipped home"
Senator Somerville testified to the
manner in which he had been retained
III the case. The first that he had any
thing to do with the case was on the