The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-28
NEW WITNESS IN
CASE AIDS KOCH.
Mrs. Thomas Saw Accused Man
strolling Homeward at
$50 pm.
Says New Ulm Man Was Whist
ling Gaily Alibi Testi-
mony.
Special to The journal.

Mankato, Mimi, July 28.-In the DR..
Gebhardt murder case this morning the
defense put on a most interesting and
important witness when Mrs. Thomas,
millinery store proprietor and former
nurse, took the stand. She testified that
on the evening of the murder she start
ed for her home shortly after 9 CLOCK.
She walked around considerably and
saw DR.. Koch on thesLin corner walk
ing leisurely toward home and whis-
Ting. ~ ~
This isghe first witness who has testi-
fed to seeing DR.. Koch on his way home,
and the most important new one the
defense has produced since the first
trial.
Mrs Thomas walked two blocks after
seeing DIR. Koch, and then got home.
AS she entered the door, the town clock
struck OBS. She was closely cross ques-
toned by Mr.. Pfaender.
Why MRS. Thomas Had Not Told.
Mrs. Thomas stated that she first told
Mrs. Behnke five or. six weeks ago OF
her having seen Dir. Koch. She was
sent for soon afterward by Mr.. Abbott.
She had mot told this before because
there had been an eyewitness to the
it unnecessary and because, knowing
the feeling over. the case in New Ulm
and from the fact that sheswas engaged
in business there, she had considered it
| best ztors say nothing. She was support
ing her 4-year-old daughter and her
mother. There were no other reasons
why she had not told about it. After
hearing of the evidence given by Mrs
Dahms on the second trial she had made
up her mind that she would 90 to the
third trial and testify.
Mrs. Thomas said that she had lived
had died in. March, 1901. Both had
been nurses. Her marriage had oc
CURED at Burlington, Iowa, before,
justice Of the peace, and when askec
whether she had her marriage certif
cate, the defense objected, and the
court sustained the objection. She
stated that she was somewhat acqualnt
ed with Detective Handler, who was
employed by the defense. and wheI
asked how many times he had callee
upon! her, she said she had not kept
tally. She had met him also in st. Paul
She denied that she had told anyone
that she would have dental work done
testified for him; S.,
i. When questibned again by Mr.. Alb
bott, she stated,kaat Mr.. Handler s call
| at her place hA1 been mostly upon on
/. Of her girls, wifethsswhom he had beer
ACQUAINTED He had begun coming tt
her house as far back as December, bu
she had not told him anything with re
gard to what she knew for the reasons
given.
Defense Rests and Rebuttal Begins
After the forenoon recess the dc
i tense rested. The state then Gale
several witnesses in rebuttal, the frs
one being Anton Rickers, a retire
farmer, who told Of conversation wit
E. G..Koch, had shortly after the hom
eide, in which Mr.. Koch had state
that his son was at home at 10 o 'cloc
on the night Of the murder. They ha
J been talking on the superstition tina
the murder had been committed at i
clock.
G.. w. Murfn told Of a conversatio
that he had had with Asa P. Brook
in Minneapolis at the Hotel Nicolle
twelve days after the homicide. M
; Brooks had said that he did not thin
that DR.. Koch would do such a thing
DR.. H. I. Miser of GAINESVILLE, VIII
Continued on I'd Page, 4th Column.