davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05

! ed, he having put them out when he
went out about nine o'clock. The doors
were locked, except the one into the
general waiting room. When he enter
ed his office after the murder ne found
one of his windows open. There were
numerous blood stains on the curtains
and about the window. The screen ap-
peared to have been pulled out of the
| frame at the side, and was cut hori-
flaps were curved outward, and never re-
sumed their natural position. The
night of the murder was quite dark
Discovered blood on the wire, straight
out from the middle of the window. The
mark was very plain and was three
inches wide The hook at the bottom of
the window, by which it is raised, was
full of blood, and right around it were
some smears. DIR. Gerhard received a
package, but don't know when he got
| it. Saw it in his laboratory on the
Saturday morning before the murder. He
had it in his hand and showed it to
witness. Witness identified the box,
its label and the bottle. DR.. Gerhard
took the bottle from the box. The bot
tie was full of a granular powder, thae
looked grayish through the glass. 1t
resembled bromo caffeine in appearance.
DR.. Gerhard put the bottle back into
the box, shut the box, and laid the
latter on his working table. Saw the
bottle next tibet morning of the in
quest in his office. 1t was on shelf
of the cupboard, and witness discovered
! it there and gave it to the coroner. The
bottle was not opened. Saw the box
in the hands of Chief Klause on the af
ternoon of the funeral Carbolic acid,
dropped on the skin, affects only the
upper layers of skin if applied only
once. a brown-scab is formed, drops
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05

Miss Schapakahm made an excellent
witness.
DR.. Reineke Called.
DIR. g. F. Reineke was called. His
offices were to the rear of the Gerhard
offices and next to them, in the Otto
meyer block. Saw DR.. Gerhard last at
ten or fifteen minutes before nine
O'Clock on the evening of Nov. LIST. He
was in his laboratory, polishing a plate
with his machine, which made quite
noise. He wore long blue and white
working coat All of the lights in the
operating room and laboratory were
burning. The light in the operating
room hung from the center of the cell
ing and was pulled over his desk by a
string 1t was l6-candle power light.
There was a similar light in the labora
tory The ligrt in the reception room
was broken the monday before the
murder, and perhaps before that. The
reception room chairs were all in that
room, including two rockers. There was
no rocker in the operating room. The
screen usually stood behind the door
, leading from the waiting room to the
operating room. There were two operat
ing chairs in the room.
The noon recess was taken here. The
evidence this forenoon was the same as
that given by the same witness at the
New Ulm trial.
The defense claims that the ribbon
on the typewriter has been changed
since last October.
This afternoon DR.. Reineke testified
to the condition that he found the Of
flee of Dr. Gerhard after the murder,
and described the blood marks. This was
similar to the testimony given by 9th
er witnesses who were early on the
scene. He had arrived at 10 p. m. He
saw no evidences of disorder, either
in the Gerhard reception room or lab
oratory. His own offices were not light
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05

off and leaves red spot for a few
DAYS. The witness did not think that
sores similar to those described on the
hands of DR.. Koch would be made by
carbolic acid.
On cross examination, the witness
sal dthat he got home the evening of
the murder at just nine o'clock.
"What were you told when you re-
ceived the telephone call informing you
of the murder?"
''I was told that somebody had been
killed in Dr. Gebhard's office and that
/ was to come right down and unlock
my door, it was desired to see whe-
ther the murderer was in my office or
had jumped out of the Window"
did you testify like this at the
first trial?"
"Yes, sir.'
"Was there anybody in the hall when
you reached the head of the stairs?"
'No, sir"
!! "Were won armed?"
"No, sir"
did you go at once to your Of
fice?"
eyes, SIR"
did you unlock the door,"
"Yes, sir"
"Did you go right into the center of
your office and turn on the light?"
"Yes, sir"
''Did you think that the murderer
was there them"
Il didn't know"
"You looked Immediately at your
window, didn't your"
81 did"
"And Immediately made the state
ment, "That is where the murderer
gotta out p"
Il made that statement"
clad there bee nanybody in your
office before your"
4 don't know"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05

! in the drawer later, and the drawer wa.
emptied into the barrel Saturday or
Monday. The doctor placed, the bottle
up into the pigeon hole and near where
he usually put bottles. Did not see the
box again until the day of the funeral,
that is from Saturday until Thursday
1t was thrown into the waste basket
on Saturday. Saw the bottle in the
pigeon hole several times and it had
attention to "St." inside the postmark
when he opened the box. The bottle was
in the pigeon hole as late as 1870 p. m.
on the day of the homicide, and witness
had seen it three or four times that
day. On Thursday, | went to the office
to search for the blue box, at the re-
quest of Chief Klause. He and Sheriff
Julius were there, helping to look for
| it. 1t was not in the waste basket
where | remembered having put it. We
looked into the waste barrel. They
emptied the barrel entirely out
and carefully sorted over the con-
! tents. 1t was sort of waste paper
basket, with cover, and made some
thing like a barrel. the blue box was
| close to the one where the blue bottle
was. | had never seen it there before,
and was surprised when | found it
there. | looked there at suggestion
from Mr.. Klause that the box might be
near the bottle. Never saw any blue
boxes in DR.. Gebhard's office except the
two testified about.
On redirect, the witness said that the
box was further back in the pigeon
hole than the BOTTLE 1t was in the
upper part of the case, but don't re-
member whether | had to stand on a
stool to get it. Do not know whether
would have seen it if it had been
there before.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05

, Gebhard's Instruments, note DR.. Rein
eke's appointments, keep the books,
etc. She was in the office from 9 a..
m. until p. m. DR.. Reineke got his
own mail The first blue box received
was done up in brown wrapping paper
and had two postmarks. Did not see the
sample bottle in that box. He got so
many sample bottles that | did not
pay any attention to it. | put the box
in DIR. Gebhard's writing desk and saw
it there two or three times afterwards.
| 1t was in the desk the day of the flu
neral, and the officials took it out.
| They also took the second blue box.
The second box came about Wednesday
before the homicide. She never had been
positive that it was Wednesday. She
| got the box at | p. m. from the post
office. This was the only time of the
day that she ever got DR.. Gebhard's
mail. The box was not opened until
oHc remembered CIdU Ii
Gebhard was unusually busy that day.
He was always busy, but that day had
more than usual to do. The box was
taken from the top of the safe in the
| operating room to the laboratory. Don't
remember having seen the box on the
safe after | first put it there. 1t was at
9:55 a. m. that DR. Gerhard opened the
box. | remember the time, because he
expected patient at 10 a. m. | call
ed his attention to the box, that was
then standing on the laboratory table.
He opened it and remarked that it
did not come from medicine house, as
it would not have had a type written
address. Dr. Gerhard poured the con-
! tents of the bottle into his hand and
then threw it into the drawer where
waste plaster was thrown. When the
drawer was full, it would be emptied
into waste barrel He apparently pour
ed all of the contents of that bottle in
to the drawer. More plaster was placed
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS

Many believe that the state yester-
day made mistake in putting DIR.
Reineke on the stand in the Koch case
His memory proved to be so terribly
bad that the defense made capital out
of him. At the coroner's inquest he
told about the hammer, and later chang
ed this and told something else. The
state did not call him at the New
Ulm trial, and so the defense called him
as one of its witnesses. At the trial
now in progress the state called him,
but carefully avoided asking him any.
thing about the hammer, so that the
defense could not cross examine him up
on that point. The defense got around
this very easily by the use of little
strategem. Mr.. Abbott got him to de-
scribe the blood spots and gradually
and skillfully led him into talking
about the hammer, and once in that
subject the court allowed the counsel
to ask all the questions that he want
ed to. DIR. Reineke's memory was so
bad that he could not remember that
he mad signed an affidavit of prejudice
to get the change of venue until the
affidavit with his signature was shown
him. His memory was better regarding
an abb that he had signed at the re-
quest of Chief Klause and Sheriff julius
when the latter were Investigating the
whereabouts of the doctor ON the night
of the murder.
The ladies who attended the sessions
of the court now remove their hats,
much to the satisfaction of those who
sit behind them. The first few days
they did not do this and there was gen.
eral complaint, because those so un-
fortunate as to be seated behind the
flower gardens could not see anything
more than the rosebuds in front of
them.
AT the New Ulm trial Asa p. Brooks
was called when the state rested. If
this should be the case at the present
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05

ISeptember and kept it until late in the
| fall. He thought that it nad purple
ribbon. The machine was kept part of
the time in the general reception room
and part of the time in the stenograph-
er's room.
The typewriter was introduced in evi-
dence and identified by Mr.. Barnes.
The color of the address on the poison
box is very similar TO that of the rib
bon on the typewriter. The ribbon now
on the machine looks very similar to
that which was on the machine last
October. The ribbon is what | would
call purple ribbon, and looks different
from the lettering on the box. General
Childs had the witness strike off line,
and witness then said the coloring was
the came.
On cross examination, the defense Of
fered in evidence in line just struck off
by Mr.. Barnes. The witness said that
the machine was kept in the Insurance
office about three months. In the re-
.ception room it remained month and
had cloth cover. Then it was kept
in roll top typewriter desk in the
stenographers' room 1t was kept
locked nights. The desk was self lock-
ing when the top was rolled down. A
person could hardly go into the ste
nographer's room without being seen,
as the door to that room is in plain
view of the office. The lock to the desk
was never broken. The typewriter was
sent back to the house furnishing it
because it was out of alignment and
the carriage wobbly.
The morning recess was taken.
Gerhard Receives a Package.
Miss Lydia Schapakahm of New Ulm,
neat looking young lady OF striking
blonde complexion, testified that she
entered the employ of the late DR.. Geb
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05

hard April lst, 1904, and continued with
him until Nov. lst. she said that the
Joint reception room was not used by
DIR. Reineke. Entering the laboratory
from the operating room, there was at
the right cabinet with six drawers
filled with tools used in dental work
in the laboratory. The machine used in
polishing plates was in that room: and
made buzzing noise when in operation.
There were number of pigeon holes
in one side of the laboratory. On the
north side was sink Dr. Gerhard had
hammers.
estate whether or not, prior to the
homicide, DIR. Gerhard received any
package?" asked Gen. childs.
"Yes, sir" replied the witness.
"When was it received?"
"About five or six days before his
DEATH"
"Where was it received?"
From the postoffice.'
"Who got it from the postoffice.
81 did"
"In what form was it,"
ut was packed in a blue and white
pasteboard box"
"How was the box held shut?"
"There was thin rubber about it."
Witness identified the box that had
been marked as an exhibit. She said
that the label now on the box was on
when it was received. The post marks
were also on them.
"Who did you give the box to?''
81 took it to the office and placed it
upon the safe in the operating ROOM"
"Did you see it opened?"
eyes, sir"
"By whom was it opened?"
"By DR.. Gebhard."
"What was in the box?"
ga bottle"
"What was on the bother"
"a label, 'Bromo caffeine and the
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05

word Sample written across it in red
ink"
The witness identified the bottle that
was marked as an exhibit.
did you see what was in the bot
tle?"
"Yes, sir"
"What was in it,"
"orystals that looked white and
gray"
''What did DIR. Gebhard do with the
contents of the bottle.
Poured it out"
''Where did he pour it,"
SIN the drawer of the sink"
"What did he keep in that drawer?
"Waste plaster of paris"
"What did he do with the bottle?"
Gle put it on shelf"
did you see it there. afterwards, up
to the time of his death?"
"Yes, sir, / saw it there every day"
''What was done with the boX?"
81 threw it into the waste basket"
Witness said that she found the box
after the funeral and gave it either to
Sheriff Julius or Chief Klause.
The bottle and box were offered in
evidence, and were admitted over the
objections of the defense, made on a
number of grounds, one of which was
that they tended to prove another of
Tense than that charged in the indict-
ment.
The witness said that early in Octo-
Der Dr. Gebhard had received a blue box
similar to the one in evidence, except
that the label was addressed in ink.
1t contained sample bottle.
On cross examination, the witness
said that she now works for Dir. Rein
exc. She had worked for Drs. Reineke
and Gerhard since August. Her duties
were to dust the offices, care for Dir.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05

"When you turned the light on, the
people who were in DIR. Gebhard's Of
| flee the invent into your office for the
first time, didn't they?"
"Yes, sir"
:, "After you had told them that the
murderer had gone out of the win
down"
"They could see that"
| Witness said that the hammer that
was found was not Dr. Gebhard's. Had
been familiar with his tools for several
months. Mr.. Abbott asked the witness
whether, at the coroner's inquest the
day after the murder, he had not tes-
tilted that Dr. Gerhard had an old
hammer and that he sawed off the ham
die so that he could pound cement in
barrel, and that witness had COM
mented upon it and~Dr. Gerhard said
that he ha dsawed it off smoothly and
that it was good job. Witness adj
mitted that he had stated that the
hammer found in the Gerhard office
ness now said that DIR. Gerhard did not
have hammer that looked old. He die
not have one tina twas old. Never saw
this hammer in his office before his
death. Witness now said that DR..
Gerhard did not have hammer with
the handle sawed off so as to pound
cement in a barrel, that he did not
laugh at the hammer because it was so
old, that DIR. Gerhard did not smile
and said that he had done a good job
DIR. Reineke said that he was under
oath when he testified at the coroner's
inquest, and that he had signed the
transcript of the evidence that he there
gave. Did not say to Tony Weisner
that he had sawed off the handle so as
to pound cement i'm a barrel, and that
there could be no mistake about it.
Witness had made statement to this
effect to Mr.. Alvin the morning after
the murder, in DIR. Gebhard's office. He
then referred to the hammer i'm evil
dence, which ne had see nthe wing b.
fore. The telephon wire beam so slack,
when the fastening to, the building
broke, that it sagged to ten or twelve
feet from the ground, so that per-
son clinging to it would have had but
few feet to drop. If the person who
went out had cut the other side of the
screen than that which he did he would
have been several feet from the wire.
Cutting the screen nearest the wires,
h was only about foot from the
wires.
The recess was taken here.
Declares Klause Is a Liar.
"Klause is liar, and some time
am going to tell him so to his face and
he can swallow it or lump it as he
pleases.''-,.f7 sri 50 a saa IS a--s~'..
This is the statement made by Dr.
Koch at the Saulpaugh on Saturday eve
ming in the presence of several friends.
His passionate remark was brought
out during discussion of Klaus'e state
ment OH the witness stand that Miss
Ida Koch had stated to the New Ulm
chief of police that the handkerchief
found in Gebhard's office was her broth
er's, and that she had marked it. DR..
Koch allowed his temper to get the
better of him, and several other fiery
remarks were made before he ceased
talking.
Choief Klause, who returned from
New Ulm this morning, states that the
state has witnesses to support this
testimony. Sheriff julius was present
and heard the statement. Chief
Kualse states that he reported the
statement to County Attorney Hoidale
and others officials just after it was
! made as.t. = t4-#s
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05
Gave Koch's Testimony.

He repeated considerable that the de-
PENDANT had testified to at the New
Ulm trial. The defense objected to it
all, but the court overruled the objec-
tions. Witness said that defendant had
testified that he had received blue
box like the one in evidence about the
beginning of October; that the box was
taken by Henry n. Somsen after Nov.
lst from a drawer in defendants desk
in his offices; that he had not told any
body about getting the box; that he
mad cravenette overcoat before the
homicide and for three weeks after
ward, at which time it was removed
from his office or got lost; that Mr..
Somsen had told him not to say any
thing about the disappearance, as he
said that there had been sensations
enough; that he knew where DIR. Strick-
Ter kept his strycnnine; that at the
office of Hoidale & Somsen, early on the
evening of Nov. lst. had removed his
overcoat; that he had received an adver
Using lead pencil from Alfred Vogel
while at Hoidale & Somsen's office;
that while on, his way home that eve-
ming he passed the Gerhard offices at
9:25 p. M; that he had walked up
portion of Center street, and then had
gone back to his offices and turned
out the light; that he was in his office
only brief time, and was in the lab
oratory; that he had taken instruction
in anatomy at the dental college in
Chicago.
On cross examination, witness said
that he had not told anybody about the
clothing that he mad noticed Koch wear
ing until after the New Ulm trial, when
he had written to Gen. Childs about it,
Mr.. Brown, who did the questioning
asked in regard to other testimony
given at the New Ulm trial. The court
limited this to Koch's testimony. The
defendant said that he had placed the
pencil that he said was given him, in
his office, and that it was produced i'm
court; that he had entered Hoidale &
Somsen's office at about $40 and left
about 8 or 9:O5 and then went up Cen
ter street to Blanchard's house and then
went back to mis- own office and turned
off the light and then went home by
way of the Herman monument grounds,
but did not name the exact time that
he got home. After being home for a
time it was $3.50 p. m. Defendant had
said that he unlocked the door, of his
office when he went back, went in and
turned out the light and came out
and locked the door. He said that he
had gone into his operating room, but
said nothing about going into the lab
oratory.
The recess was taken here. The court
informed the jurors that. they could at
tend church Sunday, with bailiffs. He
asked whether they mad all the COM
forts needed and they replied that they
had He said that he was pleased to
hear them say that, as it was intend
ed to treat them as well as possible.
This Forenoon.
Mr.. Eckstein was. questioned some
more this morning by Mr.. Brown, and
said that he had paid particular at
tention to Dr. Koch's clothing Nov. I'd
in order to see whether he could observe
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-05
the jury made, mistake and that he
was not guilty man.

the jury made, mistake and that HI
was not a guilty man.
"Yes, this lamentable affair has cost
me great. deal of money. | wanted
to see the murderer caught and so hiret
Chicago lawyer to make the investiga
tion. That cost me several hundred dol
lars, and then my other expenses in
cidental to my own Investigations, anG
attending the trials has cost other hun
dreds. But shall feel repaid, fully re-
paid, if the murderer is caught and plac
ed where he can't commit another crime
of all the members of our family"
Saturday Afternoon.
Mrs. Wilhelmine Dahms, concluding
her cross examination Saturday after.
noon said that Chief Klause some time
this spring cut off the top of the
post that had the blood upon it. DONE
know how long piece was cut off
Do not know where it is.
w. I. Eckstein, court reporter OF
Brown county, said that he lives in
New Ulm. Have known DIR. Gebhard
from the time he opened his dental of
fees in New Ulm six years ago. The
corner of the handkerchief bearing the
initials was washed by member of the
coroner's jury at 4:3O p. m. Nov. End
Before it was washed, only two letters
were visible, &c. r." The third initial
was covered by blood. Witness said
that he was satisfied before the dinner
hour that day that the last letter was
''K" Saw the defendant at 2:3O p. m.
on Nov. End on Minnesota street, talk
ing with Elmer Hoidale. Had a thought
at that time as to who the guilty party
was. Defendant wore a brown derby
nat and brown coat and striped trous-
ers. His right hand was in his trous-
er's pocket. There was a scratch across
his left cheek, two inches long, across
the highest portion of the cheek bone. 1t
was deep enough to see the flesh under
meath, and mad commenced healing.
Where the skin was parted it was red.
The witness traced the custody of the
poison bottle until it was turned over
to Coroner Fritchie. Nobody opened the
bottle during the executive session of
the coroner's jury. Mr.. Eckstein produc
ed his notes of the New Ulm trial, ask
en- as official reporter, and turned to the
portion of the defendants testimony re-
lating to the receipt of blue box by
him.