The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-08-04
HEARSE-STEALING EPISODE
lie Sueur Center Leader Gives An Ac
count of Affair.
From Fridays Daily.

from FRIDAY Dally
The lie Sueur Center Leader gives the
following account of the hearse-steal-
in affair:
a futile attempt was made last Mon
day to secure possession of certain
hearse which was brought to lie Sueur
Center about five years ago, and was
later bought at sherifl's sale by Han lin
Bros. of the City livery. About ten
O'Clock Monday morning call came
from Cleveland that the hearse was
wanted at the home of George Cheadle,
in Cleveland township, to convey a body
to the Milwaukee depot. George Harlin
began at once to make preparations to
follow out the instructions of the mes
sage and after securing six pairs of
white gloves and funeral director Fred
r. Dane, to accompany him, started on
his mission. They were met at the
Cheadlc home by neat appearing mid
die aged gentleman. who informed them
that relatives were expected on the in
coming fire ;ght and that the body would
not be moved until their arrival. He very
cautiously invited them to put up their
team and partake of a specially prepared
dinner which was awaiting them in the
position to care for his horses prompt
" accepted the strangers invitation
and proceeded to unhitch. The horses
were taken to the barn and while the
boys were caring for them, one A. +.
Nixon appeared upon the scene as if
by magic and removed the pole from the
hearse This was the first act in
drama of events which followed in rap
id succession. Harlin was met by Nix
on as he emerged from the barn, and if
reports are true, an encoutner followed
and general miXup was the result
Just what took place we are not pre-
pared to say at this time, but the facts
will come out in the hearing At any
rate Nixon got possession of the hearse,
and drove in the direction of Alinneap
oils He was overtaken near the village
of Belle PLANE and his arrest followed.
He. with the hearse, were brought back
to lie Sueur Center and the prisoner
lodged in jail.
He was arrested on a charge of as
sault in the third degree and the trial
will be held at Cleveland on Aug. L..
One +. V. Cooksey, an accomplice in
the affair, was arrested Tuesday night
on warrant sworn out by George Har-
lin, charging him with impersonating an
officer, deputy sheriff of Hennepin
county. He was brought into court yes
terday before Justice c. H. Davis and
his case adjourned to August 10th, at
10 o'clock a. m. His bond was fixed at
two hundred dollars, which he furnish
ed and was released.
Nixon gave bonds for his appearance
at Cleveland, but as he was emerging
from the jail door, was rearrested on a
warrant charging him with grand lar
ceny in the second degree.
He was arraigned yesterday before
Justice c. H. II. Davis and by consent
of parties the case was adjourned to
August 10th, at o'clock p. IN.
The hearse seems to have a history,
which up to the present time has not
been made clear. 1t first appeared on
the streets of lie Sueur Center about
three o'clock in the morning, and whence
it came no one seemed inclined to eX-
plain. 1t was brought here by Mr..
Nixon, and after few days was left i'll
charge of Harlin Bros, and from that
time until the present has been used in
connection with the burial of the dead,
without moestation or word coming
from the supposed owner.
About two years ago it was sold at
sheriff's sale to satisfy debt for stor-
age and was bid in by Harln Bros.