The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-12
HOW THE MURDER WAS DONE
General Childs' Imagery and Eloquence
Paint Vivid Picture.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Mankato, MINI, May 12-No story
book description Of a fiendish crime was
ever more graphic than that given by
General Childs of the murder of DR..
Louis A. sGebhardt. The attorney IS
clear imagery and reasoning his excel
lent command OF language, his ELOQUENT,
Of pathos and rage, gave to the auditors
a wonderfully vivid picture. Of the scene
in the "chamber of death. -
"When men commit great crimes, -
said General Childs, "they make mis-
takes. If they did not, there, would be
after years Of study Of criminal cases,
that when man becomes possessed of
the purpose of murder, he ceases to be
rational man. When that monster
passion gets him he makes mistakes in
spite of himself. It was so in the case
Of the man who murdered DR.. Geb-
hardt. He had conceived a mortal hat
red for Dr.. Gebhardt; he was nursing a
for him and DR.. Gebhardt both to live,
and he said to himself, 'I'll go and kill
him; I I'll be his judge and executioner.
tsHe first conceived the thought Of
poison, and thought out that matter In
all it's details. Then he sends the
deadly dose. He waits one day, two
| light still CLEANS from DR.. Gebhardt g
window. The poison was not effective.
Chose a Silent Weapon.
CHE thinks of the hammer. The car
| penter Is tool is a better instrument Of
death than a gun; It makes no sound;
single silent blow and all would be
over. He goes into the office with tho
hammer in his pocket, smile upon his
brow and a pleasant word upon his
tongue. He would engage DR.. Gebhardt
| in conversation, and when the oppor-
tunity afforded, would deal the blow.
you recall the evidence. There was
the rocking chair in the reception
room. Dr.. Gebhardt would bring it
the operating room, dragging the chair,
he strikes him from the rear, when the
1 dentist had no thought other than the
! entertainment Of his caller. From that
there was no noise, no struggle, little
blood. He could strike. his victim
down, put the hammer in his pocket,
open the door, descend the stairway,
] was there early in the evening; DR..
Gebhardt and 1 had a pleasant CONVEX
sation and then / went home. l am
above suspicion.
But that first blow didn't end the
crime. They say DR.. Gebhardt was a
man OF splendid physical bu1ld-Wh y;
safety did that afford him against the
man who had hammer in his pocket
and intent in his heart to strike him
down9 The first blow failed in It's
purpose. The doctor rose and they
struggled about the room, blow followed
blow, until DR.. Gebhardt fell near the
!. door-there where witnesses described
the pool Of blood. vs.
The Death Struggle.
!, "He suddenly stands up and stag
gers in his movement Of weak defense
81 The assassin, still holding the hammer
in his hand, comes toward him-hits
him on the forehead-the falls back
!, ward-and there is the blotch of blooe
. on the map. Them he falls PROSTATE
!, and the silent, unmoving form lie.
!. there on the floor near the safe
s Instead of being quiet murder, i
s Twas q murder in which shrieks rent thu
. night air. Persons passing by on th,