The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-02-10
He Pens a Funny Letter to Ed
it0r Asa P. Brooks.
Declares That "Dr. Cooks" Is
Not the Murderer.
Did Not Hear the Newspaper
Man Drop Like Ok.
Especial to The Free Press.]

Especial to The Free Press.l
New Ulm, Feb. 2.-"I killed Dr. Geb
hard,' is the statement of a man from
Walker, Mimi, who signs his name Au-
gust Schmidt, in a letter to Asa P.
Brooks, editor of The New Ulm Review.
This startling announcement is not
received with the excitement it would
occasion had not the now notorious
John 81 paved the way in this line
of sensations with free and full con-
fession.
Schmidt has evidently been a close
follower of the trial through the pa
pers and doubtless hearing of "John So
and his exploit thought to emulate him.
The two confessions conflict in more
than one particular, for this man also
claims to be the real murderer of the
New Ulm policeman.
The letter is not rambling, as was
the one received short time ago, and
seems to have been written by man
in his right mind.
The letter follows:
Walker, Mimi, Jan. 26, l905.-Mr. Asa
Brooks. Dear Sir: l am the mans that
killed DR.. Gebhardt at New Ulm, Mimi,
on the November lst. l gets big moneys
to do that job. I am the mans you
sees over the transom above the dores.
seems bys the papers that Gener-
els Childs says yous drops just likes
the oxen when you seems mes kills that
Dvccur -ei-li-~-,its +irat -i---;e'-.-. ayo,-
cmber lst. / neber hears you drop just
likes the oxen strikes on the heads with
AK. 1 just seen your face onces, Mr..
Asa Brooks.
'I'm the mans that kills that polls
mans in New Elms twelve or ten years
agos. I'm the same mans that kiles
Doctor Cronings in Chicagoes in 1889;
/ gets big moneys from the Irish So
cieties."
The fellow then goes on to state how
he helped Pat Crow to kndnap the Cud-
ahy child.
He goes on to say, "Mr. Asa Brooks
Judges and them loyermans Browns and
Childs that DIR. Cooks ain a good ini-
cent mans must be let out of jails. I'm
the same mans that tolI the Indians to
kiles all the whites mems in this place.
Yours truly. AUGUST SCHMIDT"
When the second trial opens in Man
kato New Ulm may be robbed of her
physicians for a few days at least, as
every medical man in the city is sub
poenaed by the state; DIR. o. c. Strick-
Ter, DIR. j. L. Schoch, DIR. G. B. Weiser,
Dr. l.. A. Fritsche and DR.. j. II. Vogel
all being witnesses
A. j. Alvin, a New Ulm travelling
man, was interviewed by The Sioux
Falls Daily Press a few days ago, and
he gave it out that many people in New
Ulm consider the arrest and prosecution
of DIR. Koch little short of an outrage.
Whether the Koch trial will be held
in Mankato this month or later is very
uncertain. 1t seems likely that it will
not occur before April. Possibly it will
90 over until the term in Watonwan
county, beginning May 2, is over. 1t
will be hard for Senator Somerville to
get away from his legislative duties to
try the case during the present session.
This session will probably last the full
ninety days as is usually the case, in
which event the adjournment will not
take place until April Is. Judge Cray
will have to take care of the Watonwan
county term opening on May 2, and he
deems the time between these dates too
short to be depended upon for the trial
of the Koch case. General Childs made
statement some time ago that it would
be agreeable to both sides to have the
trial open some time about the middle
OF April. This, however, seems hardly
practicable 1t appears likely that the
whole thing will have to 60 over until
after the Watonwan term. More balmy
weather than that of February will al
low visitors to come to the city, who
would otherwise not be able to be pres
ent at the trial of this famous case.