The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-04-06
Therefore the Kin of Rotus
Could Claim Estate.
BROTHER WAS IN HER DEBT
But Likely That All Will Go to Step
daughter, Mrs. Westbrook;
Some Testimony.
From MONDAYS Daily.
! q A,-gE

From Mondays Daily
The inquest over the remains of Nh
and Mrs. Martin Rotus was concluded
late Saturday afternoon. The testimon.
did not bring ont much that was new
but confirmed the account published
Saturday by The Free Press. The hear
ing was made as brief as possible, the
Jurors not caring for more evidence.
The testimony of Mrs. Suess, the first
witness, was published Saturday, and
that of the other witnesses follows:
Peter Braam. the man mentioned il
the note left by Rotus as being tho
cause of his troubles, was called. III,
was not asked any questions in refer
enee to the note or his relations will
Mrs. Rotus. Said he:
live half a mile beyond the Rotus
on the St Peter road. The deceased ar,
Martin and Minnie Rotus. ! was a.
Suess, house Wednesday night playing
cards and about 10 p. m. Mrs. Rotm
came to the house in her night clothes
crying. and said that ROtus was going
to shoot her. She said she was in be-
when he got home and he wanted tt
talk to her and she told him to wait
until morning. until she was sober. Thel
he got up and pulled his revolver out OF
his pocket. put his knee on her breas,
and said he was going to kill her. She
said she broke loose and got out of tho
door, away from him, and he called he,
back and said he wouldn't kill her il
she would come back. She came right
over to Suess' then and asked us fOm
boys who were there if we would &C
with her to the house. We told he
we were afraid that he might shoot us
so she begged until John Suess went
with her, taking the lantern. / ant
Suess' brother went along behind, OF
the main road, and thought if Rotus
would try to kill Suess we would hell
the latter. The distance from the roaf
to the house is about sixty feet. One o.
them raped at the door and Sues
called on Rotus to open up and tol(
him that he should behave. ROtus ther
said that he would behave. Then Sues
went in with Mrs. Rotus and Suess
brother and / waited little while and
went home. / saw Rotus three or foui
weeks ago, just before he went to
Omaha. He had been cutting wood fol
my brother. Did not see him but the
one time after his return. Did not see
Mrs. Rotus alive again.
A. L. Wheeler was the third witness
examined. He and Mr.. Whitcomb were
the first parties who entered the Rotus
home after the murder The door on the
east side was locked and we went in by
the back door, which was unlocked. Mrs
Rotus was lying dead on the kitchen
floor, on her back, with her arms thrown
out and her head toward the window.
l saw no marks of violence, and did moi
disturb the body. Looked through the
open door to the bedroom and saw Mr..
Rotus lying on the bed, dead, with
blood stains on his clothing. His right
hand was lying over revolver. Dennis
Donahue and Benny Wachtler came in
while we were there. None of us touched
the bodies. There were spots of blood
across the dining room floor from neal
the kitchen door to the bedroom door.
James Sicily testified: 1 knew
Martin Rotus for six years. Met him
about four weeks ago, the day before
he was arrested. He then said that last
fall he had had trouble with his wife
and said Il sometimes think I'll kill
her and myself, too" l advised him to
90 to Omaha and go to work and quit
this fussing. He got travelling card
that day and said that he would go