The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-03-01
WOuId-be Murderer Relen-
ted in Time.
THOUGHT OF HIS CHILDREN
J NJ. WarfieId Draws Revolver on
Mrs. Minnie Miller on North
Front Street
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
That a murder and suicide was not
committed on the street Saturday after
noon was due solely to the better man
hood of j. NJ. Warield getting the bet
ter of the weaker features of his char
acter. He attributed it to his lack OF
nerve, but it is doubtful if he properly
described it, LAS / pulled the gun and
aimed it at her and told her that | was
going to blow hole through her L hap
pened to think of my little children and
my nerve failed and l put the weapon
up" declared Warfeld in the police sta
ton short time afterwards. His in
tended victim was Mrs. Minnie Miller, a
daughter of Otto Dollar, who has been
his housekeeper for some time.
Warfield stated that he went to S.
Zimmerman's hardware store week ago
Saturday and purchased the revolver for
the express purpose of shooting Mrs.
Miller and then taking his own life. 1t
was a thirty-two calibre weapon, aud
when he bought it he asked whether it
would kill a dog, and when informed
that it would he bought it, together
with a box of cartridges.
The morning of the day he bought the
revolver Mrs. Miller left his house, which
Is located at 1876 Mound avenue, and
told Warfield that she was going back
to live with her husband at 4l9 North
Fifth street He concluded that if she
did this there would be no trouble, but
if she went elsewhere he would shoot
her, for some reason that he does not
clearly explain, except that 'she had
made trouble for him. He walked along
North Fifth street past the Miller resi-
dence and became convinced that she
was not there, and then bought the re-
volver and set out to find her. 1t seems
that Mrs. Miller found out th2t he in
tended to shoot her, for she wrote him
q note in which she implored him not to
do it. She left part of her clothing at
his house when she went away, and
Saturday she went to get it, but War
field refused to turn it over.
Saturday afternoon NNarfied met Mrs.
Miller on North Front street, near where
Deef shot Potz, and when he saw her
he drew his revolver and took deliberate
aim at her, exclaiming at the same time
with an oath that he would put hole
through her. She backed away without
replying, but nearly overcome with fear.
The thought of his children flashed
through Warfield's mind and he lowered
the weapon, and terrible tragedy was
avoided. Officer Robb soon heard of the
affair and took Warfield to the city hall
and dsarmed him. He then persuaded
Warfield to return the gun to thinner
mans hardware store. Warfield permit
ted the officer to take it back, and the
greater part of the purchase price was
refunded.
Warfield declared that he was glad
that he did not shoot. He said that
one wife is dead and another divorced.
He came to Mankato last spring from
Iowa, with his children, ranging in age
from four to fourteen years. He worked
at different jobs until fall since which
time he has been idle, assisting in TAX
ing care of his children, although he had
Mrs. Miller as housekeeper, it seems.
He SAYS that he decided some time ago
to make change in housekeepers and
told Mrs Miller that she could 90. He
at the same time advertised in a st.
Paul paper for a housekeeper and en-
gagged one to come. Mrs. Miller, he says
heard of it and wrote to the woman
signing her name as Mrs. Minnie War
field and telling her not to come. He
did not learn of this until afterwards
and went to the depot to meet the new
housekeeper, but she failed to come. He
then learned of the deception praeticed
upon him and was angry.
Mrs. Miller is bright and rather
pretty young woman, and according to
Warfield she was anxious to remain in
her position. She has children of hel
own.
Chief Miller gave Warfeld some good
advice, first suggesting that it would be
better and safer all around if he move
to some other town, but when he de-
INJURED to this, advised him to forget
the Miller woman, turn her property
over to her and 60 home and take care
of his children. Miller went home and
brought the clothing of Mrs. Miller to
the police station, so that.the officers
could turn it over to her, and then went
home. He seems to be naturally kind
hearted man, and why he could contem
plate shooting Mrs. Miller and himself