The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-11-22
The Wheeler Tragedy in Sterling


The dead body was found lying in
the water about five or six feet from
the shore. He was in kneeling posi-
ton and leaned over to the right His
body was doubled up with the head to-
ward the bank and completely under
water There was nothing to indicate
that he had been struck on the head
with hammer.
Foot Mark In The Earth.
There was but one foot mark i'm
printed in the bank of the river. 1t
was the heel and part of the sole of
a shoe. The earth was soft and the
impression was easily discernable. That
is further evidence that no one but
Wheeler himself had walked on the
shore. The mark left in the sand was
not compared with the felt boots worn
by Wheeler, but were it to be done
it is quite likely that the two would
be found exactly alike. The embank
ment at this point is quite high, but
it can be descended without any diff
Guilty. A spot of blood as large as a
mans hand was discovered on the bank
near the stream which is evidence
that Wheeler must have fingered on
the shore for few moments before
entering the icy cold water. Had he
been in the hands of murderers they
would have tossed him into the water
without any ceremony. Murderers do
things in hurry.
No Money Found on Person.
No money was found on Wheeler.
He wore a fur cap drawn down tight
over his head, wooden frock for a
coat, blue cotton over shirt, red I'M
der shirt and drawers, pair of pants
and felt boots. These were the boots
purchased by him in Mapleton on
Thursday last. The report that he had
a red handkerchief around his neck
is not true. There was a red hand
kerchief found in the pool of blood on
the floor of the sitting room of the
house. This Wheeler had removed from
his neck, untying the knots as he
always did when removing it from his
person. There is tear in one corner
of mis- handkerchief, but that might
have been torn some time ago. This
was the handkerchief he wore on
Thursday night when he visited the
Cottons. He usually wore that style
of handkerchief in lieu of collar
and necktie.
There were no letters in the pockets
of his clothes.
The remains were conveyed to Maple
ton where they are in charge of an
undertaken.
Coroner Kennedy has in his posses
sion the hammer found in Wheeler's
bedroom, the handkerchief, the note
which refers to Mrs. Cotton and the
deed to the Nebraska land. They will
be laid before the coroner's jury on
Wednesday.
House Was Not Ransacked.
Robbery could have been the only
motive for the murder of Wheeler.
What became of the 500 which he drew
from the First National bank of Maple
ton can be explained. He expended the
sum in ,Mapleton for various articles.
The house does not show any evil
dences of having been ransacked for
valuables or money. There is not the
slightest indication that anyone had
been there except Wheeler himself.
1t was Wheeler's habit to permit
his dog to sleep in the house, and
Wheeler could not stir but that the
dog would be at his heels. The dog
was with him on Thursday night when
he visited with the Cottons. Return
ing home at about ten o'clock he
chaned the dog to the shed and there
he was found by the parties who
were first to discover the house on
fire. Had the dog been free of the
chain he would have followed his
master to the river.
1t is suspected that Wheeler re-
manned in the sitting room of his
house for some time after he had stab
bed himself, hoping to bleed to death.
That explains the quantity of blood
that was found on the floor in this
room. He had removed the handker-
chief from his neck to give the blood
an opportunity to flow more quickly.
Daylight coming on the old man feared
that he would be found alive he would
be fastened to Mapleton, put I'M
der doctors care and his life
saved. Rather than have that done he
concluded to go to the river and seek
death there.
The Coroner's Jury.
While in Mapleton late Saturday
afternoon Coroner Kennedy selected
the following gentlemen to serve on
the Jury, which will make an investi-
CATION into the death of Wheeler.
A. j. Ellis, James, Daley, Fred Ger
Itch, William Mcqueen, H. c. Hotaling,
Jud Cornell.
Sheriff Donahue will assist the cor
oner in securing witnesses and gather
ing evidence.
Nate and Charlie Williams of Vern-
dale, Mimi, nephews of Wheeler,
reached Mankato yesterday and pro-
ceeded at once to Mapleton.
That Wheeler had in mind the burn
ing of his house is evidenced by the