The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-04-30
STOLE SCHOOL MISS
STRANGER BINDS VICTIM WITH
ROPE; SHE ESCAPED.
Esther Mueller, the Daughter of Far.
mer, Has An Exciting Experience
With Stranger While She Is En-
Route to New Ulm to Attend
School; An Attempt Made to Alb
duct Her

New Ulm, April 27-Esther. the
fourteen year-old daughter of Martin
Mueller, residing in the town of Court
/ land opposite this city, was kidnapped
yesterday morning while on her way
to school in New Ulm. As she was
| approaching the bridge which crosses
the Minnesota river a strange man in
a buggy drove mp behind her and asked
! her to take a seat beside him, saving
| that he had been sent by Dan Williams
of Cambria, Blue Earth county to
bring her to his home, where Mrs.
Williams, who is sister of the Girl.
was ILL.,
Stranger Resorts to Violence.
The girl refused to accede TO the
wishes of the stranger and said that
If her aunt was sick she would leave on
, the afternoon train for CORTLAND and
go to Cambria. Then the stranger left
the buggy, took a rope and pinoned
! the girls arms to her side and bodily
| lifted her into the buggy The girl
was helpless, but screamed loudly. He
took northerly course. and after get
ting on top of the bluff drove toward
the village of CORTLAND. He did not
keep in the road, but drove over the
fields. When about two miles this side
OF CORTLAND the man turned east and
meanwhile the girl was able after re-
peated efforts to loosen the knot in the
rope and succeeded in escaping from
the kidnapper, who had fallen in sort
of stupOr.
Girl Proceeded on Foot.
The girl then proceeded on foot 10
the farm of Mr.. Williams, about four
miles away. arriving there after dinner.
Mr.. Williams Immediately notified her
father. who happened to be in this city.
and also his brother Dir. Emil Mueller.
They notified the police authorities in
TINS city, who in turn notified Sheriff
August Olson at st. Peter. The father.
in company with her brother, proceed
ed to the home of Mr.. Williams and
brought the girl back to this city short
y after six o'clock.
Sheriff Olson and former AIavor
Mueller of st. Peter came here in an
automobile shortly after six O'Clock. On
their way they secured the country for
the kidnapper, but were unable to 10.
cate him. Farmers were all notified TO
be on the lookout.
Description of Kidnapper.
According to the story told by the
girl. the man was about twenty-fi five to
thirty years old, of medium size. had
black hair, black mustache, wore a
brown duck jacket and blue overalls.
The horse was of grayish color
hltched to single top buggy with red.
dish frame. The girl further stated
that the man was bleeding on the side
OF his neck and seemed to be somewhat
IN stupor as they were driving
through the country. and at the time
when she made her escape he seemed
TO be sleeping. She was therefore able
to get out of his reach. Miss Mueller's
clothing was torn in her attempt to es.
cape. The marks on both arms where
the ropes were tied showed plainly, and
her hand and face were also slightly
scratched. The county is being scour-
ed in an attempt to apprehend the
kidnapper.
Whether it was plot to extract
money from Mr.. Mueller, who is a
well-to-do farmer, or whether it was a
plain attempt to steal the child on ac-
count" of her comliness remains a
mystery.