The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-03-26
WINDS UP IN DEATH
NIGHT OF DEBAUCHERY AT FARM
HOME HAS MOST TRAGIC END.
DR.. Lambert Laurens Victim of
Flames and His Host, Ameil ROs-
eneau, Is Held for the Crime of
Murder; Arson Is Said to Be the
Means of Taking Life of BOarder
Near Montgomery.

Montgomery, Mimi, March 23-After
a night spent in drinking and play
ing cards. during which several alter
cations occurred between Ameil Rose
neau. the owner of house and farm,
contents of can of oil on the floor,
touched match to the oil and started
fire which destroyed the house and
burned to death DR.. Lambert Laurens,
a retired physician, sixty years old.
This in effect was the finding of the
cOroner's jury at an inquest held this
afternoon. The witnesses upon whose
testimony the finding was based were
Mrs. Rosneau, John Kennedy, Mrs.
Roseneau's brother and George French,
a helper on the farm.
Roseneau has been arrested and will
now be held pending the action of the
grand jury, which will, investigate the
case.
Secured Keg of Beer.
According to the testimony of the
witnesses at the inquest, Roseneau
came to Montgomery Sunday morning
and after spending the day here start
ed for home about eight o'clock, tax
ing Il keg of beer with him.
The evening was spent by Roseneau
Kennedy, French and DIR. l.aurens in
playing cards. Roseneau, it was tes.
tilted, became quite intoxicated and
during the night became enraged at
DR.. Lamens and threatened to throw
him out of the house. Mr.. Kennedy
interfcred after several blows had been
struck and DR.. Laurens somewhat in
jured, and the game finally was re-
sumed.
Soon afterwards DIR. Iaurens went
to bed, complaining of pain i'm his
side. Mrs. Roseneau and the children
had also retired. -
Had Fight in the, Barnyard.
Some time later the three men went
out to look to the horses, and while
walking to the barn, according to
French and Kennedy, Roseneau struck
Kennedy with Il lantern. A fight fol
lowed, and then Kennedy went home
This was about 2:30 o'clock Sunday
morning.
At this time, it was testified, Rose
near was in an ugly temper. He went
into the Kitchen, lighted match anC
touched it to the kerosense can. Mrs
Roseneau came into the room, and a:
the match went ont she urged her hus
band to retire. Disregarding ner en-
treaties, she testified, he emptied thu
contents of the can on the floor anC
touched lighted match to it.
! Mrs. Roseneau then got her children
out of bed and fled with them to tn,
Kennedy home, about half mile
away.
Inquiries Made ADou. Laurens.
After setting the house on fire, il
appears that Rosencau telephoned Il
some of them that the house wa:
burning. French ran 10 neignborin9
house and informed the occupants o
! the fire. When the neighbors arrived
they asked about DIR. Lamens, but were
informed by Roseneau, according t.
the testimony, that he had gone to on
of the neighbors' houses.
The house was completely destroyed
and when the ruins were examined
in the morning the charred remains O
DR.. Laurens, burned beyond recogni
ton, were found by Coroner Burnett
and Sheriff Trapler.
After hearing the testimony of Mrs
, Roseneau, Kennedy, French and other:
VINO were called to the fire, the jury
DR.. Laurens' death was due to the
burniuU of the hOuse by ROSeneau