The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-11-04
From Tuesdays Daily.

usual last night, doing damage in some
parts of town, soaping windows, etc.,
in defiance of police warnings. Some
INDUCED lin innocent sport, and others
went beyond the line of fun and be-
came destroyers of property and VIC.
lators of the law and laid themselves
open to arrest and punishment.
There was less soaping of windows
than usual, probably on account of the
activity of the police. The day force
was on duty until midnight, and Front
street was patrolled and soap found
in the possession of young people and
children was confiscated. The city to-.
day had about twenty pounds OF this
soap. Girls were about the worst Of
tenders, and many of them were
obliged to turn over cakes of soap.
Very little greasy material was used,
so that the windows as a rule were
easily cleaned, and doubtless most of
them needed cleaning.
An Undesirable Citizen.
In the crowd that soaped windows
were one or two depraved fellows, who
showed their degeneracy by writing vul.
gar and obscene expressions on some
of the windows. If discovered, this party
will be pretty sure of getting the high
est penalty that he law allows. His
presence is not desired in Mankato, and
he ought to be kicked out.
A large number of outhouses in the
north part of the city, on North Sec
ond, Third and Fourth streets, were
overturned. In one block on North
Broad street nine out of thirteen out.
houses were turned over The gangs
who did this dirty work ought to be
made to pay for the damage that they
did and fine besides. At the same
time, people living where there is a
sewer ought to connect with the sewer
and take down their outhouses, and
possibly the boys might have had this
in mind when they acted. Yet, this
would not justify the action. This is
a matter in the hands of the health
department and council, and it is not
for individuals to say what other peo-
pie should or should not do, if acting
within the law. In some instances, the
vandalism was completed by tearing
of the roofs of these buildings. Some
families will be put to much trouble
and expense in repairing the damage
done. Sheds were also torn down and
other malicious damage wrought that
calls loudly for punishment. The suf-
ferers ought to start prosecutions
wherever they can learn the names of
the wrong doors.
Vandalism at Church.
One of the most despicable pieces of
vandalism was done at St. Johns Epis.
copal church, where a crowd of roughs
broke down the door of the outer eel.
lar and then built fire on the floor
and with an axe and buck saw chop.
ped and smashed down the door leading
into the basement proper. Then they
got up into the church and rang the
church bell This was repeated twice
to the damage of the church property
and the annoyance of the entire neigh.
borhood The rector, Rev. P. X. Ed
wards, made complaint to the police
this forenoon about the matter, ard
asked that steps be taken to arrest and
prosecute the toughs who outraged all
dency by their action. Certain par
ties are strongly suspected, and il
enough evidence can be secured they
should be shown no leniency. A term
in the county Jail would about suit
their offense.
Water Wagon Was Moved.
One Of the city water wagons was
taken from its housing place and push
ed up to Fifth street by a merry
crowd, but such pranks as this and
many others can merely provoke q
laugh as the spirit of pure fun wa.
manifested in them, and no coarsenesi
as in some of the things done.
The 'Look Out for the Cars" sign
on the Omaha track near the STANDARD
brewery plant was torn down ant
thrown across the track.
The police took two boys to tho pc
lice station, who had been caught b,
them soaping windows, but later al
lowed them to go. The first excla
nation of both, before being charge
with anything, was that they had no