The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-01-13
TRIED, CHARGE is "LARCENY;"
FOUND HIM "GUlLTY."

Surprise Was Sprung on the Popu.
lar Officer Last Night; Number
of Friends Gather at His Head.
quarters; Place Him in Custody
for Two Years; Presented With
Handsome Gold Star.
From Fridays Daily.
Sheriff Anton Osten was placed
under arrest last night on a charge
of grand larceny in the second de-
gree. He was Immediately locked
up in the county Jail where he re-
manned a few minutes. He called
upon Attorney Chris Carlson to de-
fend him against the accusation. In
the absence of County Attorney j.
w. Schmitt, former County Attorney
w. A. Plymat acted as prosecutor.
Judge w. l.. Comstock's court was
transferred from the city hall to the
Jail office where the accused sheriff
was given trial by jury Of his
peers. He was found guilty of hav.
ing purloined star from Deputy
Sheriff Gates Phillips. Sentence was
then pronounced He was placed in
the custody OF Mrs. Osten and to
remain at the county Jail during
the coming two years, and longer, if
less than twenty-four months hence.
The popular sheriff accepted the de-
cree without n murmur.
How 1t All Happened.
Sheriff Osten was the most sur.
prised man in the city last night. A
number of his friends put up job
on him. While he was at the livery
barn of Jacob Hilgers on Main
street trying to obtain a clew to an
.alleged horse thieving, a party OF
gentlemen gathered at the Jail and
laid the plot that was to end in his
arrest and trial. Shortly after eight
O'Clock Attorney Carlson called up
the sheriff from the Jail and inform.
pers which must be served at once.
'.All right" replied the unsuspecting
sheriff, 81 will be up right away"
The crowd awaited the officers COM
ing and when he opened the door
leading 10 his office he found him
self in darkness. The crowd gave a
yell, and for q moment the sheriff
suspected that all the prisoners had
escaped from their cells and he was
about TO he made the object of an
attack.
In the Hands of Friends.
Suddenly the lights were turned
on and Sheriff Osten found himself
surrounded by friends. He expressed
his pleasure at meeting them, and
handshakes followed. Shortly after
the entrance of the sheriff there
was a commotion. Deputy Sheriff
Phillips declared that he had been
robbed of his gold star. Several
suspected parties were searched, but
the missing article was not found
until the sheriff's pockets were over,
hauled. Deputy Sheriffs Ed Ario
and Hilgers caused their chiefs ar.
rest and he was placed under lock
and key. He was handcuffed as well
Then his trial followed, and he was
found guilty and sentence pro
nounced. The trial occupied about
an hour. Witnesses were sworn for
the state and defense. One of the
most damaging piece of evidence
brought out during the hearing was
that last fall the then candidate
| for sheriff was caught in the act
Of drinking soda water in Lake Crys
tai and that Mayor George w. Nef
was participes criminis to the
heinous offense.
Another Surprise in Store.
Sheriff Osten was given another
surprise when he was again con
fronted by Judge Comstock. who in
formed the bewildered officer that
| he was commissioned by the boys
in attendance TO present him with
| a star. The judge then delivered
to the sheriff a handsome gold stal
appropriately and neatly inscribed
The remarks of the judge were vel
| framed and were stated in a manner
that left no doubt in the mind Of
the recipient that the gift came from
those who held him in the highest
esteem and that they took this
means of showing their appreciation
of one of the most popular mel
ever elected to the position OF
sheriff.
Sheriff Osten expressed his thanks
for the gift and his appreciation
Of the friendly and kindly feeling
of those who had done him the
honor
| The following are the names o.
the donors and those who we're ir
attendance at the happy gatherin;
last night: Ed Ario, Jacob Hilgers
Gates Phillips, Phil Landmark
George Lang, Walter Plymat, Johr
Marty, Frank J. Burke, Franz
Kiffe. Charles Guth, Gabbler Bros.
Frank Franciscus, Julius Griebel