The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-15
MANKATO FREE PRESS


he lived but a few minutes, appar-
emily with but very little agony.
He came to Mankato, ostensibly
with the purpose of securing employ
ment. He first went to the Mime
opa barn and asked Grover Wier,
who conducts the stable, for a posi-
ton as driver, saying that he had
had experience along that line and
was good horseman. Wier told
him that he had no position open
at that time, whereupon Schultz said
he would see his old friend, George
w. Monks, and apply for work
there.
He thereupOn went to Mr.. Monks
office at 131 Liberty street and tele-
phoned to Mr.. Monks, who was at
the residence, and asked him for a
position. Mr.. Monks came down to
the office at once, and promised
him work in the morning, and even
promised to discharge one of his
men so that Schultz could get po-
sition. At that time Schultz was
slightly drunk, but as he had been
an old friend of Mr.. Monks, the
latter promised him work. Schultz
said he had just returned from Spo-
kane, Wash, where he had lost his
money and therefore had returned
to his former home and wanted work
so that he could bring his family
back. He said he wanted to secGle
employment and straighten up and
begin new life.
After his talk with Mr.. Monks he
returned to the Minneopa barn and
asked for some writing paper as he
wanted to write a letter to his
brother Frank. This was given him
and he sat down, but after writing
for a minute or so, he got up and
walked down the street When ne
left the barn, it was noticed that
his actions were rather queer and
that he was very drunk. Also he
had evidently been lying down IN
some straw, as his overcoat, which
he carried under his arm, was COW
cred with hay and straw. This was
about two o'clock in the afternoon.
Shortly afterward he returned and
asked for some more paper, which
was given him. He then went TO
the Mankato State bank at the cor
ner of Hickory and Front streets,
and sat down on the steps where he
finished the letter.
In the early part of the day he
seemed to be in the best OF spirits.
While walking up the street he met
Frank Benapf of the police force
and accosted him. AS he had been
away for some time, the policeman
did not recognize him at once, but
when Schultz told him who he was,
there followed a light conversation
for a few minutes, in which Schultz
related a few of his adventures out
west and how he had lost his
money. He admitted that he had
been drinking for the last few days
as he wanted to refrain from brood
ing over his troubles out west.
After he left Mr.. Bienaph he re-
turned to the barn and while unoD-
served, went down the feedway, past
the horses, and lay down on pile
of straw Here he swallowed the
acid. Shortly afterward John r.
Dackins and Charles Boynton came
down the stairs to take care OF the
horses. They heard queer sounds
come from the straw pile and look
ing around, saw Schultz lying down.
He was breathing hard. AT that time
they did not know Schultz and call
ed the stableman, Ben Jones. Inc
latter tried to waken Schultz, put,
failing in this, called a physician
When the doctor arrived, the man
was dead. A few feet from him
lay the empty two ounce bottle OF
hn
under him lay his fur coat.
Coroner E. r. Kennedy was call
ed and he arrived about five O'CLOCK
At that time the body was still
warm. The face had not been DIS
figured by the acid in the least, ana
he lay in half-crouched position
as if his death had been peaceful
How or when he had secured the
acid could not be learned. The drug
gist whose label appeared on the
bottle denied having sold any aclo
Yesterday and said that Schultz hao
probably secured the poison from
someone else or had purchased II
some time ago.
The body was removed to the
Landkamer undertaking rooms. where
| the clothes were searched. Inc let
ter which he had written, pocket
knife. a business card of the Hote
Wells of Wells, Mimi, a handker
chief, an empty pocket and bill
book, and two match boxes were
found in his pockets.
The letter was written on a state
| ment sheet of DIR. d. r. Philip, in
scrawly and unsteady hand AS neal
as could be figured out, it read az
| follows:
Dear Selma:
81 am going to end my life. l an
Monks barn. My motner-has
much
Good bye,
Charles Schultz.
1t is believed that he had broodee
over his troubles and hence the
suicide was premeditated. NO IN
quest was necessary, said coroner
Kennedy, but he held a conference
with County Attorney Schmltt thi'
morning.
The Minneopa barn seems 10 nav,
a hoodoo, as four people have al
ready met their death in or neal
the barn. Some years ago Il. FAD
dock fell dead in front or the sla
BILE, and about four years ago sec
ond person committed suicide D9