The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-05-26


From Mondays Daily
This was the declaration that Wal
ter r. Mason made to Sheriff Anton
Osten while the officer and his pris-
oner were en- route from Hammond,
Ind, to Mankato.
Following an interview with Miss
Anna Cole in the sheriff's office Sun
Free Press that he would fight the
charges against him to a fragile"
81 am innocent" said Mason, and
Il can prove it to be So"
Reached Mankato at Noon.
Sheriff Osten and his prisoner
reached Mankato at noon yesterday,
coming direct from Hammond 1t
was the sheriff's intention to arrive
here with his man Saturday night, but
they missed the train out of Chi
cago by about fifteen minutes. They
were forced to remain in the Windy
city all day Saturday.
Shortly after their arrival at the
county Jail, Miss Cole called up by
phone and expressed willingness to
meet Mason. About three o'clock she
reached the bastile. She was attired
in a neat fitting black dress with a
hat to match. She appeared to be
much distressed in mind. The girl
stated that she would not care to
have the interview with Mason while
a newspaper man was present, so
The Free Press representative alb
scented himself, but not before the
young lady stated that she would not
uphold Mason in any wrong-doing
Miss Cole and Mason were together
at least half an hour The sheriff
was present during the interview.
Mason Surprised at Arrest.
To The Free Press Mason said
that he and Miss Cole had been
keeping company for about a year,
and that they were engaged to be
married. The wedding had been set
for next Wednesday and they had
made plans to go to a western town
where he was to have engaged in
newspaper work. "A week ago last
Friday Miss Cole spoke to me about
the letter and the check for $500. AS
nounced it a fake" said Mason.
About a month ago l spoke to Miss
Cole about my trip east, and also
told others that l was going east
On Monday morning l again spoke to
Miss Cole about my trip, and said
that / was going to borrow some
money. She agreed to loan me a
certain sum.
Prepare for the Wedding.
"It was her intention to draw out
all the money so that she could buy
some things for herself and prepare
for our wedding. / left here Monday
morning, went to Minneapolis, and
while there wrote a letter to Andrew
c. Peterson. This letter was written
on the Hotel Rowe letterhead.
went to St. Paul, and there handed
the letter to a friend of mine, an
insurance agent, with the request
that he mail it for me. / left Mon
day night for Chicago, arriving there
on Tuesday morning. l took a train
out of Chicago at about nine o'clock
over the Nickel Plate road, reaching
a point in Pennsylvania at about
midnight. / remained there about
two hours and started west, arriving
in Hammond about ten o'clock Wed
nesday night. / went from Hammond
to Chicago where secured 500.
I went back to Hammond. 1t was
about 10 a. m. when / reached there
/ was arrested at about 1880 a. m
I had intended to take a train al
noon for Mankato.
Overheard Name Mentioned.
while standing in front of no
tel at Hammond / heard my name
mentioned by the chief of police.
said: I am Mason and he informed
me that / was wanted in Mankato
on charge of grand larceny.
was very much surprised, but Of
course accompanied the officer to the
police station"
Mason did not care to say from
whom in Chicago he obtained the
800, but remarked there was more
from where that 500 came from, but
he did not wish to give away the
source, as they would want to cal
it all up" When asked what he
meant by such an expression, Mason
referred to the rapacity of attorneys
and their desire to keep lawsuits in
courts as long as clients had any
money.
interviewed a Fortune Teller.
"Once during the winter l inter
viewed fortune teller" said Mason
"She informed me that on abou
June this year l would have a law
suit that would stretch out over the
summer months, but in the end
would prosper"
Il have got the lawsuit, all right,
remarked Mason, with a laugh
Mason informed The Free Pres:
that he was twenty-five years old
His parents are living, but he did no
state where. He said also that hi
was employed at the Hotel Heinrich
for three months as night clerk. HI