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

no doubt with a great deal of in
ward glee. He handed 1t back, and
said he did not wish to buy any
goods, as he had all that he wanted,
Sam Key Is Expected.
Sam Key is expected in Mankato
| in a day or two to see If he can
identify Mason as the man who had
the recommendation
John Long cashed two money or
ders at OwatOnna, one for $50 and
one for $2010. Mason has admit
ted to Mr.. Smith that he wrote the
$20l0 order for Moon, but denies
that he wrote the other, although
both are in exactly the same hand
writing. FOng Moon kept most of
John Longs letters, and the hand
writing on these is the same as
Masons Mason denies having writ
ten several letters and orders that
bear his own signature. He seems
to have become very much mixed
up.
Mason Blames Peterson.
Mason was seen at the county jail
yesterday afternoon and laid the en-
tire blame for his downfall upon
Andrew C. Peterson. He said that
before he met Peterson he was hon.
est and upright, and that all that
he had done since then that was
crooked was due to Peterson. He
said that he never was in trouble
hnf Ia hot Dntn
the planning. He met Peterson last
fall for the first time.
Asked in regard to the proposal
to rob the Markytan store in North
Mankato, he said that Peterson owed
Markytan for goods bought there, as
he owed many other stores, and
that Peterson proposed to rob the
store and thus get even with his
account there. Mason had told him
to do his robbing himself.
Mason said that he did not know
that Peterson had sent the letter
and check to Miss Anna Cole. He
denied that he is John Long, and
when asked as to whom he thought
Long was, he said that he had an
idea he was Peterson.
Admitted Being in Owatonna.
Asked as to whether he was in
Owatonna in January, when the
money orders were cashed by John
Long, he said that he was there
that month but was not in the post
office and did not know where it
was.
Mason claimed that Peterson had
deserted three times from the reg
ular army and had served a term
in Fort Leavenworth military prison
for one of the assertions.
AS to the watch found on him
and claimed to be the one that
was stolen from Louis Huettls bar
bershop, Mason said that the watch
that he let Huettl have as secfirity
for 81 loan was Knickerbocker
watch, while the watch found on
him is another make. He said that
he had two watches, and has not
seen the Knickerbocker watch since
he loaned it.
Mason said that he wrote the
letters for Fong Moon to John
Long, but denied that he had ever
seen John Long or that he knew
who he was. He had sent the
money orders for Moon, but no
goods had ever come. He never
was in Waseca, and never received
recommendation from Moon to
other Cinnamon, and never asked
for one.
Mason said that in his opinion
Miss Cole was not implicated in the
bank matter at all He denied that
he had any previous knowledge of
the check. He denied any connec-
ton with the robbery of Huettl's
barber shop and said that he could
show where he was at all times the
night of the robbery. He said that
his own razor was stolen on that
occasion and he never saw it again.
What Peterson Said.
Andrew G. Peterson was found at
his residence, corner of Fifth and
Main streets. He has just been ap-
pointed night engineer at the Saul
paugh. He talks in candid man.
ner, and apparently is truthful. He
was born and raised in Mankato,
and his parents are honest people.
His father was at one time engaged
in business in the city and held
positions with other business men,
and is now residing near the city.
Andrew went away when young,
travelled a great deal, was married
at Kent, Wash, and has a wife and
two children. They returned to
Mankato a year or two ago.
Peterson was asked in regard to
the various statements about him
made by Mason, but said that he
was under instructions from the
county attorney not to talk for pub
! LEGATION. He did say, however, that
he deserted from the army but once,
and that was not a real desertiOn,
being merely technical one. He
was in Troop X, Thirteenth Cav.
airy, and did not get on we'll with
the officers and left without notice,
and six days later voluntarily re-
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