The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-08-18


Officer Bienapf last night, about
midnight, while walking through the
alley of Sivert Olsons grocery store
encountered Joseph Phelps, a negro
youth of small size, standing i'm the
alley with huge revolver i'm his
hand. He suspected that the youth
had no good motive. so took him to
the police station and locked him
up. The gun was found to be a
Colts six-shooter, thirty-two calibre,
loaded with long shells. The wea.
pom was an old model, and i'm its
day the very best.
Gun Slid Down Trousers Leo.
Henry Otto, one of the proprietors
of the Northwestern restaurant, this
forenoon informed the authorities
that at about 1920 o'clock last night
Phelps was in his place of business,
and was standing close to him, when
suddenly the big gun slid down the
inside of his trousers leg having
evidently been loosely slipped under
his belt Phelps reached over and
pulled it out from the lower end of
his trousers leg and put it under his
coat and went out. Mr.. Otto express
ed fear that if he had been alone
in the restaurant the negro might
have attempted to hold him up.
Charge Gross Misdemeanor.
This forenoon County Attorney
Schmitt got out a warrant charging
Phelps with a gross misdemeanor
which means that it is grand jury
offense. The charge is that he car
ried and concealed a weapon with
the intent to use it against another
person. Phelps was arraigned and
wished hearing, and it was set for
four o'clock this afternoon. He was
committed to Jail in default of $500
bail.
Phelps states that his home is in
Faribault, but that he has worked
in Minneapolis. He has for some
time been working in local hotel.
He told Free Press reporter that
the gun belonged to his brother, but
that the latter, on leaving for Cali
fOrnia, left it with him He said
that he had never shot it off, and
was not using it for self-defense
Taking Gun to Room.
He said that he had had it at the
hotel, and was taking it to his
boarding place to keep there, and
had it in his clothes except about
the time the officer came along. He
had no intent of using it on any
one, and had had no trouble with
anyone. Since his brother gave it
to him he had taken it with him
from town to town.
Phelps is meek appearing and
there was some question whether he
was trying to conceal the gun or
was trying to conceal himself behind
it. 1t was too big to go into any
of his pockets, and so he carried it
by hanging it on his belt and letting
the long barrel project down his
trousers leg.
julius C. Hildebrand, a resident OF
this city, was examined for his san
ity this forenoon before Judge
Hughes, and was ordered committed
to the asylum at St Peter, and was
taken there this afternoon He is
Twenty-Five years old, single, and an
employe at the malt house The pres
ent is the first acute attack of mental
trouble that the man has had, and
1T began Monday morning. He would
laugh without OCCASION and stand
on the street corners for hours until
his sweetheart would come and take
him home, and for four days this
week. he refused to dress. The ex-
animation showed that for five years
pass he has worked nights and hung
about saloons days. sleeping little or
none, and drank heavily.
Hildebrand's brother started to
take him to the probate office this
morning, but he broke away from
him, and it was necessary to get the
assistance of Deputy Sheriff Ario to
round him up. He was found drink
ing.
The will of the late Mrs. Sarah
Pope was filed for probate a day or
SO ago. 1t is dated April 20, 1907
and disposes of personal property to
the amount of $4,000 The heirs are
one son and daughter and eleven
The requests are as follows:
George Bucklin of Austin, grandson,
$500; Charles, Maggie and Benjamin
Keith, grandchildren, 500 each:
Chester H., Ross H., and w. Deval
Keith, and Charlotte E., Forrest, Rus
sell and Sadie Nisell, grandchildren,
each $50; and all of the rest to be
divided equally between the son,
Charles e. Keith of this city, and
the daughter, Mrs. Grace Garrison of
Harlan county, Nebraska c. E. Keith
is appointed executor.
.