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

gram yesterday morning from Mason,
saying that he was stranded at Ham
mond and asking her to raise and
telegraph 500 to him there. He
made the claim that he was return
ing from Oil City, Pa, where he had
settled his uncle's estate and hatd
secured a slice of 1t in bonds, aid
wanted the money SO as to keep fis
promise to reach Mankato today,
which was the day that he said that
he would be back, when he took the
$3.50 handed him by Miss Cole, and
left, ostensibly, for Oil City.
Miss Cole at once showed this tele-
gram to the bank authorities and they
telephoned to Mr.. Osten at Mime
apolis, and also had chief Doylahue
telegraph to the chief of police at
Hammond to arrest Mason W hen he
should call at the telegraph office for
the money A decoy telegram was
sent to Mason over the Signature of
Miss Cole, saying that she could
raise but $50 and asking whether
this should be sent By wire or mail.
The object of this was to string
him along until he could be arrested.
The scheme worked perfectly, and
Mason was arrested. When he saw
that the jig was up he said that
he would come without requisition
papers.
Officers Have Information.
1t is reported that Mason's alleged
pal in this city made confession to
the officials that Mason wrote the
letter and check that were signed
Frank Stamenhoff," and that he had
this pal rewrite them, so as to dis
guise the handwriting. If this is so,
and if the testimony of this pal is
believable, it would seem that there
lis strong case against Mason.
The sheriff's office has pretty
good line on Mason, or believes it
has. 1t believes that he has been
connected with number of question
able enterprises. Deputy Sheriff Ario
remarked today that he knew of
enough against the man, aside from
the bank DEAL to send him oyer the
road for twenty years.
The last city directory contains the
name of Walter Mason and gives his
business as houseman at the Saul
paugh, but it is believed that he
worked there only short time, and
that was a year ago. OF late he has
been selling mail boxes.
Interview With Miss Cole.
Miss Cole was interviewed this
afternoon and when informed that
Mason claimed that he knew nothing
about the $500 check, she replied:
81 do not think he did"
Miss Cole stated that she received
the letter containing the check on
Friday last She consulted Mason
about them both, and he said that
the check must be a fake" Any
way, he treated the matter lightly.
Miss Cole stated that she did not
know anyone by the name of Frank
Stamenhoff. 1t was explained in the
letter that this was fictitious name,
but the letter conveyed the informa-
mirer who desired her to accept the
check. She deposited the check of
the advice of friends, but said that
Mason had not suggested it.
Did Not Believe Mason Wrote Check.
Miss Cole informed The Free Press
that she did not think Mason wrote
either the check or the letter. She
had no proof that he did. Neither
the letter nor the check is in his
handwriting. 81 have told the bank
officials that l did not think Mason
wrote the check. l have no proof
that he had anything to do with
the letter or check that l received"
Telegram From Mason.
Miss Cole received a telegram
from Mason this morning which in
formed her of his arrest and advised
her not to worry-that he was inno-
cent of anything charged against
him.
Later on in the interview Miss
Cole said she had an idea that Mason
knew something about the check. He
seemed to be very anxious to get the
money. He urged her to draw the
$500 from the bank on the Monday
that he left Mankato.
Miss Cole stated that she had re-
ceived word from Mason every day
since his departure and had informed
the officers. The Young lady in
formed The Free Press that Mason
had always been faithful to her and
it was hard for her to believe that