The Mankato free press., 1912-10-04
BOLD THIEF MADE THIRD
. RADON GINSENG ROOTS
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
The ginseng thief made another
raid last night, and practically clean
ed up the three beds in the garden
of G. H. Schendel at Rapidan. The
loss Is estimated by Mrs. Schendel
at $3.50 to $500, the greater part be.
ing stolen, and very little destroyed
and not taken There is still very
little clue to the thief, but the lines
are being somewhat tightened about
him, it is believed, and there are some
more or less promising clues that
the sheriff's office is working upon.
Mr.. Schendel was formerly butter
maker at the Rapidan creamery, but
is now travelling for a New York
house, buying butter, as he is an
expert in that line and he is at pres
ent away from home. Mrs. Schendel
remained with her sister last night
at some little distance from her
home, so the premises were vacant,
although directly across the road
maker. The latter was up about all
night last night, but heard no noise
nor saw anything suspicious.
SiSter was awakened.
Mrs. Schenders sister was awaken.
ed at about four o'clock this morning
by someone driving in the road past
her home, and she became somewhat
worried having in mind the two gin
seng robberies that occurred earlier
in the week at Lake Crystal and
Garden City. Early in the morning
she informed Mrs. Schendel of what
she had heard, and the latter return
ed home about seven o'clock, and
her suspicious, which had been arous-
ed from her sisters conversation,
were found to be fully justified.
Mrs. Schendel was dismayed to
find that her garden had been en-.
tered and the three beds of ginseng
practically completely destroyed. 1t
was evident that the thief, whoever
he was had entered the premises
from the side bordering on the Bosin
pasture. The gate on that side had
not been opened, but the wire fence
had been cut. No wheel tracks were
found, but it is thought that probably
the thief tied the horse or horses on
the further side, where they would
be more or less concealed. There
were no distinct foot prints or other
clues left in the garden.
Seven-Year-OId Roots.
The plants taken include a bed of
large, seven year old roots, which
were just ready to be sold, and which
good judges had pronounced to be
much better than the average. The
plants and roots taken would about
fill one grain or gunny sack and half
of another.
About four o'clock this morning
several boys or young men, while re-
turning from the dance at the Gar
den City fair, passed a man who was
driving rapidly west, in the direction
of Lake Crystal. This was at point
in the road mile west of the dam.
The man was in small vehicle,
judged to be a road cart, although
the young men were too tired from
their long dancing to pay particular
attention to the details of the rig.
They did notice, however, that he
drove single white or s.'ay horse,
and that when they passed him he
crouched down and concealed his
features as much as possible behind
his coat collar. The young men do
not remember whether or not they
noticed any sacks or bundles in the
road cart, as it was dark and the
man driving fast, and they anxious
to get home.
Officers Making investigation.
Sheriff Osten, as well as the local
police station, was notified this morn
ing by Frank Nelson of the robbery
and he and Deputy Sheriff Ed Ario
at once went to Rapidan in his. auto
mobile. They examined the premises
and got as good a description as pos
sible of the man and rig that passed
along the road westward at four
o'clock this morning, and they fol-
lowed in that direction in the hope
of picking up some further clues.
1t is said that there is a person
living near Lake Crystal, who has
similar horse and vehicle as that seen
on the road early this morning, but
so far there is nothing known to
implicate this party. The officers
may pursue their investigations in
that direction, among others.
Countryside Is Aroused.
The repeated thefts of ginseng
plants this week and the boldness
displayed, has aroused the entire
countryside, and deep indignation is
felt. Ginseng growing is slow pro-
cess, and it takes six or seven years
to bring the roots of plants to the
proper size to be at their best for
marketing. The destruction of beds,
therefore, represents the loss of
crop laboriously raised, and disap-
points the grower proportionately
The criminality is consequently great
er than in ordinary thieving. If the
thief can be apprehended, long
term in the penitentiary ought to
be meted out to him. 1t Is a case
where the sympathy should all be
with the victims of the theft. No
doubt the officials will do everything
in their power to catch the guilty
party, and see that he is brought to
justice, if this is possible.
Sheriff Osten and Deputy Sheriff
Ario returned this afternoon from
Rapidan. They will return there
this evening to resume their work
on the case. The sheriff expresses
a strong desire to locate the thief,
and is working enthusiastically on
the case.
their farewell party outlining Mr..
Sul1ivan'S many gOOd' qualities were