The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-07-05
THOMAS |. GRIFFIN WAS
TOLD TO BEAT IT QUICK
From Fridays Daily.

is thought to have assisted in blow
ing the safe at the j. M. Karmany
meat market early Thursday morn
ing. The strange actions of thi.
man and his companions lead Mr.
Griffin to believe that they were tn.
ones who blew the safe and als(
robbed the grocery store of Flo
Pugh & Broekmeyer. After a few
Mr.. Griffin and his dog finally
beat it." Late yesterday Afternoon
when he heard of the sensational
robbery, Mr.. Griffin at once made
up his mind that he had talked will
one of the ''yeggs" the night pre-
vious. Mr.. Griffin tells the follow
ing story: ..
Story Told BY Griffin.
Il left the union station late Wed
nesday night after the trains from
the twin cities had departed anG
went into a restaurant to eat g
lunch. l then walked south Oh
Front street, accompanied by my
bulldog. When | reached the gro
Gerry store of Flo, Pugh & Brock
meyer, | sat down to rest a short
time, on the bench used for dis
playing vegetables and groceries
After remaining there for few
minutes, | left my basket and walk
ed up Liberty street toward Second
street. AS | reached the alley in
the rear of the barn owned by the
grocery store, / was accosted by &
large, powerfully built man, who
called, Hey there!'"
Mr.. Griffin said he did not see
the man at first, but upon looking
closer saw him come out of the run
way leading to the basement of the
barn where the stock is kept. He
had a lighted match in his hand
Mr.. Griffin stopped upon being &C
costed, while the man came up to
him.
That's a fine dog you've got
there. said the stranger.
Eyes, it's a pretty good looking
dog" replied Mr. Griffith.
Wanted to Trade Knives.
For a few moments we talked
about commonplace things, when
suddenly the man asked me if
had a large knife. He said he had
a small knife, which he would
trade for a large one. | told him
that the last knife trade / was
cheated and did not care to trade
again, and the stranger then asked
if l lived here, to which | replied
that l didn't think it was any OF
his business"
Now / asked you a civil ques,
ton and | want a civil answer, and
If you don't I'll hand you one, u
came back the strangers reply.
81 don't intend to be bullyragged
or bulldozed by anyone, not even by
John l.. Sullivan or James Jeffries,
and they're pretty good men,"
said l. ...
THE man looked very threaten
ingly at me and said very sternly:
Now, | want to know whether you
live here or not
Yes, l do. Does that suit your
Had Better Beat 1t.
We'll, you and your dog had bet
ter beat it, and if you don't, you
will wish you had continued the
stranger.
Il did not like to get myself into
any unnecessary trouble, and SO
walked back to Front street, picked
up my basket, which | had left on
the display bench, and moved up
Front street towards Byron"
Mr.. Griffith said that while talk
ing to the stranger, he observed an
other man standing near the scales
owned by the Hays-Lucas Lumber
company on East Liberty street
Just as Mr.. Griffith started toward
Front street. this second man call.
ed to his friend: Come on, Bob,
lof'c "a
Made Another Threat.
81 will as soon as | have disposed
of this fellow" replied the stranger,
who had talked with Mr. Griffin.
Up to this time Mr. Griffin had
no feeling of fear in the least, but
at the second threat, he thought il
best to follow the strangers instruc-
tons and beat it," He said that
had the stranger attacked him, his
dog would have made it uncomfort-
able for the man.
Mr.. Griffin walked toward Byron
street and when he reached the CO..
ner where the C. F. Gunstrom meat
market is, he stopped and looked
down the street, but saw no one.
While he was on his way to Byron
street he did not look back until
he reached the meat market. He
thought the strangers had disappear
ed, or perhaps turned into the chau-
tauqua grounds to wait until Mr..
Griffin had got out of sight
Description of Men.
Mr. Griffin did not hear of the
burglary until late yesterday after
noon, and then it occurred to him
that it was very possible that these
men were the yeggs who blew the
safe at Karmany's meat market. He
regrets not having notified the po-
lice of his meeting at once
In describing the men, Mr. Griffin
said that the stranger who talked
with him was tall, powerfully
built man, weighing about $50 pounds,
wore gray trousers and a vest to
match, but no coat. He did not carry
any valise or tools that Mr. Grit
fin could see. His voice was not
harsh, but he spoke very rapidly.
The other man was a little shorter
but a very powerful built man at
that.
Two strangers whose descriptions
tailed with those given by Mr.
Griffin were seen in saloon the
evening of the burglary