The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-07-12
MANKATO FREE PRESS

ready up against II and then ran to-
ward the bridge. The officer did not
have hold of him. He said he pur.
sued and shouted to him to halt, but
Hack ignored his commands, and
he fired. He did not intend to kill
the man, but simply wing" him, so
he would stop running.
After the consultation in the police
station, Chief of Police Donahue de-
cided to keep Officer Pollei's revol-
yer as evidence. 1t is Colts 49,
caliber.
Officer Pollei refused to make any
statement to the reporters remarking
that he would tell his story when
the inquest was held.
An Omaha railroad employee was
riding on switch engine coming
from the Northwestern yards, when
the shooting took place. He said
that he saw crowd gathered on
the Main street crossing and think
ing that there was fight he joined
the throng. Parties We're lifting the
body of Hack into an automobile,
but in such manner he said, that
they would almost break his back.
/ He suggested to the policemen to
turn him over and then lift him
into the machine, and the police
followed his advice. He told them
to give the man what chance he
had of life, by handling him carefully
while lifting him into the machine.
Remark Alleged to Hack.
mo d s. OF b of a
policeman will ever arrest me alive"
is said to have been the remark
made by Hack in saloon on South
Front street some time ago. Hack
was a large powerful man, weighing
over 200 pounds, and considered
himself able to hold his own against
the police, and hence thought that
the police would never be successful
in bringing him to the police station.
I Miss Grace Simpson, a waitress
at the Franklin restaurant, was a
! few feet away when the shooting &C.
Cured She was accompanied by
Mr.. and Mrs. William Bohrer, and
was going toward North Mankato,
when Hack ran past them with
the policeman in hot pursuit.
"They sure did run some, and when
Hack passed us he cut up quite a
breeze said Miss Simpson. They
certainly didn't run like drunk men.
/ did not hear the policeman call one
word to stop"
Wesley Ore and Miss Edna Rist
were walking toward North Mankato
when Hack brushed past them,
while running. He had already
| been shot, when his coat sleeve
| brushed against Mr. Ore and Hack
continued on but few feet and fell.
Miss Rist became frightened at the
shooting and ran on without waiting
to see what happened to Mr.. Hack.
PolIei Knew Hack.
Many people wonder why Officer
POllei fired the shot that killed
Hack. Admitting that Hack
would have escaped, they say that
| the policeman could have arrested
him on the following day or today,
/ for he had known Hack for may
years, having attended school with
him, and working with him on the
railroad. Under the circumstances
they say the shooting was not justi-
fled. Shortly after the shooting, the
large crowd that formed in front OF
the police station, was ready to do
almost anything, even ready to
lynch the officer. There are others
who uphold the officer, declaring
! that Hack had made it a practice
! to insult women and young girls on
the street and that in view of his
/ attempt to escape from an officer
he was but simply taking his life in
his own hands. One prominent citi
zen this morning said he would
clap Officer Pollei on the back for
his act, if he were present, for ii
he had a daughter that was insulted
on the street, he would be ready to
do something rash himself to right
the wrong.
Brothers of the dead man were at
the police station as late as three
o'clock yesterday morning. They
made no demonstration, nor did they
make any threats to shoot Officer
Pollei.
Chief of Police Donahue stated this
morning that Officer Pollei was tax
en- into the country, at point about
half an hours ride from the city
and that he would be produced when
wanted. The chief stated that the
officer was not under arrest.
Opinion of County Attorney.
County Attorney J. w. Schmitt
stated today that a police officer is
justified in shooting only in the case
of a person charged with felony
is attempting to make his escape
and in self-defense. I'm this case
the man was running from the OFF,
Ger. From the facts as presented to
me | should say that Officer Pollei
was not justified in shooting Hack.
The inquest will be held this after
noon and after all the facts and
circumstances are brought out
shall be i'm a position to act.
While the crowd was standing
in front of the city hall Wednesday
night, Sheriff Osten conveyed Poliei
to st. Peter in the formers auto and
the officer was locked in the jail
there. This was done as precau-
tionary measure.
Susie Werts, one of the girls who
figured in the tragic events OF Wed
nesday night, was in the police court
about six years ago on charge oil
incorrigibility. She was paroled by
Judge Comstock.
| Mrs. Liedloff is the wife of a rail-
road man.
Holding an Inquest.
An inquest over the remains OF
Hubert Hack was held this after
/ noon at the undertaking parlors OF
ILandkammer Bros. Coroner kenne-
dy had selected the following jury
IA. M. Smith, A. H. Allen, A. H.