The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-10-18

unIll morning. he was 1drm mana
and said that he had come to town
early in the evening and had been
with Ulmen for some time. About
eleven o'clock he got tired of walk
ing around and took advantage of
the hospitality of the police station.
He had only a few cents in his
clothes.
UImen's Thrilling Story.
Ulmen told the police that follow
ing the close of the saloons at eleven
o'clock he started across the bridge
toward North Mankato and when
near the other end he was seized
by three men, robbed of money and
checks and hurled over the railing
into the water below. He admitted
that he was intoxicated at this time,
but when he struck the water he So
bered up. He claims that he made
Finally he managed to swim ashore.
He claims to have fallen asleep on
the bank and when he awoke went
to the Commercial house, corner of
Second and Main streets, and was
given lodgings. According to the
statement made by the proprietor of
the hotel to The Free Press, Ulmen
reached the hotel about four o'clock
in the morning. His clothes were
wet and muddy. His hands bore
evidence of having been soaked in
water for some time as they were
parboiled and bleached out. Ulmen
did not say anything to the hotel
man about having been held-up.
Admits He Was Intoxicated.
Ulmen admitted to Chief of Police
DOnahue that he was intoxicated
when he walked on the bridge and
also he said that when he landed
in the water he was sobered up, but
this does not account for his desire to
sleep after he emerged from
| the water. No one living in the
vicinity of the spot where Ulmen
heard any cry of alarm, and an in
vestigation of the point where o..
men says that he crawled out of the
river shows no evidence of foot.
prints or marks of any description.
Ulmen claimed that he was rob-
bed OF some cash and two checks
, amounting to something like 500. He
; is not sure how much money he had,
but bartender who gave him some
change back after he had purchased
a drink, says that his pocketbook
contained about SIS.
The police think it rather strange
that Ulmen did not report the rob-
berry and hold-up before he went to
bed early Saturday morning instead
OF waiting until later in the day.
Romack Saw Ulmen.
Officer Ira ROmack stated to The
Free Press that shortly after eleven
o'clock Friday night he met Ulmen
at the corner of Front and Liberty
streets. Ulmen, stated the officer,
appeared to be under the influence
of liquor. He was advised by the
. ed on Liberty street toward Second.
When he reached the alley he turn,
ed and retraced his steps to Front
1t is said that he was in a saloon
between half past eleven and twelve
| O'Clock. He was not seen after that
hour on Front street by any of the
night patrolmen.
1t was suspected yesterday that
Ulmen was lured or wandered down
Poplar street as far as Warren's
creek into which stream he either
was pushed or fell, and when he
came to imagined he had been toss
ed into the Minnesota river.
Was Taken in Sunday Morning.
About three o'clock Sunday morn
, ing Officer Romack found Ulmen
and another farmer Oh Front street
near the First National bank Both
were intoxicated, says the officer
| They were escorted to the police
station where the officer threatened
: to lock both in a cell. Both pleaded
to be allowed to go home. Ulmen
threatened to bring a suit for dam
ages against the city if he was
locked up. He claimed he was sober
Finally Officer Romack permitted the
men to go home, but not until he
had taken bottle of whisky from
Ulmen and two bottles of red
liquor from his companion. They
lost no time in beating a hasty re.
treat from the city jail
In a conversation with Officer Ro
mack Ulmen denied that he had
| been on Poplar street late Friday
night and said that the man who
! robbed him was tall and well-built
81 know the man." declared Ulman
land if l ever see him again l will
shoot him.
| Chief of Police Donahue stated to-
day that he did not take any stock
in Ulmen's hold-up story Had VI.
men been thrown off the Minnesota
river bridge he would have displayed
some marks other than wet clothes.
/ The water is not very deep and he
would have struck some OF the rocks
that can be found therein. Chief
Donahue is of the opinion that VI
men lost his money instead of being
robbed.
Herman Thissen stated today that
he had narrow escape from a
F., plunge to death over steep EN-
bankment yesterday morning when
a car driven by DR.. G. S. Bigelow
of Dodge Center took the hind wheel
off his buggy as it passed. Mr. This.
sen had pulled out of the road and
stopped his team in order to lei
the doctor pass as there was none
too much room and the road was
muddy on the side on which the
car was to pass. Mr.. Thissen had
his sister in the buggy with him
and as she was very nervous, he
drew out of the road within a few
inches of the precipice and held the
team while DR.. Bigelow went by.
Grade of Seventy-five Feet.
no., l. -