The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-08-15
Booze Trip Ends
With Knife Stab

From Saturdays Daily.
Wilton Mckenzie, young man
from North Mapkato, was stabbed in
the side last night while walking on
South Front street near the Frank
lin restaurant. His alleged assailant
is Albert James Valentine a farm
hand from Judson, and the quarrel
between the two men was of short
duration. They had been going the
rounds" of the booze parlors, and
had rounded up a few too many
drinks, according to Valentines state
ment. Valentine says Mckenzie met
him in a saloon back down the
line" and had been following along,
"mooching'' drinks. Several times
| told him to stay away and not to
follow me, said Valentine this morn
ing, "but he kept right along, and
think that the fellow wanted to go
through my pockets. When | drew
the knife he had his hand on my
arm, and | turned round suddenly
and scratched him with the knife.
Did Not Intend to Hurt Him.
81 did not intend to hurt him bad
ly, but | wanted him to realize that
he couldn't fool with me- I had the
blade of the knife between my thumb
and finger, with only about quar-
ter of an inch of the blade which
could be used The knife was
sharp and cut through easily, al
though not deep He had his coat
on, but it could not have hurt him
very badly because | was holding the
blade"
' Mckenzie had also been drinking
heavily, and says he does not know
why the other man cut him. They
seemed to be walking along peaceably
enough.
! Just after the affair took place, Of
fcer John R. Albrecht happened
along, and took in the situation at
a glance. Mckenzie was bleeding,
so he looked toward him first While
he was taking the injured man across
the street to the police station, Val
entine ducked, and soon after went
to the Idel restaurant for lunch.
Was Caueh Later.
went to the depot to catch the 12:45
train for Judsot, but while standing
on the platform, Officer Albrecht rec
ognized him and placed him under
arrest. DIR. J. w. Andrews was called
to look after McKenzie's wound, and
five stitches were taken. The cash
was long, but not deep. The blood
l
Frank Bienapf took him home in a
hack.
Bill Dollar, well known in Man
kato, ]. A. Hanson of 626 North
Front street, and J. S. Buttolph, who
works at the Franklin, saw the fracas,
while standing near the restaurant.
I Mckenzie refused to appear against
Valentine this morning. Valentine
has been working on farm near
Judson since last February, and seems
to be a good sort of fellow as long
as the red liquor is out of reach He
has served three years and a half in
the state prison at Lancaster, Neb.,
! for horse stealing, but the circum-
/ stances of the theft are rather pc
|
drunk and took team of horses
which was hitched on the street, in
the middle of the day and drove
away with them. He had more liquor
with him and so he did not come
back Therefore a posse went in
search of him, found him drunk and
, he was convicted '
Conduct Was Excellent.
While at Lancaster his conduct was
excellent and he became one of the
, best broom makers in the prison. He
earned about $3.50 cents a day after
putting in day for the state. He
speaks very highly of prison life
!, there, and says that the officials are
fine men. ,1.,s-.la.
Valentine was arraigned before Judge
Comstock this morning on a charge
of disorderly conduct since Mckenzie
, failed to appear, and entered a plea
of euiltv. The judge continued the
case until two o'clock this afternoon.