The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-05-09

ume of description and daring that
lis hardly equaled in the best detec-
| tive stories.
Wanted the Cash.
The first fact brought to light was
The demand of the widow that she
receive the Postal Life insurance
money in CASH $4,000 in gold and
silver coin. This was not granted,
$4,000 being in. cash and the remain
| Ter in cashiers checks. AS soon as
Ter. child was born and she was able
20 travel, February Is, she left Port
land, going to Lake Charles, La. a
| few miles from LaFrance's home,
lMarshaltown. Here she was joined
Thy stranger, addressed by the chill
lren as Uncle Jesse" and later
Identified as ]. c. Wofford. All this
ime she was under the closest sur
l,geilance and one night a man rode up
70 the door and after a. few minutes
talk with her disappeared. The man
answered in a vague way the de-
.cription of LaFrance. The detec
ives, however dared not arrest him
rntil every part of the net Was so
lalosely drawn that there could be no
nance for an error would warn La
yHrance and spoil every chance they
nay have had for his capture.
Made Another Move.
/ The husband did not join his wife
here and after few weeks she
|. moved to Houston, Texas, and from
here went to Summerfield and talk,
ng up her residence a few miles out
of town at a tie-camp, where she told
he woman that she expected her,
husband to join her soon. Uncle
Jesse, appeared in the role of the
E usband as he had done in Houston
they moved in ten days to. San An
ohio, then back to San Francisco
hen by boat to Bandon, small
+ oast village in Oregon. From there
( hey went inland to Coquille where
. hey started housekeeping. All this
J ime shift of detectives, constant
\ changing, kept the local WoodmaI
/ ffice informed of her every move
/ Who came to the house and as fal
Z possible the events within thu
ONE. Detectives formed the ac
! uaintance of the children, took then
shing, to the movies" and resorted
every means to find out abou
. heir father and the man whom the,
{ allied "uncle," but who posed az
! he father.
Enter A. J. Ferger.
Up to this time the chase had bee
me in which the detectives merel'
called that they were on the RICH
ath-the results could hardly be
. allied encouraging. But at this poin
, he $4,000 cashier check was cashed
, ndorsed by "a. j. Ferger Bumbe,
ompany" The endorsement VIA,
UGH surprise that it was deter
mined to locate the A. ]. Ferge
lumber company, which was foune
be located but a few miles fror
'andon and doing thriving bus
ness. The plant was small, consis
tx of sawmill and an adjaceD
. 'mber stretch. Mr.. Ferger himself
{ answered the description of LIZ
. rance in small degree and it wa
etermined to identify him il poss'
/ lie. The city detective from Por
. md was again called upon and b
t once recognized the man. They
!. ollowed Ferger to a livery stabl
! nd while he went inside the detet
i've stood at the door awaiting hi
I eturn. He never came back.
This occurred on April and o.
pril 8 the timber property and saw
ill was transferred to j. c. Walke'
/ fictitious person, with the eviden
/ urpose of disposing of the propert
} an innocen. person. The part
as traced from Roseberg, small
( 1land town, about three days stag
idc from Bandon, and from there t.
cattle, where all trace was lost c
he man. 1t was believed that b
ad gone to Vancouver, although n
ace of him could be found there
II the meantime grip which ha
cen left in Louisiana was foun
nd in it letter, uncalled for, az
ressed to his wife. In this he tol
# his future plans and it was th
tilure>to receive this letter that az
ounted for the rapidity with whict
e was finally located.
He was again located few day
'go at Coquille and this time the de
ectives arrested him and he admit
ed that he was LaFrance. The cas-,
S under the direction of B. ID. Smith
eneral attorney of the Moderl
Voodmep of America and order,
ave been given to attach every
hing that can possibly be attached
he timber lands, valued at abou
$1,000. almost $4,000 in his wife's pos
ession, and some property in Louisi
ma will be attached and it is proba
Vie that the total loss will not b.
very heavy.
The Fellows Capture.
On Monday at the Woodmen Off
'es in this city was received the fol
. owing telegram: Sheriff and oper
tive leave today with LaF'rance am
,is family for Portland In Port.
and a secret Indictment had beef
sworn out against LaFrance and hi
rrest. when desired took but mo