The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-24

overcoat The other man wore a
brown suit of clothes and cloth
cap, but no overcoat.
Madison, Mimi, January 21.-Rev.
E. Ekeland of Lake Shore township.
this county, was awakened by the
smell of smoke at six o'clock yes
terday morning. His first thought
was of letters he had received from
time to time in the last six months,
threatening his life and the destruc-
ton of his property if he did not
leave the community. Rev. Mr.. Exc
| land jumped into some of his cloth
| ing and hurried downstairs. -t
| The house was full of smoke. He
ran to the front door. 1t was lock-
ed He hurried to the rear door and
felt for the key. Something struck
| him on the head. He staggered and
CROPPED for his assailant Another
blow and he fell unconscious on the
! kitchen floor. ....
Came Out of It. .u
How long he remained in that
condition, Rev. Mr.. Ekeland is not
certain. It was not more than ten
minutes. When he opened his eyes
he saw flames fast approaching him
Forcing himself to his feet, the cler-
gyman opened the kitchen door and
walked unsteadily into the fresh air.
1t seemed to revive him. He saw
his barn too, was burning. The two
buildings being doomed, Rev. Exc
land thought to save what posses
sions he could. He hurried into the
barn and cut the ropes that held his
team Of horses and COW in their
stalls. They ran into the open.
Vain Attempt to Save Property.
vain attempt was made by the
pastor TO save some of his furniture
He stood by and watched the work
of his enemy destroy nearly all the
property he owned. Then neigh
bors came and offered him consola-
ton. One called physician, who
dressed a severe wound on his head
The sheriff and county attorney were
notified and are seeking evidence
Meanwhile Rev Mr.. Ekeland is be-
ing cared for by a parishiOner f.-.
Just what differences exist between
the clergyman and the person under
suspicion, neither he nor the officials
We're willing to say.
Received threatening Letters. ..
1t is known, though, that about six
months ago Rev. Mr. Ekeland re.
ceived the first of several threaten.
ing letters. 1t told him to move
away from the community with his
family, or he would lose everything
he possessed. He paid little atten-
ton to the warming; in fact, it did
not lessen his determination to re-
main in Lake Shore as pastor of
the Minnesota Valley United Luther.
an church.
A second and third letter quickly
followed. These, too, were read and
torn up. A short while ago Rev.
Mr.. Ekeland's family left for Nor.
way on a visit. Soon after their de.
parture he received another letter,
1t was more malicious than the
the others. Not only was his prop
erty in danger, but his life as well.
Last Friday he went into his barn
to find his team of horses and COW
missing. The ropes had been CRIT.
A new harness was lying on the
barn floor, slashed in many pieces.
Rev. Mr.. Ekeland found the animals
soon afterwards in nearby pasture.
The sheriff and others are con-
fident of finding the guilty person.
1t was said tonight that an arrest
probably would be made.
Washington, January 21.-Holding
that the charge of combination in
violation of the Sherman antitrust
law had not been sustained, the SUI
preme court has held the Creamery
Package Manufacturing company and
the Owatonna Manufacturing com.
pany of Minnesota not liable to
three-fold damages on the charge of
driving a competitor, the Owatonna
Tanning Mill company, out of bust.
ness.
The Owatonna Tanning Mill COM
pany, in which d. e. Virtue was
largely interested, claimed in a suit
brought by it under the Sherman
antitrust law, that the Creamery
Package Manufacturing company and
the Owatonna Manufacturing COM
pany sought to monopolze the churn
and butter worker trade and when
Virtues company declined to sell
cut to them they brought suit for
alleged infringements of patents for
the distinct purpose of monopolizing
the trade The circuit court of ap-
peals for the eighth circuit held
against the Virtue company.
The case decided today by the
United States supreme court has
nothing to do with the states action
against the Creamery Package COM
pany, a case now pending before the
United States court. In the state
courts the state obtained ccnvic-
ton of the company for violating
the state antitrust law. An appeal
was taken by the company which
asserts that the decision was uncon-
, stitutional.
Minnesota farmers are to have the
advantage OF vast amount of new
information about farmhouse build
ing which will be gathered by the
State Art society through a competi-
tion of architects The conditions,
which were sent to all architects in
the state this week, indicate that
the director of the society, Maurice
I. Flagg, who has had helpful con-
ferences with many farmers on the
subject, intends that the designs
submitted shall provide those sim
pie but often forgotten conveniences
which make the work of the women