The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-02-07
HAS REV. EKElAND BEEN
PLAYING DOUBLE ROLE

HC GuUilS hNo
this story about Rev. Emanuel Exc
land OF Madison, recently arrested
IN charge Of arson.
A good citizen and church member
Of Madison, Lac Qui Parle county, has
tossed his favorite hot water bottle.
friend of several years standing, in
to the furnace, several of the church
going women of the community have
decided to prepare no more delica-
cies for supposedly sick ministers,
and the good people within radius
of fifteen miles of the town are try
ing to reconcile themselves to regard
Rev. Emanuel Ekeland in the role Of
a schemer, firebug and swindler.
In the meantime. Martin and Helm
bach, deputy state fire marshals, are
back at the office Of the fire marshal
in the capitol building, confident
that they have torn away the cloak
which hid the minister in his Mr..
Hyde role.
When Mr.. Martin and Mr. Helm
bach arrived in Madison last week
they found almost the entire commu-
nifty clamoring for the arrest of Aus
tin Teigen, a sturdy farmer boy. At
his door was laid the blame for the
series of sensations which stirred
Madison.
Mr.. Ekeland Was Sick.
Mr.. Ekeland, when they arrived,
was being coddled and petted at the
home of brother minister in Madi-
son. He was the recipient Of dainty
dishes, which were the masterpieces
of the culinary arts of women mem
bers of his three congregations. Also,
beneath his flushed cheek as he lay
in bed in the home of his brother
minister, was the hot water bottle.
This hot water bottle was the prop.
erty of one OF Madison's citizens and
he saw to it personally that at regu-
lar intervals fresh water was heated
and placed in the receptacle so that
the pains of the sick" minister
might be alleviated. This is the citi
zen who, later on, in disgust. tossed
his favorite hot water bag into the
furnace.
Dual Life Story Portrayed.
When Robert Martin and Il. J
Heimbach returned to st. Paul they
carried with them a confession which
portrays a remarkable dual life
story.
For ten years Mr.. Ekeland, a grad
uate of Minneapolis theological
seminary, has lived near Madison
| AS he became more and more pop
ular with the people of the sur
rounding rural districts he assumed
greater burdens. At the time of his
exposure he was pastor of three Lu
theran churches, all within ten miles
! of each other
Apparently Mr.. Ekeland had every
! thing to be happy for. His wife was
his work and they were the parents
of two handsome children, boy and
| a girl. They lived in handsome
home ten miles from Madison. Las
summer, an automobile put them into
closer touch with embers of the pas
! tors several parishes.
| Here Mr. Martin takes up the story
Of a rapid-fre series of events which
took this minister from the pinnacles
of responsibility and landed him il
cell in the county Jail. which the
mashals say may be exchanged fol-
a penitentiary life.
Automobile Burns.
"Way back last summer, the min
ister's automobile mysteriously burn
ed up" says Mr.. Martin. at was
Iheayily insured. There was some
comment at the time because the
presto-lite tank never was found ant
the cushions and some other fixture!
were mysteriously missing from the
ruins, but our office was not notified
and the insurance was paid.
Last fall came the next act in THU
little tragedy. Mr.. Ekeland decided
that his wife. and children SHOULD
visit in Norway, where they now are
1t seems that he was but clearin;
the way for the preparation of thu
crime which followed.
But there was to be no crime un
! til the way was entirely paved
| There came to the minister an anony
nous letter threatening his life. HI
turned it over to the authorities
Also, he whispered to them that on,
of the Teigen family might hav'
been the author. He let it be know
that Austin Teigen was particular!
bitter toward him because the min
lister had interfered in some domes
tic trouble.
Anonymous Letters Arrive.
Then came other anonymous let
ters. Feeling against Teigen begal
to spread. A better, more homes
lad one could not find. But the min
nifty and gradually the farmers ant
/ their wives glanced with suspicion
towards the young man. The plo
was nearing it's climax.
Perhaps Teigen would now be il
the cell occupied by the minister ha,
not Mr.. Ekeland desired to stea
away some of his belongings befor
applying the torch. Two differen
loads Of goods, such as books an,
lother possessions dear to him, h
stored at the homes of farmers.
"Thep, on the morning of Januar
20, before daylight, the flames LEAP
ed up through the roof of the Exc
land residence. Neighbors saw
and came running to his assistance
They found him running out of tn
barn in an apparently dazed cond
ton. The barn, too, was burning
A shed where he had stored som
more of his belongings was no
touched by the flames.
Steven Lund, neighbor, save
the team of horses, but it seems no,
the minister wanted the horses {