The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-07-03


could not get him to confess II
in court"
This startling statement was made
10 Judge Comstock of the municipal
court late yesterday Afternoon by
julius Paulson. who acted as in.
terpreter during the hearing. Mr..
Paulson said the other defendant.
Langinas Muniz. would not admit
that he was guilty Of anything.
Nevertheless both of these dark-hued
sens OF the Aztec republic were
laid to await the action of the
district court. As neither could fur
nish bond in the sum OF $500, both
went TO jail.
Il would not be at all surprising
TO see Huerta. and perhaps Muniz,
too. plead guilty to the charge OF
grand larceny, and throw themselves
on the mercy of the court, rather
than lie in Jail for several weary
months that must elapse before the
grand Jury meets for its next ses-
sion of the state district court In
this county.
Promised to Plead Guilty.
The interpreter stated during the
hearing that Huerta had promised
him that he would plead guilty to
the charge and confess all. After
talking in Spanish with Huerta for
a time. Mr.. Paulson said Huerta
explained that he did not wish to
confess because not enough pressure
had been brought to bear upon him
to do so.
He seems TO have come here,
expecting Mexican methods to be
practiced upon him." said County
Attorney Schmitt. Judge Comstock
observed that that seemed to be the
situation.
Mr.. Paulson stated that Huerta
said he expected to plead guilty be-
cause he thought the state was go
ing TO have a lot OF witnesses
against him and he would surely
be found guilty. But he had changed
his mind He now preferred to de-
clare his innocence and fight the
case out
Has Resided In Mexico.
Mr.. Paulson proved himself to be
an excellent interpreter. He resided
in Mexico for many years, and is
an adept at both. Spanish and Eng
lish. He ran a canning factory and
bakery at San Luis Potosi for years.
Recent troubles in the country drove
him and his family out and they
are now staying with relatives at
Tivoli
County Attorney Schmitt in cross
examining Huerta got him TO admit
that he treated a party of Americans
at a saloon in the evening, The
way in which Huerta referred to
the location OF this saloon indicated
that he must have meant the Saul!
paugh bar.room. The two Mexicans
were certainly there that evening
and did treat q crowd. Huerta said
he did not remember having been
in the saloon OF Paul Ziegler at all.
He admitted that he was drunk that
afternoon and evening. He admitted
that he was put out OF the saloon
where he treated the crowd.
Generous About Treating.
In the cross-examination of Muniz
II was also brought out that Huerta
vas very generous about treating
during the evening, though he spent
scarcely any money during the after
noon. Muniz said he and Huerta
stayed in the saloon near the depot,
until the bartender threw them both
out Then they walked around the
corner, where a police officer arrested
them.
During the afternoon, MuniZ said,
he himself did most OF the treating
He did this with a dollar and a
half that he had borrowed at the
meat market at Front and Byron
streets, where he had credit. Muniz
said both he and Huerta were drunk
that afternoon and evening. He could
not tell what saloons they had Wis
tied. "'
Claimed He Had Money.
Huerta declared that when he came
to Mankato three weeks ago from
Burlington, Iowa, he had s135 with
him. He said he had saved this
money from his earnings at rail-
road work. When asked why he did
not put II In a bank, he said he
kept II In his clothes because he
went so much from one place to
another and could not stay long
enough In one place to make II con-
venient TO have bank account.
He was asked why he bought his
groceries and did his shopping on
credit when he had so much money
about him, and he said that was
done. to conceal the fact that he had
money. He was afraid II II were
known that he had money. some
body would rob him. So he got
credit against the pay he had com
ing from the railroad company. So
people would think he had no money,
and nobody would try to steal from
him. On being asked why he Dor.
rowed money he gave the same
reason.
Huerta said he was thirty-three
years old. that he was married and
his home was in Mexico He said