The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-27
Minnesota Lake kidnapping
Aired In Justice ceul
FATHER HOLpER IS HELD
Preliminary Examination Held
In That Village Yesterday
srnoon
From Wednesdays Daily.


From Wednesdays Daily. E
AS recently forecasted In the Fres
Press, Rev. Father Helper of Min.
nesota Lake, was placed under ar.
rest yesterday on the charge of
kidnapping little Russell Laurisch.
He had his preliminary hearing yes
terday before Justice of the Peace
Albert Gerlich and was bound over
to await the action Of the grand
jury, which will convene at Blue
Earth. AS the justice had no power
to fix the bond in such cases. the
defendant was left In the custody
of Deputy Sheriff Joseph Hodge.
Frank Laurisch, father OF the miss
ing boy, went to Blue Earth Mon
day for the purpose OF getting q
warrant for the arrest of his daugh-
ter, Alma, and the priest. He saw
the assistant county attorney, who
prepared the blank for the warrant
to be made out before the justicelof
the peace at Blue Earth. Being un.
able to find the justice at Blue
Earth the county attorney gave the
papers to Frank Laurisch and told
him to take the papers to Mime
sofa Lake and have the justice
thtre issue the warrant.
Yesterday morning Frank Laur.
isch filed the written complaint with
Justice Of the Peace Albert Ger.
Itch, charging his daughter, Alma.
and Father Helper with Kidnapping.
The Justice issued the warrant and
Helper was arrested about ten
o'clock In the morning. The priest
insisted on having an, immediate
hearing. The Justice asked e II
would not be better to adjourn Il
SO as to enable the Rev. HOPPER to
get his witnesses. The prscs. pre-
ferred that the h9arfsss take place
NJ oacaA-rafher. Tar .hs. there be-
a postponement fdr one week. which
would necessitate his being held in
custody, pending an sxamina..on at
Blue Earth. He therefore demand
co an immediate examination, which
was held at the city hall Of Minnc-
sofa Lake for 10 a. IN. to { p. m.
Boys Father Is a Witness.
Frank Laurisch, the complainant,
testified as to the desertion Of the
boys by their mother in June 1913.
He said that since that time he had
had the complete care and custody
OF the boys and that he took them
to Minnesota Lake In the latter part
of October or the first part OF Nov
ember and left them in the care
of his mother, Mrs. John Laurisch.
for the purpose OF giving them q
chance to go to school. He said he
had last seen HIS son, Russell, on
Monday. the 10th, at which time he
had taken him to Minnesota Lake
70 attend school. He said he had
not been able to locate him since
that time. and had not been able
to locate the mother, the daughter.
Alma, and the younger girl. since
June. He had heard nothing from
them and knew nothing as to their
whereabouts. 70
Mike HAPPIER testified that he was
the janitor of the Catholic church
and parsonage at Minnesota Lake.
He said that on the afternoon OF
the 18th he was sent by the defend.
ant, Helper. to tell the Laurisch
boys to come to the priests house
after school as the priest wanted to
see them. He said that he went
over to the school and told the
boys that the priest wished to see
them at his residence.
George LaurIsch Testified.
George Laurisch, the older Of the
two boys, testified that HAPPIER had
called at the school house and told
him that the defendant wanted to
see him at his residence. After
school was out he was out In the
yard playing with some other boys
and did not intend to 60 to the
house Of the priest. He said the
defendant, Helper. then came out ON
his porch, and called TO some OF
the other boys and asked them
whether George was there. The
other boys said he was and the
priest called to him and told him
to come over as he wanted TO see
him. When he went over, he went
into a room Of the house. and short.
ly after entering he saw his sister,
Alma come into the room from an
adjoining room and he and Alma
were shown into another room and
remained there approximately hall
an hour, during which time his sis.
ter urged him to 60 with her, telling
him that his mother was somewhere in
California. He refused to 60 and
the priest came into the room and
said: "You are the Oldest Of the
two boys. You have got to do the
thinking for both Of you and you
had better 90 with Alma. You win
have lots nicer home with youI
Continued e. psxe yxQ