The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-10-29
Bold Auto Bandit
Pulled OFF Hold-Up
From pe.day's Daily.

farm Of David Steel In Decoria, was
held up last Saturday night about
nine O'Clock on the Silver Ravine
Hill. about half way down. and rob-
bed Of ISL, and a waltham gold filed
fifteen jewelled watch. Such was the
story that the young man told at the
police station, between sobs.
He state that the robber fred a
shot at him and missed him, but this
caused him to bring the horse and
buggy to a halt.
Johnson said that about noon Sat
urday he went to Good Thunder
where he sold a horse that he him
self owned, for $50. He got the
check Cashed at a Good Thunder
bank. II is thought by the police that
somebody may have seen him put all
OF this money into his pocket, and
kept track of his movements. for the
purpose OF robbery. during the re-
mainder of the day.
Left Some Money In Safe Place.
Johnson said, however. that he did
not take this money with him when
lie left for Mankato. He left IL for
safe keeping at the home Of Mr..
Steel His intention was. he said. to
get married a week hence TO a young
lady living near Iyanhoe. Mimi. and
he started of with the horse and bug
gy for the purpose OF coming to town
10 see his tailor and getting his we'd
ding suit fitted.
He related that on the way he
passed the home OF Peter Broderson,
for whom he had worked and who
owed him SIS. He stopped at the
Broderson place and collected this.
Then he had ISL in a front pocket Of
his oyeralls
lie had driven TO the top of the
Silver Ravine hill and was driving
down the incline. when he noticed an
automobile standing without lights in
the road. II was a lonely place, but
he couldase fairly well by the moon
light. A man was standing by the
auto. apparently making some repairs
on the machine.
As Johnson drove the buggy near
er. the man approached. and Johnson
could see that he was masked with
a handkerchief. The bandit wore a
black. felt hat and a dark. cloth over
coat. The stranger came up to the
buggy and shouted. Hands up"
Johnson told the police that he did
not recognize the voice. but II seemed
like the voice of a middle aged
man. He said at first that he thought
the man about the size of Night Ser
geant John Donahue Later he said
he thought he was about as large as
Patrolman Mic Thilgen, only not so
stout.
Tried to Make His Escape.
Instead OF obeying the command.
Johnson said. he struck the horse
with the whip. causing him to move
forward rapidly Then the stranger
fired. The bullet passed over John
sons right shoulder and went through
the back of the buggy top. The shot
brought Johnson TO n halt.
The stranger felt in Johnson's
pockets and soon found his money
and watch. Then he walked away,
got into his auto and drove toward
the main part of the city.
Johnson did not follow him. He
tHrned his horse and buggy around
and drove back up the hill and out
il.
where. he thought. he could tele-
phone. But the Horn residence was
dark and Il seemed that no one was
At home. Johnson thereupon drove
back to the city and stopped at Ed
Ores store, Fifth street and Glen
wood avenue. There he called up the
police and informed them OF the rob-
berry. But Il seems that in the mean
time the highwayman had made good
his escape
As soon as Johnson had related his
story. Detective Lippert and Patrol
man Albright went to the scene of the
hold-up and secured the country for
several miles and went out on Glen
wood avenue also. They obtained no
clew to the bandit.
Chief of Police Klugherz stated to-
day that he was OF the opinion that
the holdup was the work OF a local
party.
David Steel was interviewed by
The Free Press and he corroborated
Johnson's statement OF leaving the
$50. that was obtained for the horse.
ut the Steel residence.
Johnson's old home is on a farm
FIVE miles south OF Ivanhoe lie will
be ma -ried On Saturday morning, No
vember S. to Miss Alice Anderson. who
lives on the farm Of her father. Peter
Anderson. in that same neighbor-
hood. The couple will move to an
other farm near Glendive, Montana,
where they will make their home.
Mystery In an Auto.
Some unauthorized person used the
automobile Of Harold Merrifield late
in the afternoon or early in the even
ing Of the day Of this robbery. wheth-
or this had any connection with the
robbery Is uncertain.
Mr.. Merrifield left the car standing
in front Of his home at 32i Warren
street Saturday afternoon about FIVE
O'Clock. He came to get Il at 9:15 and
discovered that II was missing. He
telephoned to the Perrin garage, and
a man of the place. Harvey Anderson!
was sent from that place to find II.
This man found the machine about ten
O'Clock in the neighborhood Of Mr..
Merrifeld's home but about a block
from the place where II should have
been. Several tools had been taken
from the auto between the time II
was left standing in front OF the Mer-
rifIeld home and when Il was found. 4
The lamps on the machine were not
lighted.
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