The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-02-10
TWO LOCAL YOUNG MEN AR
RESTED, CHARGED WITH
SERIOUS CRIME
VICTIM A STRANGER,
LIVING AT AKELEY
CHAS. LAWRENCE AND HOWARD
JOHNSON BOUND OVER TO
THE GRAND JURY

After one Of the most sensational
and surprise-giving hearings in the
police annals of Sank Centre, Charles
Lawrence and Howard Johnson, aged
"a and 20 years respectively, were
held by Municipal Judge Diehl on
Wednesday to answer in district court
next May to the charge of highway
robbery. Not having jurisdiction to
fix bail, the judge committed the two
young men to the county Jail where
they were, taken, today Thursday
noon. Granting of bail is in the pow
er of the district judge.
The complaining witness is Benja-
min E. Halboth, a farmer living near
Akeley, who arrived in the city from
the north Tuesday noon. He claims
that during Tuesday afternoon and
evening he met Lawrence and john
son, visited pool halls and saloons with
them, finally was enticed to the out
skirts of the city, attacked by the two
young men and robbed of SIT.
The young men denied they had
any part in the robbery but admitted
they had heard two other young men
plot to rob some Give one," followed
these alleged two young men and the
"victim," saw scuffle and the two
young men run away from their vic
tim. They said they saw the two
young men afterward and had talked
about the holdup.
The prosecution was conducted by
County Attorney Paul Ahles who was
summoned from st. Cloud. Both de-
PENDANTS were represented by Attor-
ney Victor Conklin.
Halboth was the first witness called.
He told of doing considerable drink
ing about town and meeting Johnson
and playing pool with him at Evans
pool hall in the early evening. He al
so testified he met Lawrence and Wis
tied saloons with him.
While playing pool with Johnson,
Halboth says he asked if there was
district in the city where they could
have a good time. He says Johnson
replied in the affirmative and volun-
teered to conduct him to the district
This, he says, was around eight
O'Clock. They left the pool hall to-
gether and headed for the outskirts
of the city, finally turning into the
short unnamed street leading directly
south from the old radiator factory.
Halboth says that suddenly and
without warning some person jumped
on his back, pinioned his arms from
behind and bore him to the ground. In
the struggle which followed between
Halboth and the two young men, he
says, johnson reached into his pocket
and took his money. During the
struggle he recognized his other as
sailant by features and voice as Law
renee. He yelled for help at which
the Young men let him go and RAJ
Tt was moonlight, Halboth says, and
that he could see plainly.
Coming to town, Halboth notified
the authorities and investigation was
made by Officers Fish and Engle and
Mayor McGibbon. The scene OF the
scuffle was visited and there was
found a pipe with stem broken which
Halboth had been smoking when at
tackled.
Telltale footprints were numerous
,nd nlain. One of the young men
wore mocassins; the other ieatner
shoes without rubbers. The routes tax
en- by them coming and going could
he traced. When Halboth later met
the young men down town and lden-
tilted them for the police Lawrence
was wearing mocassins and Johnson
leather shoes without rubbers. Law
renee was arrested at his home about
II o'clock by Officer Fish and john
son was picked about the same time
in q restaurant. Neither had any
money on their persons at the time.
Roth denied any knowledge OF the rob-
berry and stoutly maintained their IN
nocence.
An important witness for the pro
secution was Alfie Gilbertson, clerk
in the Leader store, who was with a
young lady within a short distance OIL
the robbery, heard cries for help sa"
Lawrence and Johnson come from the
direction of the sounds walking hur-
riedly, knew them both and recognlz-
ed them and later saw Halboth come
along in the wake of the young men.
He says Halboth was covered with
snow.
Gilbertson testified his attention
was first attracted by a lone man