The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-02-02
CAPTURED At Austin
REVEALS HIS IDENTITY
MAN WHO HAD ESCAPED THE
WISCONSIN "PEN"

Claims the Person Whom He Is
Alleged to Have Slain Is Still
Alive; His Story Told
From Thursdays Caily.
Austin, Minn.', January 25.-William
Coles, clothes pfesser for the Austin
Steam Laundry was arrested by
Sheriff Nicholson and Officer Gullick-
son and charged with being an escap-
ed murderer from the Wisconsin peni-
tertiary at Waupon. He confessed
he was the man wanted and will be
taken to Waupon as soon as the war
den reaches here.
Sheriff Nicholson was handed a
copy of the 'Ludwig's Detective Bull
letin' dated November 1914 by an
Austin man who did not want to be
known in the matter The sheriff at
, once recognized Coles as the man
whose picture was published in the
paper. The article said that Coles
was dangerous man and not to at
tempt to arrest him single handed.
The two officers found Coles press
ing lady's skirt. He asked for time
to finish the article. This he was
granted. He then asked permission to
go to his room at 900 East Bridge
street and get some clothes. This was
refused. The sheriff only stated to
him he was wanted for a crime in
Wisconsin. Coles then asked: "Who
is warden there now?"s He said mis-
take had been made in arresting him
but later said he was the man want
led. He said nothing about the crime
for which he was sentenced for life
and what his crime was no one here
knows.
Coles has been here for the past
two years, but did not stay all the
time. He thought at one time of start
ing pantorium and asked the sheriff
at that time to suggest good loca-
ton.
He claimed to have been at one
time in the United States secret serv-
ice and he intirHated that he was here
on some secret work and used tailor
ing as blind. He was very much in
terested in the details surrounding the
suicide of a young woman here and
spent considerable time in hunting
out all ne could learn of that affair.
He was quiet sort of man and
lived rather secluded life. When O..
P. Bellanger was to lecture here on
his experiences in Saltwater prison
Coles attended. He was a close friend
of Bellanger for a time and after the
later's mysterious disappearance he
,reputiated his friendship.
Coles admitted he is the man
I, wanted by the Wisconsin authori-
ties. He refuses to discuss his case
in detail, but contends he was con-
victed on circumstantial evidence.
A farm house was burned, a few
bones were found in the ruins, and
he was placed under arrest, tried
and convicted
He says the man alleged to have
been killed still is living.
Revealed His Identity.
Austin, January 25-Revealing his
! identity as Wendell Kabat, once &C.
tive in Wisconsin politics, William
Cole" arrested here Tuesday night as
! a fugitive from the Wisconsin state
prison, yesterday told of his journeys
|
| of the United States in an effort to
find g. Mccarthy, the man he was
convicted of numbering. Kabat de-
clares he still lives.
| Twice Kabat was a candidate for
! the Wisconsin house of representa-
tives from the Appleton district and
was defeated. Later he was can
| 'idate for recorder of deeds of that
county.
| More than ten years ago the farm
house of Mccarthy was burned, Kabat
was an employee there. Bones were
found in the ruins and Mccarthy was
missing. Kabat was tried and SEN
fenced to life Imprisonment. Vowing
that Mccarthy still lived he went to
prison.
The night of October 8, 1914, Kabat
scaled the walls of the prison yards,
| jumped in a waiting automobile and
sped away.
On a mission to make good his con-
ltention that Mccarthy was alive, he
went south. Through Mexico, and
into South America he sojourneo
Strugglin most of the time penniless,
and his efforts apparently a failure
he came back into the United States.
Less than two years ago, he sought
seclusion here. near to the peniten-
tiary. He assumed the responsibility
of citizenship and intermingled in the
social life of the community.
Then the inevitable crossed his
path. Kabat left his tailoring position
and went to work in packing plant
here.
The foreman's boy liked to read
about tie "desperadoes."
"Say, Pa" he said one night al
the supper table,, doesn't this one
look like the fellow at the plant?'
'sPa" saw the resemblance.
! Now Kabat is going to where he
calls "back home"
D Mrs. M. Barth is visiting in Blue
Earth this week.
/ H. r. Day of Amboy was in the
city on business yesterday.
! G.. Mead of Vernon Center was {
business caller in the city yester.
day,
NJ, Hs'uar IF p;rd leland wot