The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-09-28
One Rogers Run Afoul Of the
Police at Sleepy Eye
WAS TAKEN TO new ULM
Career of "But-in.ski" Is Cut
Short BY Interference of
Officers

Ills Stois
After a three weeks soJourn in this
city, during which time he posed as a
secret service man, common carrier OF
booze and incidentally as a book
agent E. T. Rogers, an itinerant was
clamped on the streets of Sleepy Eye
last Thursday afternoon and jagged
by Officer H. B. McNall. Rogers, in
his versatile capacity had been cut
ting up capers almost continuously
from the day of his arrival here, but
he so cleverly burned his bridges be-
hind him as to be able to evade the
law. The authorities watched him
from the first, hoping to trap him on
some charge that they would have
the goods on him. This opportunity
came, when the fact was determined
that he had been wilfully disregard
ing the law by purchasing booze for
Sam Lefever, one of the many black
listed gentlemen of the city.
When Warrant Was Served.
when informed by Officer McNall
that he was under arrest, Rogers was
in the Reitter saloon, where he was
just about to partake of a bountiful
supply of the elixer of life. The news
struck him like a death warrant, but
he composed himself admirably,
touching it off with a grin and offer
ing assurance that it must be mis-
take. The idea of the officer prevailed
however and the next act consisted
of a trip to the village stronghold a
a-pedro 1t seemed to be a second
nature for Mr. Rogers to reconcile
himself Immediately to the penal sur
roundings into which he had been so
suddenly cast.
Bonds-Not Any.
at was finally intimated by author
tiles that Rogers might gain his re-
lease temporarily if he could secure
bondsmen for the purpose. Upon put
ting the proposition up to a few of
his acquaintance, he soon became
convinced of the fact that there is
distinction between an acquaintance
and a benefactor. After they had all
refused to go bonds he was escorted
back to his fire-proof hotel where he
sojourned until the following day,
when he was taken to New Ulm to
more elaborate quarters in the Brown
county Jail. His hearing has been set
for Friday, September 81 at which
time he will appear before Judge
Cutting in the municipal court. An
investigation to determine just what
charges would be preferred against
Rogers is now under progress.
Had Been in New UIm.
Previous to the time of his coming
to Sleepy Eye, it appears that Rogers
had been making headquarters at New
Ulm, posing there as a book agent
too. During his three weeks stay in
New Ulm, it is said he went out can
wasting but four days. The rest of
the time he devoted to his favorite
past time at the bar, and incidentally
taking data that he intimated he in
tended to use in wholesale prosecu-
tions that would follow his investi-
cations at New Ulm in the capacity
of a secret service man. The affair
became so odious at New Ulm that
vited with emphasis to shake the
dust of old Herman's town from his
shoes.
Given His Passports.
"Followirg the handing of his pass
ports at New Ulm, Rogers set sail
for Sleepy Eye, where he began to
pry into the whispering suspects,
drinking Kentucky lemonade and in
cidentally selling school supplies. Aft
er developing a state of confidence
with a person, Rogers would slip him
the great secret-namely that he was
a plain clothes representative of none
less than the United States-not a
kaiser spy, no stree, not on your tin
type The fellow seemed to swoon
in ideas of detective adventure when
ever he became connected up with
the dripplings Of the syphon, it was
then that the inner-most secrets and
plottings of pro- kaiserites revealed
themselves to him wildly.
Was Some Converser.
Upon entering saloon he would
engage in conservation on the war
and if word was said by the other
parties with whom he was conversing
that was inimical to the United
States, he would take the name of
the party or parties and go through
motions that looked as though he
were a dyed-in- the-wool detective.
He operated after fashion of Hawk
shaw seeking Yvetta, the long lost
dog of Queen Percival. This detec-
tive business did not appeal very
glowingly to the local authorities,
who soon began to make inquiries of
federal authorities to determine
whether Rogers was on the hush
squad payroll. Not being able to
find any trace of him there, they de-
cided that he had better be taken in
before he got things stirred up too
badly here. s-
The Moral Uplift
Another long suit of Rogers was to
interest himself in the moral welfare
of young girls. Upon detecting an
unchaperoned skirt at a late hour, he
would approach them and break the
news that they were overstepping the
bounds of propriety and that wonder
full chasm. of caution so much pointed
out in the world of ethics. On one oc-
casicn he took upto himself the task
of bringing two New Ulm girls to
time. He had .accosted them at late
hour rowing the streets. The girls
were ordered to accompany him to
the police station, where, in the pres
ence of the Sleepy Eye officer, he
drew up a pledge for them to sign.
The pledge in effect, consisted of an
agreement by the girls not to ever