The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-09-05
HELD N lHE NIlIcITY.
ONE OF The ALLEGED SLAYERS
OF LARSON ARRESTED
BODYOFDEADM ANFOUND
J. Rogers Said To Have Con.
fessed Participation Crime
OF Murder

MinHedpoiiS, september z.-Ine
Journal publishes the following story.
Discovery of the body of murder
ed man in a cornfield near Glencoe,
Mimi, and the arrest of one of the
alleged slayers by the Minneapolis
police today partly cleared up the
mysterious disappearance of John Gust
Larson, wealthy retired farmer of
Slayton, Mimi. early July %.
For nearly a month no trace was
found of Larson, although the police
of the twin cities and every sheriff
throughout the state made every ef-
fort to find the missing man. Then
an abandoned automobile, identified
as having belonged to Larson, was
found near washington Springs, S. D.
TWO Men Traced to Montana.
Detectives Michael Duffy and James
j. Mcguire took up the trail from
this point. They obtained descrip-
ticns of the men who had been driv-
ing the machine, and finally traced
them to Glendive, Mont. A letter said
to have feen written by one of the
men to his wife in Minneapolis also
helped to locate Them.
When the Minneapolis detectives
reached Glendiye, one of the men had
made his escape, but the other, who
gave the name of ]. Rogers, was cap
tured. He was brought back to
M'~~ oapo'is and il being held by the
police. He is said to have confessed
MS participation IN the crime and told
the officers whers they could find
the body.
Alleged Confession Told.
The story Rogers is alleged to have
told is that he ind companion.
whose name the police refuse to di-
yulge, both in military uniform, hail
ed Larson near Excelsior early July
}28 and asked him for a ride. They
said they lived hear Glencoe and
Larson immediately offered to take
them home, as hi was driving to
Slayton.
Soon after passing Glencoe the two
men drew revolvels and forced Lar
sen to drive up an unused lane close
to cornfield They robbed Larson
of $50 and later hit their victim on
the head with the butt of the gun,
knocking him UNCONSCIOUS. Tie blow
was struck by the other man, ac-
|police.
To make sure. that Larson should
not give the Affirm rntil his lssail-.
ants had made their escape, they tied
,hfs hands securely and dragged him
into the cornfield, where theyIcovered
him with an old raincoat. Larson
was not dead at the time, Rdsers told
the police.
Search For The Bod.
Search was commenced for the
,lbody as soon as the detectiEes could
notify the Glencoe authoriti,s. but If
was not until Duffy and Mcguire ar
rived with their prisoner hat the
search was successful.
Late Saturday the body vas found.
The hands were still tied Ind there
were no indications that Lrson had
attempted to free himself, which
proves, the police say, that he wound
in the head caused death aid not the
exposure that followed.
The body was badly deomposed.
Part of one arm and one Ileg were
missing, evidently torn away by coy
otes or dogs, the police believe. B. r.
Weld, former state legislator, inden-
titled the body positively IS that of
Larson and accompanied it % Slayton
Larson had been prominen in public
affairs in Murray county md had a
large circle of friends in his home
city, according to Weld, Who had
known the murdered man or many
Years.
| Rogers is thirty years ole. He has
given information that the lolice be-
lieve will lead to the capture of his
alleged accomplice.