The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-02
FARMER WAS ROBBED
BANDITS ASK FOR DRINK;
STOLE HIS WEALTH
SLASH THE PHONE WIRE
Blew Safe and Got Away With
$1,000 In Cash and
Securities

Blue Earth, Mimi, June 28.-Three
bandits Saturday night blew the safe
In the farm home of August Scholes,
three and one half miles southeast Of
Blue Earth, and got away with $4,000.
About 9:15 p. m. the three men, in
an automobile, drove into the farm
yard and asked for drink of water.
Returning from the well they COW
cred the farmer with a gun, forced
him into the house where they bound
him to a chair, securely fastening his
hands and feet. They fastened his
wife the same way.
Blew the Safe.
They then went into the bedroom
They blew open the safe with a
charge of glycerine and took $4,000
in currency and securities. They fed
in their auto
After they had gone Mrs. Scholes
managed to get her chair over to the
table and secured knife. Mr..
Scholes then cut her loose and she
in turn freed him. Mrs. Scholes then
ran to the home of her uncle, Sam
Warner where she telephoned for
assistance.
A neighbor recalled seeing a car
with an Iowa license tag enter and
the number.
Scholes described the men as, one
about fifty years of age, five feet
eight, inches tall, weighing 40
pounds: another twenty five years.
six feet and 145 pounds, and the third
about twenty years, five feet eight
inches and weighing 100 pounds.
The Loot Is Described.
According to Henry J. Frundt,
county attorney of Faribault county,
the loot consisted Of $4,000 in cur
f hanGy, 1000 IRE re- issue third Liberty
500 Fourth Liberty bonds, register
ed in the name Of August Scholes,
Nos, 31O960. 31O961, 31O962, 31O963;
certificate of deposit, dated April 8,
1920, payable to the order of August
Scholes, for $1,000, issued by the
Farmers National bank of Blue Earth,
and about 5000 in War Savings
stamps. Papers, including the deed
to the farm, fire insurance policy on
the buildings and stock and personal
papers were also taken.
A sheriff's posse with shot guns is
in pursuit Of the bandits.
Mr.. and Mrs. Scholes have been
married only a little over a year but
are something over fifty years of age
and live on the farm of her parents
who died only few years ago and
for whom Mr.. Schholes had worked
nearly twenty years. They are build
ing a fine new home that will cost
between $4,000 and $4,000 and that
Is the cause of their having SO much
money on hand. It is thought that
some one well acquainted with the
situation out there must have been
In the party.
Searchswas made today by John A.
Rachtle, sheriff Of FaHbauit county.
1t was established that q green car
with an Iowa license tag was driven
by the men. 1t is the opinion Of the
authorities that the men are pro-
fessional crooks, we'll known in the
twin cities, and it is hoped that
Identification will be made from
photographs from the rogues' CALLER
hes, which are being sent here for in
spection by Scholes and his wife,
Who after being bound in chairs saw
the bandits blow open the safe IN
heir homo.
Sheriffs and police in every county
within $50 miles have been asked to
help in the search.
When Mr.. and MR.. c. H. Stein,
who had been visiting her sister.
Mrs. E. Mason Of this place were on
their way to their home at North
Yakima, Wash, they stopped off in
st. Paul with old friends, the Nolan
family, and while Mr.. and Mrs. No
hour ride their home was entered
AMI $4,000 worth of jewelry and Sill
Verwara was taken nv rohhers