The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-03-26
Marvin KaelfToId About
Firing the Building
PARTNER IS / INNOCENT
Claim Made BY the Prisoner
Who Confessed to Attorney
And Marshal

That great interest was taken in
the case of Aomer and KaeI, the two
men arrested Monday night on the
charge of setting fire to the Kohler
bailding, NJ $40 North Front street,
was manifested yesterday afternoon
by the large throngs who gathered
Ct the municipal court room before
the hour set for the hearing on the
case. Before the arrival of Judge
Hiram Con at three o'clock there was
not a seat empty in the court room
afd people were standing in the ais
les so closely. that II was with diff
ficulty that Sheriff Osten and Deputy
Sheriff Klhgherz got their prisoners
through to the rostrum.
Previous 10 being taken to, the po
lice station from the. county Jail, the
prisoners were put Through cross
tire OF questions by County, Attorney
Phillips. and Deputy State Fire Mar
sinai Martin. Under this volley OF
questions Kaei, finally broke down
and admitted that he was the man
guilty OF setting the store on fire. In
doing this, however. he stoutly main
thined that his partner, Albert komer,
had nothing to do with the crime. He
stated that Mr.. AonAis had not been
to- the store all the afternoon. and
that when he did come down with an
automobile at about nine o'clock to
get Kael and take him home. he was
not in the store, but remained outside
while Kael locked the. store.
Told Story in Detail.
deputy Fire Marshal Martin stated
toSa representative of The Pree Press
TINT Kael explained in detail how he
had placed the saturated mops and
lighted candles about the store and in
the basement, and then lighted the
candles, and left the store and went
home with Mr.. Aomer. who was
waiting outside with a car.
Mr.. Martin stated that when Kael
was asked as 10 what had tempted
him to commit such rash act, he
At. FIRST tried to evade answering. but
later Stated that he had $4,000 in the
busfness and wished to get it back
IN, some way. While he did not men.
ton the insurance, Mr.. Martin took
Kael's answer to imply THAI
Mr. A0mer states that he had moth
iliR 10 do with planning or carrying
out the deed. Some OF the officials.
ssem 10 doubt this, however. and
there were rumors on the street to-
day 10. the effect that Aomer, who
chained TO be sick and at home, had
called at the American express COM
i1afIy's office about the middle Of the
afternoon Just preceding the fire to
inuaifre as 10. Shipment. .....
Appeared Before Judge Golf.
When, the two defendants were
f&ken before Judge Goff in the mnn-
Eipal court, they had not as yet OBJ
taihed the services OF an attorney 10
dsfend Them, and on motion Of Coun-
tJakttorney Phillips the case was
cchtinued until, Tuesday forenoon at
$50, when 1t is understood that. At
tofney, Harry Volk will appear for the
eefehdants. :s l... y
Evidence is now in the hands OF
deputy Fire Marshals Martin and
Conley showing that Miss Gertie
ffo6mann, a young lady who was
employed as clerk in oahe Aomer and
Kael store, asked Mr.. Kael Monday
IT. he had laid. in. a. stock of kerosene
In. the store Kael 1t is alleged an
swAred in the negative, but the young
lady insisted thatCshe ssmelled the oil.
She was then Ntom that there must
have been something wrong with her
npse. Miss Ho9mann stated TO Fire
Marshal Martin that the odor of
kerosene was so strong that she could
not be. Mistaken This leads both fire
marshals TO think thatadhe boxes of
saff1rafed mons and the bags of eX-
celsior. had been placed in the base.
ment early on Monday or some time
Sunday afternoon.