The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-08-13
HEARING FOR SUSPECTS
FLORA ANDJONESARE BOUND
OVER TO GRAND JURY
PROBE OF OTHER CASES
Stories Told BY Parties Who
Appeared As Witnesses In
Police Court

Preliminary hearing of the four
SUSPECTS in the robbery of the North
western depot at Eagle Lake yester-
day afternoon in the municipal court
before Judge Hiram Goff resulted in
Ivan Flora and Melvin Jones being
bound over to await the action of the
grand jury ON the charge of grand
larceny in the second degree. The
entire afternoon was taken up in the
examination of states witnesses, and
the defendants who all took the
stand in their own behalf.
The first witness sworn was ]. J.
Schlekau, station agent at Eagle Lake
where the robbery was committed.
defendants. Harry Collins. Bruce
tPeake, Ivan Flora and Melvin Jones,
Hanging about the depot for some
tttme previous to the time he had
tmissedf the money from the case
tdrawer in the depot. Mr.. Schlekau's
testimony was practically the same as
kNas stated in yesterdays issue of The
kTree Press as to the amount taken,
ketc. The agent testified that Peake
had helped he and John Cummins set
up piece Of farm machinery and as
far as he knew, that one of the de-
kfendsnts had not spoken to the other
bfhree defendants while the money
twas being stolen.
I Edward J.: Murphy, a special agent
OF the Northwestern railway, stated
that he had talked with the four de-
PENDANTS. The young men according
To the statement Of Mr.. Murphy made
practically the same statements to
Ehtm that they did to Free Press
representative. as published in yes
E9ardayis issue Of the Free Press.
Edward w. Stearns of Eagle Lake
taking about ten dollars from him.
Sergeant Luisdorff On Stand.
Sergeant Jack Lulsdorff testified as
l3o talking with the defendants at the
police station The young men had
told the sergeant where they lived,
and their statements as to the rob-
bbery were almost word for word like
sfhe statements made to The Free
tRress reporter.
Harry Collins, one Of the defend
4nts testified as to being put of the
train at Eagle Lake. He denied hav-
ing engineered the robbery. 1t was
with the broadest Of Coon grins
hungry and stold some apples near
the depot at Eagle Lake. He also
stold some green corn and roasted
and ate It.
Bruce Peake, testified that he had
been working for q farmer at Wa
SEGA and had beat his way to Eagle
Lake who're he met with the other
while the robbery was being COM
mftted he was aiding the depot agent
and Mr. Cuuamins set I'D q piece OF
farm machinery: Paaks that he took
French Leave" on some apples In
order to appease his hunger. He said
hat x1 L.
over IN Eagle Lake and Peake says
that he mad no reply to this. Later
fandants, Jones and ioFra he aided
Efhe men m the capture, but was later
ltaAHn br one OF the thieves and
tplaced Under arrest Peake stated
Hhat Il was ne that caught ND with
Flora and induced him to stop. At
nat time the posse was some dis
HSnee away, and Flora suggested that
EeakP fake the money, Tor the posse
uuid not susDec HIM, but Psaks re-
Mned b do 20.
.sy9 1ezscs Susgessed Robbery.
gasin Jonss slated that It was
6sDok. he said fhsf Peaks aid tai
- EEF q black box inside the depot
ne counter which he thought con-
aimed moneY. and he wanted Jones
nd Fora Do steal u. They hegftated
I'D H1xTy Collins said: Yes, 20
$3.50 sssd steal 4. and NE wa keep
ne 1s0Oxs brsy On fhe outside"
1t. but iis couzass Hyed him and
lhe baceed ont Tbsn Collins urged
H5cs9 % enteg the depot, and he dM.
01rJA he ezH,e ont with Some silver.
I'D Collins bold hira 30 90 back and
- use rest Of the money. The Sec
80 ts.e he c9ne ont With some
r. ~ ZONES testified hat
E-so 81 CcIfas, and Dan tho two
DDy1 nm Guwa 6fse road and into q
Hpsn I'D The four OF the men, ac-
RegetHE 10 TIE statement Of Jones
Eee % Uafk hHxfaer down tho road
I'D Enxe 9 moro equal dfsizirn OF
faSiea, Hs sast1aad 30 fasdng tho
1ncnsy frpEa the 6apct and making the
Saaso admitted that 10 had gone into
fAe office 90 tE0 dfdexeut occasions.
T Afner nstRntrg TO the eytasnoe.
Fudge Hiram GcR bauud Jones and
flora cyer TO szsst tho action Of the
Hhe casss OF C1eafmu and Psahe have
baen taken Ecasr further consadera-
fsoa. bpt naeanxzfne the defendants
WIN 1Eve 10 ToEatn IN the county
3z1-
crssEa 10 f3eaaaasd.
1udEe El1Rm Gvf Afner making q
thorough mweEaxzt5cn ct The stories
OF Meivsm Jones' and ivan Flora as
to the anCurE OF money take by
fhera frocg the Tngfswastesn depot at
Eagle Lake TSnurS5ay noon. came to
tsae cUnNArEaDn faa1t Psahs and the
Porto Rsran. HAIRY C@Gfsns were not
entity of tacssng part IN the robbery,
md both roa@ were discharged By
Jr.dxe CoR thas forenoon. Checking
ND fbs asnorns Of mooney taken from
Racta and IDnGs Demonstrated the
fsEf Nhat an OF the money stolen from
d Aepot VITA the exception Of fifty
c1nHs had BEEN accounted for. For
ff1ss reason, tho st0ry of flora and
Junes Of AtYsaSmx ND the money, with
CLalfns and reake docs not seem
1tarxabte \. Sthheseau, the North
49, ~ Eagle Lake ia his
49, re syddepoee which
theory that Collins
at IN the robbery,
share of the loot
n NAMED.
of Rad wing