The Mankato free press., 1921-03-11
LARSON SEEKS DAMAGES
FORMER KATO ATTORNEY
WOULD RECOVER $40, 900
Radio Telephone Message Fig
ures In Suit Tried In
St. Paul

The wireless telephone promises to
play a part in damage suit started
in district court today.
Louis L. Larson, Mankato attor-
ney, is suing T Z. Campbell, former
ST. Panl police chief: NJ. J. Fallon
desk sergeant, central station, and
Irving Best, st. Paul sattorney, for
$4,000 damages, alleging false ar
rest.
Mr. Larson is trying his own case
and while quizzing prospective jur-
ors this morning he asked them il
they would pay any attention to evi.
dence concerning conversations held
over wireless telephone.
Mr.. Campbell and Sergeant Fallon
are represented by William Ander-
son and A. E. Nelson. corporation at
torney.
Mr. Larson alleges that he was ar
rested June IS, 1918, and was held in
the Ramsey county Jail eighteen
hours.
At the time Mr.. Campbell was
chief agent. department of justice
st Paul News.
II is alleged that in the trial OF
the case yesterday at st. Paul, t. T.
Campbell, formerly al the head OF
the department of justice in that
city, and one Of the defendants IN
the case, testified that Mr.. Larson on
JSne 81, 1918. went to his offices in
ST. Paul, and made a complaint to
Mr.. Campbell stating that for some
time past he had been annoyed by
the use of some remarkable instru-
ment unknown to him. Mr.. Camp
bell alleged that at that time Mr. Lar,
oil had
not only been listening 10 his ONCE
conversations with his clients, but
had been able to read his thoughts
as well. 1t was alleged by the wit.
ness that he was at a loss what could
be done.
II was brought out in Mr.. Camp
bells testimony yesterday, that Mr.
larson stated to him that certain
persons were reading his thoughts and
talking to him when he was out ID
the country and away from WIRE con
nections. At that time Mr.. Camper,
testified that Mr.. Larson asked MIN
to give him the locations of all oil
the wireless stations in Southern
Minnesota. Mr.. Campbell also testi
fied Yesterday that Mr.. Larson told
him that he feared that whoever the
narties were, they might use the ap
paratus upon the officials at Wash
ington and thereby learn all or tne
American waT secrets.
Larson Placed Under Arrest.
Irving Best, a prominent ST. Pau
attorrey. was then member OF Mr
Campbelrs staff in the department OF
justice OFFICES at st. Paul. Aftel
hearing Mr.. Larson's statements, MI
past is alleged to have called up the
pensey county sheriff. which later
-,o~n,ted in Mr.. Larson being arrested
" the police of st. Paul, who tooS
h;r, 10 the central station on the
,-terroon of June 81, 1918, and ne
was detained there until the follow
irg day at ten o'clock He was tne1
DISCHARGED upon the recommendation
Of the st. Paul city physician.
nv. Larson, who was former
resident of North Mankato. and one
cf the members Of the Blue Eartn
County Bar association, is now To-
Gated at Alexandria. where ne Is
practicing law. In his suit Tor tne
recovery of $4,000 damages for al
legged false arrest, Mr.. Larson is act
ing as his own attorney. Yesterday
In the trial of the case, Mr.. Larson
practically agreed, to the statemen,
of Mr.. Campbell in regard 10 tne
conversation he had with that gen
tIeman on June 27, 1918.
1t is understood that two or tnree
witnesses were called from Man
>kato to testify in the case, but they
were not called to the stand.