The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-21
STORY TOLD THE JUDGE
HEARING IN THE CASES OF
SEVERAL YOUNG MEN
Sensational Testimony Was
Given Before n. S. Golf In
Police Court

Gathering at the city hall at least
one hour before the opening of the
case in the municipal court against ten
young men defendants for whom war
rants were issued last Saturday,
hundreds of people thronged the halls
and the municipal court room yester-
day afternoon. The crowd Of NOR
bidly curious had become so dense by
the opening of court that Grief or
Police Jacob Hilgers cleared the court
room of all those who were standing
in the aisles: Later J. R.; Brandrup;
college, came into the municipal
court room and ordered several young
students to get back to their studies.
"Pronto". Following the exit Of the
business college students, Judge Hir-
am Golf, ordered all minors from the
room. This gave breathing space
and the court took up its labors.
ed on carnal knowledge charges.
Howard Hinton asked for con-
tinuance of his case until January "a
at ten o'clock and this was granted.
On request Of the defendants, Joseph
Riedel and Amel Meurer, the hearing
of their cases was continued until to-
day at two o'clock. The defendants
Fred Jensen, H. F.. schwickert. and
Merle Kimble waived examination
and were bound over to await the
action of the grand jury under bonds
of $500 each. At this point in the
proceedings Attorney John e. Regain
announced that three of his clients,
Elmer Swan, Harold Swartout and
Benjamin Pomeroy wished to have a
hearing.
Case of Elmer Swan.
The case of Elmer Swan was the
first one taken up. Miss Ethel Dem
mick, the sixteen year old girl in the
case was called up to the stand. She
testified that she had lived in Vernon
Center up until three months ago
when she came to Mankato. She
stated that she is the daughter OF
George Walter Demmick. of Vernon
Center. Her mother. died about q
year ago; and her father has married
Swan and went to a South Front
street garage with him on last New
Years eve. Here the girl gave some
damaging evidence against the de-
PENDANT. This was the evidence
brought out by the direct examination
by County ATTORNEY c. 3. Phillips.
The cross examination by Mr.. Regan
ialleQ 10 Dredh uOWu Tie tSstiinohy "
the witness. Mr.. Regan's motion to
dismiss the case on the grounds of in
sufficient evidence to warrant an act
ion was denied by Judge Golf, and
later the defendant Swan was bound
over under ST. 500 bonds to appear be-
i'' ' The Next Defendant
Harold Swartout was the next de-
PENDANT called by the state, Miss
toll hot ch
out for an autoriobile drive with him
on the afternoon of January 10 down
the ST. Peter and around the loop.
The states witness testified that she
and Swartout stopped for some time
near some boxcars on railway sid
ing in Lime township. and then re-
turned via the Fletcher road to Man
kato.
Chief of Police Jacob Hilgers was
called to the stand to testify as to the
roads and the location Of the box cars
referred to in the testimony Of Miss
Demmick. Attorney Regan again
made motion for dismissal. but this
was denied, and the defendant was
bound over to await the action of the
grand jury at the February tern of
court His bond was also placed at
81, 500.
Then Pomeroy was Called
BENJAMIN Pomerov was the last de-
PENDANT called. Miss Demmick said
that she had met Pomeroy in a
local hotel on January 7. She re-
manned in room there on one oc-
casion all night and did not leave the
hotel until three o'clock the next after
noon. "He came to my room" said
Miss Demmich in referring to Pomeroy
and when he found was there with a
man he called the man outside.
could not hear what they were saying
but when the man who was with me
came back. he said that he gave 81 To
Ben to keen, his mouth shut. Ben told
me to come back to the hotel the next
night and he would not charge me for
the room. Somebody came to the
door the next night and pounded on
the door and said: IF you do not get
those wild women ont Of that room
will get you pinched' A little later a
man came out in his pajamas and
said to keep an eye on my room"
said Miss Demmick.
Pomeroy at the conclusion of the
testimony was also bound over to
await the action Of the grand jury.
Amel Meuerer and Joseph Riedel,
appeared in the municipal court this
afternoon before Judge Golf and
waived examination. They were
bound over to await the action of
the grand jury at the February term
of the district court. Each of the
defendants put up bond of $1,000
for his appearance at that time.