The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-05-20
Two Fairmonters Are Held
On Serious Charge
BOOZE CAUSED DEATH
That Is Verdict Reached BY
Coroner's Jury In Scheff
Cease, Welcome

Fairmont, Mimi, May 14.-Sherif
| w. s. Carver has arrested M. j.
| (Feathers) Gibson and Thad Kelly on
suspicion of having sold to Edward
Scheff of Welcome bottle of moon
shine whiskey, which, according to
the verdict Of coroner,s jury at Wei
coce, yesterday resulted in Schen's
death.
Gibson's rooms over the Needham
grocery were pointed out by Ray Eli
den, who was with Scheff when the
liquor was purchased Wednesday
night, as the place where they got it:
Scheff, who was nineteen years old
family, died about midnight last
night Just outside the Welcome dance
pavilion, where benefit ball given BY
the Welcome Cemetery society was
The boys death caused terrific
sensation in the little village. When
Deputy Coroner William Drummond
County Attorney Cooper, Sheriff Car.
yer and Deputy Carver went over al
ten a. m today to conduct the in
quest, most of the male residents OF
Welcome had gathered in the Gilman
undertaking rooms, where the body OF
the liquor victim lay:
Testimony showed that Edward
Scheff, his brother, Fred, Ray Eden
anu =" ltlldul otduiCy, GA looo VI liOLS
eighteen to twenty one, came to Fair
mont Wednesday night. Ed Schef
and Eden got the liquor while Stan
ley and Fred Scheff went out with
two Fairmont girls.
The boys got home at late hour.
1t was testified that Edward Scheff
and Eden were the only ones of the
thought that Edward Scheff raftook
of more of the moonshine. Last night
he went to movie show with Stanley
and they played cards for time, then
went to the dance pavilion.
Young Man Runs and Drops Dead.
At the entrance, Stanley stated,
Scheff, after standing around awhile.
trip to Fairmont. Fearing that tney
would tease him, he ran around a cor
ner of the building, where he fell and
died
His heart had been giving him trou-
BILE shortly before this, as he had
asked boy friend to put his hand on
his breast and feel how my heart is
going"
1t is thought that the poisonous bev-
erage was responsible for the palpita-
ton.
The coroner's jury which investi-
gated the case was made up of A. r.
Decker, e. w. Halkney, George Van
Amber, Herman Sartorfus, Fred Stade
and All Wilkinson. The verdict was:
death by drinking portion of the
contents Of a bottle introduced in
evidence here, and believed to be
moonshine whiskey.
Half Of Whiskey Left.
About half OF the whiskey was left.
1t was of good color, but had the
sweetish odor Of "moonshine." 1t was
in q - hottie without 10 oI he
whiskey was retained as evidence.
After Eden testified that he could
point out the place where the liquor
had been obtained, Sheriff Carver put
him into his car and hlVried him to
Fairmont. The boy went Immediately
to the Needham grocery building and
led Sheriff Carver to the stairs, where
wait while Scheff got the liquor.
Gibson and - Kelly were at once
placed under arrest and marked on
the Jail record as held" Mr.. Cooper
said this afternoon that he did not
know whether to prosecute for third
degree murder, manslaughter or mere
lly illegal sale of liquor. A half dozen
found in the place. Mr.. Cooper said
it smelled like the moonshine pro
duced at the inquest. The county at
torney declared later that he planned
to place at least manslaughter
charge.
Liquor Sales Are Known.
1t has been rumored for some time
that moonshine liquor is being sold
in Fairmont, but the vendors have
been so clever that Sheriff Carver has
been unable to get evidence enough
to make arrests. These cases are pc
culiarly hard to handle, inasmuch as
the buyer is equally guilty and always
stands in" with the bootlegger.
1t is to be hoped that tragedy at
Welcome will result in a thorough
cleanup of liquor selling here. The
spectacle of ninteen- year old boy
lying dead as the result OF some mis-
creant's greed for blood money should
bring about action that will drive such
murderous criminals from the city
Il was watching for something 10
happen said well known citizen
today. ut is a common knowledge
that there would be trouble sooner or
later: Only last night there was a
drunken man in the Commercial club,
q man from Iowa. who evidently got
liquor here"