The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-04-29
PAN|CAMONG THE FOLKS
Depot Platform Scene of
Rain of Bullets
PEOPLE SOUGHT SAFETY
Officers and Alleged Bandits Ex-
change Shots; Thieving
At OWatonna
Especial to The -ree Press.l

Albert Lea, MINI. April 22.-Resi.
dents OF this city will not soon for.
get a gun battle which took place
last night at eleven o'clock at the
Rock island depot between Local
police officers and two bandits in
which twenty seven shots were ex-
changed, one bandit MORALLY wound
ed and another winged before he
made his escape. One of the bandits
Leslie Edwards OF Mason City, Ia.
died at 2:30 o'clock this morning
from the effects of being shot
through the head, stomach and one
of people suspect to be Carl Ed
wards, a brother, made his escape
through the railroad yards in the
midst of hail of bullets, one OF
which is thought to have struck him
in the leg from the manner in which
he was running when last seen.
posse was searching for him this
morning.
Police Notified of Robberies
The police authorities of this city
were asked by the police of Owa-
tonna to be on the lookout for two
young men who had committed q
number Of robberies in the residence
district at Owatonna, and had made
their escape from that city on Rock
Island passenger train No. 81, which
reaches Albert Lea at IL P. M.
Officer Ted Lieffson, w. T. Sher.
wood, special agent of the Rock Is
land, and Officer Ralph Liedahl, re.
sponded to the request Of the DIVA.
tonna police and went to the Rock
Island depot to await the arrival Of
passenger train No-62. 1t was no.
ticed that two men were riding the
blind baggage" When the trair
was slowing down the two men leap.
ed from the train, opening fire or
the officers as they did so. The
the participants were. standing a.
times but three feet of each other
Twenty seven shots were exchanged
in rapid succession, while hundred.
of people who thronged the platform
took to cover to escape the rain o.
bullets.
Leslie Edwards Sank to Earth
After the first fullisade. one o.
the men who leaped from the train
wards, sank to the platform aftel
being shot through the head, stom
ach and one leg. The other fellow
who is thought to be Carl Edwards
ran down through the railroad yards
and finally. made his escape, but it i.
the leg from the manner in which
he was running when last seen
Some idea of the close quarters a.
which the fight took place can bt
gained, when it is stated that Off
Ger Ted Lieffson had the side of hi!
face scorched from powder from tn,
muzzle of one of the pistols in tn,
hands of the bandits.
Both officers and bandits wer,
armed with automatic pistols.
thirty two calibre automatic pisto
was picked up along side of Leslie
Edwards after he fell unconsciou.
from his wounds on the depot plat
form. He was taken to one of thu
local hospitals and given medical at
tention, but he died at 2:3O un1.
morning. The only statement h,
made was that he was badly hurt
and he thought that the man wht
made his escape was his brother
His clothing was searched, and a.;
number of Liberty bonds, thrift
stamp book, and many odds and end.
Of jewelry were found, indicatin,
that he had robbed a number O
residences, probably in Owatonna.
Coat Found In Railroad Yard
The posse in search of the bandi
who made his escape, found his con
thrown it off in his fight.
The Edwards family, who ha(
lived on Park street in Albert Les
up to. few years ago, when they
moved to Mason City, Ia. AS soof
as Leslie Edwards was recognized BY
the police, word was dispatched t
his father, Robert Edwards, of hi.
sons serious condition. He arrived
here this morning, but not until after
Leslie had passed away. He is tax.
ing his grief in silence, and ha.
made no statement. Owing to the
fact that there were three boys IL
the Edwards family, when they lived
in this city, It is not known for sure
wards who was in company with
Leslie last night, and made his es
cape.
Seldom has there been such a panic
as occurred among the women anG
girls who happened to be on the de
pot platform last night. Mingled
with the sharp reports of the pistols
were the frightened screams of the
fair sex, who did not relish the mu.
sic Of the bullets whistling over
their heads. There was a general
scramble for cover both by men and
women during the battle.
Especial to the Free Press1
Owatonna, April 22.-The two men
who were engaged in a gun battle with
police at Albert Lea last night are
suspected of having committed a robbery
earlier in the evening at the home OF
Martin Kubiatowiez. The men came to
Owatonna yesterday. They went into q
store on the outskirts OF the city and
made small purchase. Mrs. Ben
Kruger saw the men and suspected that
they were in the city for no good pur-
pose. She Swallowed them for awhile
and lost track of them She at once
police saw the men board the Rock Is
land train and the officers at Albert Lea
were informed of their coming.
The Edward brothers are suspected of
having taken a $50 Liberty bond, $50
war Saving Stamp and some Jewelry
from the Kubiatowicz dwelling house.
Arthur p, Rowland Dies.