The Mankato free press., 1921-03-18
GOBBLED THE DOLLARS
Two Aged Men Robbed In
Home Near St. James
FRIGHT TIED TONGUES
Looters Carried Away Consider
able Cash and Certificates
of Deposit a
Especial to The Free Press,

st. James, MIMI, Marcn To-
Henry and John McMullen, brothers
aged seventy four and seventy-eight
years, who reside on a farm in
Fieldon township, were the victims
of hold-up artists who visited them
at their home last Saturday evening
and robbed them of four $40 gold
pieces and $17O in currency. besides
taking time deposit certificates
amounting to $400, drawn on banks
in st. James and Lewisville.
Alleged Check Artist.
Stewart Chase, a young man twen-
ty- one years Of age, residing at Ma
della, was the victim of a bum
check artist" who, on Friday even
ing of last week, purchased from
Chase a second hand Ford touring
car for which he exchanged check
for 5000, drawn on Fairmont bank
and which later proved to be abso-
lutely valueless. '...
Feliciaa Patnaude, better known
as ''Frenchy," young man about
twenty -four years of age, has been
employed the past winter in a gar
age at La Sale, a hamlet northwest
of Madelia a few miles. He was
known to a number of Madelia peo-
pie as "Frenchy," but his last name
was not generally known to them
Hence, when he bargained for the
purchase of young Chase's car last
Friday evening and preferred a check
for $500 which he drew on the Fair
mont bank and signed the name OF
H. L. Larson, young Chase easily
fell victim to the fraud. The follow
ing morning, however, he learned
no person by the name Of II. l.. Lar
SON had an account at the Fairmont
banking house named on the check
and steps were Immediately taken to
Eregain possession of his car. Chase
|sssas e. - ! & s.. Essz End 3, etaf easl11E
torney, a warrant was issued Tor the
arrest of Felician Patnaude, charg-
ing the issuing sof worthless check
and the committing OF fraud: UP
to this time the alleged sharper has
not been apprehended.
1t was later learned that "Frenchy''
drove the car from Madelia to st.
James and that here he secured a
new tire for the hind wheel at the
Heiertz & Kelly garage, where he
was known as an employe of the La
Sale garage, and where he had no
difficulty in securing credit. Evi-
IDENTIFY, the little old Ford just ram
bled right along.
One of the McMullen brothers was
out in the yard at about eight o'clock
Ca.tr rd
drove up with single horse hitch
ed to surry. They stated that they
were stock buyers and engaged the
old gentleman in conversation rela-
tive to buying some live stock. This
conversation was carried on for fully
an hour when one of the thugs bold
ly announced that they understood
that the McMullens had some money
on the place and that that was what
man started for the house he was
restrained by the holdu men who
accompanied him into the house
where his brother was seated in = a
chair. He too was forced to sit
down but questions put to the old
men relative to their money failed
to bring satisfactory results, so one
of the visitors held revolver point
ed at the brothers while the other
man ranSacKeQ Lne mousse, procuring
the valuables above named. They
were very deliberate and thorough
about the job, remaining in the house
until midnight when they departed
with a threat to return in a short
time and get the cattle and further
stating that if either of the old men
moved from his chair, they would kill
them when" they returned.
Thoroughly alarmed, the old fell
lows >sat where they were until
broad daylight when they made
their way to a neighboring farm from
which information was phoned the
sheriff Sunday afternoon. An in
vestigation by Sheriff BermeI re-
vealed some clues witch are being
following but no arrests hnve been
made at this writing.
Before leaving the McMullen place
one of the robbers struck one of the
old men in the face when he pro-
tested against the raid. The hold
ups are described as middle aged
men, smooth shave and of medium
weight and height. Neither wore a
mask hut the old men fail to give a
very positive description of them
They were total strangers. r.