The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-07-21

OF the dttdCN- Wa0HSs
buried Sunday with services N {
the German Lutheran church I
here. j.
Austin July 17-County author4tses
are today continuing their search
for clues that might lead to es-
adjustment of the identity Of the
slayer of John Wagner OF Grand
Meadow, working with the aid OF
detectives. Two Fnkerton men.
one OF them a fngerprint expert,
arrived in the city Saturday. and
left at once for Grand Meadow ac-
County Attorney Bandler and Dep
uty Sheriff Ira Syck.
Determined to leave no stone un
turned in the search for the axe
murderer and to avail themselves OF
every clue that the slayer may have
left Sheriff Nicholson and County
Attorney Bandler decided yesterday
to call in expert aid from Minne2
polls. The bloodhounds were ffst
resorted to and it was thought that
the murderer may have left soa1e
fingerprint either on the handle OF
the ak or on the doors when he
made his entrance.
Hope that direct testimony might
what revived Saturday when ply
sicians who are attending Mrs.
Wagner declared that some i'm
in the condition OF the
woman was noted.
Raise Hopes for Witnesses
That Mrs. Wagner might survive
consciousness long enough to ten
of the attack is the only hope Of Sc
curing the certainty of testimony
of a direct witness. II IL not
known of course, whether she viii
be able to give the authorities any
even should she sur
vive, for the first blow that struck
her may have rendered her uncon-
scious.
That Mrs. Wagner was attackeAat
certain for Mr.. Wagner was sleep /
ing nearest the door through which !
the slayer entered and the SUPPOSE
ton is that he was struck irst, Q
single blow killing him. Authorf-
ties are basing their hopes on the
possibility that Mrs. Wagner, be.
fore becoming unconscious may
have recognized the slayer In the
darkened room.
August Detioff, son. In law Of
the slain man who was arrested |
Thursday evening at Leroy. |
Is still being held here without !!
charge. 7
Nothing revealed in the inquest
which was. continued this morning. |
after adjournment yesterday pointed
directly to any particular individ.
ual, and at noon the Authorities re-;
y,ossfod that fhar wape offf1 rUifhnaVk :
clues that could be regarded as cers I;
tain. I,
Wagner's Ak Used
Mr.. Wagner was slain by his own
ak, Il was disclosed at the inquest |
which was conducted yesterday at
Grand Meadow by Dr.. A. q. Hem
slim, county coroner John Terlin~
den, brother in law of the slAi6
man definitely identified the ak as
that owned and used by Mr.. wag-
ner, explaining that he owned two
axes.
That the az used by the slayer
had heen taken from the barn On
the Wagner property was the irst
er In the day when an AK was found
In the barn.
Other testimony brought out AZ
the hearing yesterday was in fhe
main of a general nature. establish
ing the time when the AIRED nair
were last seen on the night Of the
their habits and the finding
OF Mrs. Wagner and the body OF her
husband.
The hearing was adjourned late
yesterday until ten o'clock this
morning when 1t was resumed.
Attempted to Enter Basement
Further light on the entrance Of
discovered that he had also attemp.
ted to break into the house through
the basement It was shown that
the door had been tempered and
evidences were that the slayer at
tempted to force back the bolt that
locked it.