The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-11-03
CAUGHT ON FARM
WITH THE GOODS
Chief Of Police Phil Lund-
mark Gets Penpan
HELD TO GRAND JURY
Same Old Story Of Bad Associa-
lions and Tricked Into
h Wrong Doing

! Chief OF Police Phil Landmark
did soMe very rapid work Saturday
night and yesterday In running
down the alleged fofger, who is
said to have tieeced number of
firms in this city out of various
amounts on bogus checks. Chief
Landmark was gwen a tip Satur-
day night as to who,xthe accused
guilty party might be. Follow ing up
this clue, he secured a car and with
the clerk in the clothing store who
had sold goods TO the suspect
started out to search for him. After
many inquiries, 1t was learned that
one Peter Schmit.. young man
twenty years OF age, was working
on the farm Of Edward Hubner,
five miles west Of Amboy.
When Chief Landmark reached the
farm Peter Schmidt was not there,
but soon afterw ards the fellow put
in an appearance He was wearing
the new suit of clothes, silk shirt
and overcoat he obtained on an al
legged worthless check on October
rs, in this city. The clothing clerk
accompany Chief Landmark at once
recognized the young man as the
one to whom he had sold the cloth
ing, and also identified the wearing
apparel.
Denial; Then Confession, In Story.
At first the young man denied
that he was the man wanted, but
finally said that his name is Peter
Schmidt, that he is the son of Sfrs,
Kate Schmidt living near Nicollet
Chief Phil Landmark stated TO The
Free Press that Schmidt made a
clean breast of his career In Man
kato as a-forger ever since Septem-
Der %. He stated to that chief
that since that time up to now he
has passed seven checks on Man
kato merchants tntalling $146.
The defendant u las arraigned this
morning before Judge Hiram s..
Golf in the municipal court on the
complaint Of local merchant who
charged the young man with for
gerry in he second degree. Schmidt
entered plea of guilty to the
charge and was bound over to await
the faction of the sgand Jury under
bonds of $500. The defendant ex-
pressed a wish to plead guilty to, an
information, and have the matter
over with.
Warming To Youths.
Keep away from bad associa
TONS" This was the warning Pc
ter Schmidt, self confessed forger.
made to the youths of Mankato
taking his own life as an example
In recital made this morning Oh
kato's master forser," at his cell III
the county court nodse this MON
ing. Schmidt was arrested Sun9as
afternoon at farm near Amino
on a charge OF passing number Of
worthless checks on Mankato mer
chants.
II had always went straight, until
/ fell into the company of a fellow
who showed me how to make easy
coin. He showed me how to write
checks and how to pass them, and
once | got started it seemed I'm
possib'e to stop. / knew all the
er or later, but / couldn't seem to
quit. the money came so easy"
The only emotion Schmidt dis
played was when he mentioned his
mother. He gave a gulp and said.
II would give anything If I
could keep her FROM finding out
what l did She is suffering enough
now, without this"
Easy To Pass Checks.
Schmidt in telling of the number
of checks he, passed declared that
Nc IhCaHu why MAIL
kato merchants were not more
careful in accepting checks from
strangers. He Stated that at no
place in the city did he find it diff
ficult> to get rid of the worthless
paper" Is
check for these clothes have on,
few days ahead, and intended to
pay for them later. But / didn't
and here l am"
Schmidt was under the impress
sion that he would be able to get
off the charge of second degree for
gerry by paying fine. When told
that a prison sentence probably
stared him in the face, he grew
more remorseful.
Wants Another Chance
There must, be some way can
pay for this, or something" he said.
"All I want is another chance to
go straight"
SCI raidt stated that he had met
his friend, who. went by the name
of Louis Smith. sometime ago
kato. Smith told him of a way to :
make easy coin" and Peter fell In
with the scheme. He wants to get
hold on his friend now.
eff had him here now, I'd Sat
him up" Scbmid muttered. "Oh.
WELL l am here, and shouldn't
blame anyone but myself But IL I
had it to do over again, would be
careful of the company went
with" 49,