The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1934-10-11
ILLINOIS MAN ABSOLVED OF
BLAME IN PETERSEN DEATH
Continued on Page 12)

cut and bruised in the crash.
Two motorists who aided the in
jured, Henry Rosenau, living north
of Sanborn and Louis Arndt, Tracy
oil salesman, were then questioned.
Rosenau carried Otto Petersen, Mrs.
Petersen, Anna and the baby into
Lamberton, while Arndt picked up
Hurley. Asked by County Attorney
Barnes whether they had noticed any
intoxication among the three men,
both said they hadn't.
James Wells of Lamberton who
saw Hurley and his two companions
in Lamberton prior to the accident
then testified that two Of the men
appeared to be under the influence
of liquor as they left pool hall and
entered their car, a Hupmobile coupe.
His statement was corroborated by
George Herzberg also of Lamberton
who was with Wells at the time. The
owner of the pool hall Mike Schultz,
however stated that he noticed no
drunkenness among the three while
they were in his place, where they
ordered sandwiches, two beers and
bottle of pop. Schultz IL year old
son, Cletus, who was in his fathers
establishment at the time, gave the
same story.
The first indication that liquor was
connected with the case came when
William Schmidt of Lamberton, tes-
titled that he was in the pool hall
while the three men were there and
that one, whom he identified as Ack-
erman, called him over to their booth
and offered him a drink from an al
most full pint whiskey bottle. He
stated that the three did not seem to
be intoxicated but were "just feeling
good" Sheriff Louis Kise produced
whiskey bottle which had been
found empty at the scene of the &C
cident and Schmidt identified it as
the one he had seen in the pool hall.
Following an hours intermission
for lunch the first witness was Miss
Helen Valentine of Tracy, whose
father, DR.. Walter Valentine, oper-
ates the hospital at Tracy where the
injured was taken. Miss Valentine
testified that she could not tell
whether any of the coupe's occupants
were intoxicated but said she noticed
a smell of drink.
The first defense witness called
was Alderman. He stated that he
and his companions left Chandler
for. Mankato, using the car of their
boss, Fred Mellas, without permits
sion. Alderman admitted that in the
Lamberton pool hall he added whis-
key to a bottle of pop but that his
companions did not drink any of the
liquor. Asked how fast their ma
chine was travelling, Alderman
stated about 35 or 40 miles an hour.
care you sure you weren't going
faster? County Attorney George
Barnes queried.
eyes, I'm sure" Alderman replied.
Askerman asserted that he had
no idea how the accident occurred,
saying that the coupe was on its
proper side of the highway.
AO1I JUS pIVCCOOO 1ASNSAA Ae~AA e~AAN
gave the same story as his compan-
ion, stating that he had no drinks
outside of two beers and that meth
er Alderman or Hurley were intoxi-
Gated. Both LOTUS and Alderman
suffered scalp wounds and numerous
bruises in the accident.
Christian Petersen, brother of the
dead man, was also called upon but
had nothing to add that had not al
ready been given.
Following the decision Of the jury,
G. j. Fillenworth, attorney for the
announced that Mrs. Pet
ersen would file suit for $4,000
damages in district court.
The jury was comprised Of J. E.
Duncan, Sam Skow, J. H. Roth, L. j.
Wilt and G. J. Koenig, all of Lam
berton. H. E. Tassler, a sixth juror,
was absent.