Young Farmer From Moltke Starts On Career To Get Rich Quick.

——–

CAUGHT WITH GOODS BUT MAKES HIS ESCAPE

——–

Confessed To Having Raised Checks In

Several Other Places.

——–

Paul Krahmer of Moltke township was caught at Fairfax Saturday afternoon attempting to cash a check drawn in favor of Herman Kiecker for $6.56 by the Fairfax Produce Co., which had been raised to $60.56 by him. He was arraigned before Judge F. F. Russell at his home that evening and, after an examination, being unable to furnish bonds, was placed in custody of Marshall Larson, who with Attorney Frank Hopkins, left Judge Russell’s residence for the jail.

Makes Sensational Escape.

At Attorney Hopkins’ orders the prisoner was allowed to accompany him to his office, while the officer went to the jail to get it ready for the prisoner, who had been placed in care until Monday morning at 10:00. A few minutes later Mr. Hopkins stuck his head out of his office window and yelled for passersby to stop the prisoner, who had locked him in his office and was beating it east out of town, with all four cylinders working perfectly. He has not been seen since.

Raises Check.

Krahmer came to Fairfax Saturday with a bunch of chickens which he sold to the Fairfax Produce Co. He was given a check made out to Herman Kiecker for $6.56, which he changed to $60.56 and then tried to pass it at the Hauser Lumber Co., Nelson’s Garage and The Model Clothing Co., making a small purchase at each place but was told in each instance to cash the check at the bank. Finally he tried to cash it at the State bank, where Paul Albrecht becoming suspicious of the check, called up the produce company and Krahmer departed leaving his check behind. Mr. Albrecht immediately followed him and was joined at the Farmers’ Store corner by Ed. Brunner from the produce company and Krahmer was rounded up by them at the Farmers’ Store.

Confesses Other Forgeries.

Krahmer insisted that his name was Herman Kiecker, but when confronted with relatives of Mr. Kiecker, who is a prominent Wellington farmer, and the men who lived in his own neighborhood, he finally admitted his right name. He also admitted that he had raised a check issued to Paul Anderson at Franklin about fourteen months ago, and one issued to Richard Kiecker at Buffalo Lake last November, but claimed he had an accomplice named Clarence Johnson, who operated with him. The sheriff and parties at Buffalo Lake and Franklin, whose checks he had raised, were called to Fairfax and comparison of the endorsements on the checks showed that he was the party at both Franklin and Buffalo Lake, although the men from Buffalo Lake could not identify him as the party. Julius Anderson of Franklin bought rye from him for which a check for nine dollars and some cents was given, which was raised to ninety dollars and cashed.

Reports from Winthrop and Gaylord have been received indicating that Krahmer had raised checks in both of those places.

New Ulm Review,

Feb. 27, 1924

————————