BUD GESCHWIND speaks at candidate meeting. Seated Louis Fisch and George Albrecht. (Photos by Loraine Guggisberg)

SPRINGFIELD — The unsolved Bert Wellnitz murder five years ago near New Ulm cropped up again Tuesday as candidates for Brown County sheriff spoke at an open meeting in Springfield.

Don Madison, one of six candidates,accused the sheriff’s department of dragging its feet in the investigation.

“Five years ago this past weekend, a man was murdered in the Minnesota river bottom near New Ulm. Five years have gone by. Are they working on it? No. I have,” said Madison.

“Not quite two years ago I got on it myself, and told no one till now. I’ve spent a lot of time and money traveling around and talking to people. I’m getting close.”

The comments came during a candidates meeting at the Springfield High School sponsored by The Springfield Knights of Columbus, American Legion and Springfield Jaycees.

CHUCK RAABE makes notes as Harry Thorau speaks in Springfield. All six candidates were there.

Six candidates for Brown County sheriff have filed for the position to be left vacant by incumbent Ervin Weinkauf who did not file for re-election.

Defending the sheriff’s department investigation of the unsolved murder case,another candidate Harry Thorau, Brown County sheriff’s deputy, said “the department has been and still is working on this issue. We know the identity of the murderer. We know who he is, we know where he lives and we know what he is doing.”

“The only reason why he is not in court right now is that we do not have physical evidence. The law of procedural rules in court as far as evidence and search and seizure must apply; otherwise the man goes free.”

Thorau continued,”We cannot afford to do this. Therefore we stand by, we must wait. We are waiting one day to another trying to gather one more piece of evidence. Once we get it he’ll be in court.”

During the 90 minute presentation by the candidates, the men emphasized the need for cooperation among the county and area law enforcement agencies.

George Albrecht, Kraft worker and former Michigan policeman, restated his position that he favors placing a car and a man in the western end of the county.He also favored contracting protection for Comfrey and Hanska to provide for adequate law enforcement coverage. Springfield also would receive assistance through this procedure.

Louis Fisch, county highway department employee, outlined his experience in law enforcement explaining that he had been a special deputy for seven years and also served as a military policeman and has taken other training in law enforcement. He, like Albrecht, also favored bringing a man into the He, like Albrecht, also favored bringing a man into the Springfield area.

Fish, as did the other five candidates, favored the hiring of civilian clerks and dispatchers, to release the deputies for work in the field.

Cletus (Bud) Geschwind, a veteran of 33years in law enforcement, favored a joint location for the police and sheriff’s department and also emphasized the importance of cooperation.

He also apposed the county’s taking over law enforcement duties in county towns, favoring a home rule situation.

Madison stressed the importance of cooperation by area law agencies. As a member of the auxiliary police in New Ulm,he urged the combining of facilities to save tax dollars. He also stated that two civilians could be hired to perform clerical and dispatching duties at the sheriff’s department at the cost of the salary of one deputy.

Charles Raabe, a sergeant with the New Ulm Police Department, expressed concern about the lack of communications between the sheriff’s department and other law enforcement agencies. He said that information should be passed freely among the sheriff’s department and police departments in the county.

He urged greater utilization of the deputies. “These men have been trained to be out in the field,” he added.

He also favored joint dispatching and the availability of a deputy to the western end of the county.

++

HARRY THORAU, captain in the sheriff’s department, favored the use of two deputies in the Springfield and surrounding communities with the approval of the county commissioners.

A lengthy discussion followed the five minutes presentation by each candidate on the feasibility of getting deputies to that end of the county.

Consensus was that, subject to approval by the commissioners, there would be little difficulty in getting better law enforcement coverage for the entire county .

About 100 persons attended.

New Ulm Daily Journal

Sept. 4, 1974