Wilkinson and

Martin, With Their Wives Left New Ulm Just at Noon Tuesday.

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TIP OF REARREST MADE THEM

FLEE FOR OPEN

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Bail in Sum of $8,000 Put up, Claims

Settled, and Note of $1,000 Deposited.

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Elliot Wilkinson and Roy C. Martin together with their wives beat it out of New Ulm on high just after the noon hour Tuesday. The bail was satisfied before Judge I. M. Olsen in court chambers a few minutes before noon, when Emil Wilkinson, brother of Elliot, and brother-in-law of Martin, turned over a cashier’s check on a local bank in the sum of $8,000 and the judge informed Sheriff W. J. Julius that he could release the prisoners.

Prior to the release Emil Wilkinson counted out $540.43 and turned it over to the sheriff to satisfy the mortgage held by the Harvey E. Mack Co. of Minneapolis on the Dodge coupe. The costs were also liquidated. The car was disposed of by Emil Wilkinson for $900 to G. F. Schottler of Omaha, Nebr., a traveling salesman, who makes New Ulm frequently.

“I See Papa.”

After the liberation of Wilkinson and Martin, their wives were in the jail to greet them. Mrs. Wilkinson was holding a small child in her arms, which cooed “I see Papa,”and held out its little chubby hands to him. The four left the jail in a hurry and entered a taxi and were driven out of the city at a rapid rate. As Elliot Wilkinson passed his brother, Emil, who came here to assist him, the latter handed him a hundred dollars and bid him good luck, telling him he would see him again in December, when the “eye specialists” come up for trial.

Emil Wilkinson stated he would leave for Texas, to visit his aged mother, who is ill. Mr. Wilkinson conducts a large resort hotel at Bishop, Calif., near Death Valley.

Liquidate Claims.

It is understood that Emil Wilkinson liquidated the Stearns county claim in the sum of $650 and the one at Watertown, Carver county, in the sum of $250, together with costs. Parties from Watertown identified Wilkinson and Martin as the ones ,who had victimized them, and Sheriff Ben E. Schoener and County Attorney James J. Quigley of Stearns county were in New Ulm Tuesday morning of last week and arranged with the local officials that Brown county would have the first chance to try the defendants. These claims together with costs in both cases amounted to approximately $1,000.

A note in the sum of $1,000 was left with the local officials to take care of other claims, which may arise in the future, out of activities of the “specialists.”

Thus in reality $10,000 had to be in hand to secure the release of the two.

Ask Reduction of Bail.

It will be remembered that Judge Olsen fixed the bail for each in the sum of $5,000 Tuesday of last week. Emil Wilkinson, the brother and brother-in-law of the prisoners, arrived in New Ulm Thursday evening. Shortly after his arrival he arranged to have Attorney W. H. Dempsey of the firm of Somsen, Dempsey & Flor handle the case. Attorney Albert Pfaender of the firm of Pfaender & Glotzbach had previously acted in the matter.

At a hearing before Judge Olsen Attorney Dempsey asked the court for a reduction in bail to half the amount, stating that the $1,500, which had been secured from Anton Grossmann for an alleged “operation” on the eyes of his sister, had been refunded, and that arrangements had been made for the payment of other claims. The court was also informed that the sum of $1,000 would be put at the disposal of the local officials with which to settle other claims, which might arise, because of the activities of Wilkinson and Martin.

“Why Not Plead Guilty.”

The court stated if settlement was being made for the activities that it was a presumption of guilt and asked why the prisoners did not plead guilty.

The court was informed that it would be most difficult to raise $10,000 bail and that the prisoners were men of families and if the bail remained at so high a figure that they in all probability would be compelled to remain in jail until their case was called in December.

Finally the court agreed to a reduction of bail in the sum of $1,000 making the bail $4,000 in each instance.

Readers of the Journal will remember that Wilkinson and Martin were taken into custody two weeks ago charged with securing $1,500 from Anton Grossmann following a supposed operation upon the eyes of his sister at the home in Cottonwood township. They also visited the Robert Jahncke home in Cottonwood and are said to have “operated” upon his eyes and he would have turned over $650 to them, if a local banker had not interposed, and called in Attorney Alf. W. Mueller.

Odds They Will Beat It.

Odds are being wagered that Wilkinson and Martin will not show up at December for trial and thus will forfeit their cash bail. In that case the county will be long $8,000 and the two can be picked up by any officer in the country.

Tip-Off of Re-Arrest.

Just as Wilkinson and Martin and their wives were leaving the jail a tip-off came that they might be re-arrested for violating the state law with regard to vending glasses. They beat it out of town as rapidly as possible to escape further trouble.

Brown County Journal,

Sept. 19, 1924

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