Nicollet County Farmer Was

Fatally Wounded

On Thursday Evening.

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SIGNS STATEMENT BEFORE HIS DEATH

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Wife Claims She

Recognized Party Who Committed Brutal Act.

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With the echoes of a heavy caliber pistol reverberating through the thin walls of an isolated farm house on the Minnesota river in Belgrade township Thursday evening, the curtain was rung down on another moonshine tragedy.

Walter Vining, Nicollet County farmer is dead as the result of a shooting affray taking place on his farm, a short distance across the Minnesota river from the old brick factory. The victim was rushed to the Immanuel hospital at Mankato where a bullet in his left breast was discovered. He died at 2:50 Friday after signing a statement accusing Hugo Albrecht, twenty-four year old Mankato youth of the attempted murder. His hysterical wife repeats over and over,”Albrecht did it. Albrecht did it.” Over at St. Peter in the Nicollet county jail, a sullen youth denies any knowledge of the attempt at murder and states that he spent the evening with a sweetheart. In the dim light of the lonely, unpainted, frame farm house, Vining gasped and writhed on the floor and a masked figure drove frantically through the gloom on the rough road leading back towards Nicollet Avenue in North Mankato. Meanwhile a wife and mother, with two small children, stumbled sobbing across the dark, muddy fields towards the light in Joe Gleason’s house for help. And back in the uncertain light of the tragedy-ridden home a copper still and all the equipment necessary for the making of moonshine caught the rays of the yellow lamp and grinned evilly down at the helpless victim.

Shot Early In Evening

The murder of Walter Vining took place somewhere between the hours of 5:30 and 6 p.m. according to the best judgement of both Blue Earth and Nicollet county officers, working on the case.

Story of Wife

Across the muddy almost impassable road leading to the Vining farm house Mrs. Vining says she saw a car approach. Officers gave the number of the car as A-265-102. Albrecht states he obtained his car through a purchase from a local Rent-A-Ford-agency.

The car drove up in the yard and a man jumped out. According to one version of Mrs. Vining’s story, told to officers, the man was wearing a full masquerade mask, which covered his face. She did not repeat this story to Sheriff Charles Norman of Nicollet county, who has charge of the case.

Without warning or without any words the man attacked her husband, Mrs. Vining says. They struggled in the yard and then backed into the house. Here it appears that Vining was getting the best of the struggle and the attacker, who had been cursing at intervals broke loose, pulled out a pistol and cried,”Damm you, I am going to shoot you full of holes.” In the tiny room of the farm house the deafening roar of the pistol followed and Vining crumpled to the floor.

Scarcely had the report of the gun sounded through the farm home when the attacker sped from the house jumped into his car and drove recklessly away over the wagon trail.

Neighbors Asked To Aid

Shortly after six o’clock as nearly as they can state the Gleason family was sitting down to supper. Mrs. A.W. Gleason sat near the window at a point where the wagon trail from the muddy fields lead up to the bluff road. Out of the gloom she saw the bright lights of a car coming up the fields at breakneck speed. She remarked about the peculiarity of a car coming from such a lonely and isolated spot at such an hour but dismissed the thought later, thinking that it had been some friend of the Vining’s.

Gleason answering an excited knock on the door, opened it to reveal the trembling figure of Mrs. Vining, who informed them that her husband had been shot. Mr. Gleason, taking his car hurried back to the grim scene on the lonely river bank and took the wounded man to the hospital. Dr. William Black was called on the case and, having ascertained the serious condition of Vining, notified Sheriff Phil. Lundmark and County Attorney Frank Morse. A short time later, Vining’s statement, accusing Hugo Albrecht was in the hands of the county attorney. Added to this was the story of Mrs. Vining, who says she recognized Albrecht and heard his voice. Sheriff Carl Norman of Nicollet county was called to take charge of the case, the shooting taking place in Belgrade township. He again took the statement of Mr. Vining, who reiterated his statement as to the alleged fact that Albrecht shot him.

Officers Have Still

A visit of the officers to the scene of the shooting brought out the background of moonshine in the affair. The officers have in their possession a large still which was found in the house. A significant fact in connection with this discovery was that while there was no liquor found, the boilers of the illegal outfit were still hot when the officers reached the place.

And now comes a curious link in the case. Mrs. Vining was ordered to leave the still and all equipment in the house. During the night, according to the officers, Mrs. Vining took a lantern and hauled all the illegal machinery out of the house, hiding it along the riverbank. Officers searching the bank discovered it and in addition some quantity of moonshine.

After this, the officers, working on a definite clue, waited for Albrecht at a Blue Earth farm. About five o’clock he returned in company with a young lady. He was arrested and taken into custody by Sheriff Norman. The young lady he was escorting stated that Albrecht had been with her throughout the entire evening. Previous to this time Albrecht claims that he was driving around. He admits driving over in North Mankato. In a statement made to officers, Albrecht also admits that on several occasions he has gone to the Vining farm and on each of these occasions has secured a half gallon of moonshine.

Vining, before his condition grew worse said that there had been no quarrel between himself and the man he accused. He said he knew of no reason why Albrecht should attack him as alleged.

Albrecht’s Past Record

Mankato police state that Albrecht is an old offender and has been arrested on two counts. On August 5,1925, he paid a fine on a petty larceny charge and on August 24, 1925, he was sentenced to thirty days in jail for drunkenness. He served three days and worked out the rest of his sentence on the poor farm.

It appears now in the case that Albrecht has not been living regularly at his home. For several nights he has slept in odd places near the railroad tracks. He took his meals with Dave Sweiger, 307 Minnesota Street. Sweiger is an engine man in the Chicago Northwestern yards and according to his own statement he was resting in his home before supper time yesterday when Albrecht came in. Sweiger heard him moving around and asked him where he was going. Albrecht replied that he was just going out.

Dave Oglesby, a switchman in the Chicago Northwestern yards and a friend of Sweiger now enters the case with the statement to officers that Albrecht had made arrangements to borrow his pistol. He was to get the pistol Thursday noon but did not do so, according to Oglesby.

Monday afternoon a coroner’s jury went into session in the new Municipal building at North Mankato to bring out evidence in the case. A post mortem examination, held over the body of Vining, revealed the fact that death had been caused by a thirty-two caliber bullet, which was found in the dead man’s body. The bullet had entered the left side and was found in the eighth dorsal vertebra. It had severed the spinal cord. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon following the coroner’s inquest. The deceased man is survived by his wife and two children Gilbert, age nine years and Ella Mae age eight years.

Albrecht Denies Guilt

Albrecht, who has been held without charge since the shooting declares he did not shoot Walter Vining. Close examination during the late afternoon hours Sunday failed to shake the youth from his denial of the killing.

On the other hand, from the dying man’s lips, comes the statement that Hugo Albrecht shot him and from his hand comes his own signature, confirming on paper a similar charge.

Again appearing in the dramatic but sordid story of the shooting, appears the figure of the widow, calmly insisting that Albreeht shot her husband, that she heard his voice and recognized his figure. And yet there is doubt in the minds of the authorities, because Mrs. Vining’s stories and statements of that lonely murderous struggle do not always coordinate.

The coroner’s jury took their seats with one question running through their minds.

What was the motive for the killing of Walter Vining?

True it is, that in the farm house of the Vinings was found a moonshine still and true it is that an attempt was made to hide this apparatus later. No quarrel between Vining and Albrecht, they say, Albrecht confesses to purchases of liquor at various times from Vining. And Albrecht, says Mrs. Vining, came to their farm house Friday and conducted an assault.

New Ulm Review,

Dec. 23, 1925

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