Hugo Albrecht Tells Sheriff Norman That He Fired Shot, Which Killed Walter Vining.

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BEING HELD IN NICOLLET COUNTY JAIL, ST. PETER ——–

Hearing Held Before

N. Peter Justice yesterday Morning and Afternoon.

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Hugo Albrecht, Mankato youth.Is charged with fret degree murder, connected with the killing of Walter Vining, Belgrade farmer, on the night of December 18 as out lined In the Journal last week. Albrecht, It is said, finally confessed that he fired the shot, which killed Vining, but gave no motive for the act. He was grilled by Sheriff Chas. Norman of Nicollet county and after several hours of questioning, it is alleged, he finally admitted he was at the Vining home when the deed was committed and fired the shot. At first he denied all knowledge of the crime.

Preliminary Hearing

The preliminary hearing of Albrecht was held before a St. Peter justice yesterday. Witnesses were examined extensively throughout the hearing. Mrs. Vining was on the stand during the morning. Other witnesses were examined during the afternoon. The hearing was still in progress at the time the Journal went to press, so the ultimate result could not be ascertained, but it was anticipated Albrecht would be bound over to the grand jury at the May term of the Nicollet county court, on a charge of first degree murder. Mrs. Vining’s testimony, it is reported, was to the effect that Albrecht was accompanied by someone else when the murder was committed.

With Sweetheart

His movements were traced on the murder night and it was ascertained that shortly after the hour the deed was committed he was with his sweetheart. They spent several hours riding around Mankato. The girl works at the poor farm when grilled by the police repeatedly stated that she believed Albrecht innocent of the charge and said if he was “sent” she would “work and wait” for him.

Denies Guilt

When first arrested, Albrecht refused to divulge any knowledge of the crime. Sheriff Norman became suspicious of him because he never asked why he had been arrested. The man was also implicated by the dying statement of Vining, in which the latter stated that he recognized his assailant and also the coat he wore.Sheriff Norman started to question him and kept on the job until Albrecht divulged the information that n he was the guilty man.

The shooting is the second killing in Nicollet county within a short time. The obtaining of a confession by Sheriff Norman will save the taxpayers thousands of dollars in the prosecution of the case, it is believed The Nicollet county officials are to be praised for their prompt and efficient work.

It was brought out at the coroner’s inquest on Monday that Albrecht had asked Vining for money in the past, but this motive for the crime has been scouted by the authorities. In his confession, Albrecht did not divulge the motive. In his dying statement, Vining did not divulge it. Mrs. Vining claims she had no knowledge of it.

Both had records

Albrecht is 24 years old. He formerly resided in the vicinity of Glencoe. He has lived in Mankato for some time, working at the Milwaukee round house. He has been boarding at the Dave Schweiger home in Mankato, and kept company with a young girl employed at the county poor farm near Mankato. It was at that place that officers apprehended him. He has a police record, having served time in jail on two previous occasions, the Mankato police claim.

Vining, the victim of the tragedy, was about 40 years of age. He formerly resided in Le Sueur county. He and his family also lived south of St. Peter in Oshawa township for several years. In March, 1924, he was arrested on a charge of manufacturing intoxicating liquor and received a 90-day sentence at that time. He later moved to Mankato and some months ago to a shack near the Minnesota river about three miles west of Mankato in Belgrade township, where the tragedy occurred. He is survived by his wife and two little children.

County Attorney Olsen of Nicollet county lodged a charge of murder in the first degree against Albrecht late Thursday. Under this charge the accused is not admissible to bail.

Brown County Journal,

January 1, 1926

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