Admitted Complicity in

Robbery of Erickson & Kisro Clothing Store,

Ten Years Ago.

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WAS WORLD WAR BUDDY OF NEW

ULMITE LATER

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Article in Last Week’s Issue of Journal Recalls Reminiscences of

Camp Experiences.

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There is no doubt in the mind of a certain wellknown New Ulmite as to the fact that Robert Henderson, who is under arrest at Madison, Wis., on a charge of being a party to the robbery of the Superior, Wis., postoffice, November 21, 1924, was also implicated in the burglary of the Erickson & Kisro clothing store at Comfrey in October, 1916. Although he prefers to have his name not mentioned, the party referred to states that he positively recognized Henderson by his picture, recently published in a Twin City newspaper. This identification was made certain by comparison with a photograph of the military contingent while stationed at one of the training camps in this country, and now in possession of the Journal’s informant.

Reminiscences Recalled.

The article published in a recent issue of the Journal, referring to Henderson’s recent arrest at Madison, recalled most interesting wartime reminiscences to the local man’s mind. He made a number of important revelations to a representative of the Journal.

Knew Sheriff Julius.

One day, while in one of the training camps, Henderson, who was entrusted with the position of mail orderly of his company, delivered to the New Ulmite a copy of the Brown County Journal, of which the latter was a subscriber. A brief conversation ensued, during which Henderson asked his buddy whether he was from New Ulm. Upon being assured that such was the case, the man inquired:”Do you know Sheriff Julius?” The New Ulmite again assented, and countered with the same query, to which Henderson replied: “I surely do, as I was his ‘guest’ for a time.”He explained that he had been implicated in the Comfrey robbery, but was able to prove an alibi. His brother, Art. Henderson, who was shot to death in a gun battle with Omaha, Nebr., police during the night of November 27, 1924,and a third man, James Burns, were arrested at the same time, and were convicted, being sentenced to state prison at Stillwater for indeterminate terms.

“Ray Talbot” in Service.

The New Ulmite,who was stationed at Camps Forest, Ga.; Funston, Kans.; Mills, L. I., and Humphrey, Va., with Henderson in 1918-19, says that the latter gave his name as Ray Talbot and his address as Sioux City, Iowa, when he entered military service. While in one of the training camps, he received a message stating that his infant child had died, and the man was granted a furlough to attend the funeral. His affections were genuine, according to his local buddy, his display of intense grief softening the hearts of the most hardened soldier.

Admitted Complicity.

One day, while in New York City, Henderson imbibed too freely of liquor and became intoxicated. During his enlistment in the Army he had made no intimate friends and associated with few of his comrades. He at all times studiously avoided any reference to his preservice activities. Under the influence of liquor, however, his tongue became loosed, and he freely and frankly admitted complicity in the Comfrey robbery, even going to the extent of relating some of the incidents connected therewith,which are still fresh in the New Ulmite’s memory. Henderson was freed on the testimony of a woman,who claimed to have been with him in a distant city when the Comfrey “job” was pulled off. While relating his voluntary confession in New York City, the bandit stated that the woman in question was his wife, although he failed to reveal this bit of information to the local authorities at the time of his arrest, of Redwood county was notified.

Brown County Journal

May 14, 1926

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