Patrick L. Shannon

NEW ULM — The Brown County Historical Society will host a Book Signing for Patrick L. Shannon, author of “Minnesota’s Headline Murders! 1900 – 1919” on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brown County History Museum. This event is free.

If you like true historic Minnesota crime stories, consider this book. Shannon, a retired homicide investigator from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, tells a tale from Minnesota history in the voice of someone involved in either the murder itself or the resulting trial.

The cases are full of twists and turns, desperate schemes, jilted lovers and captivating peculiarities of people who commit murder. Through the telling of ten early 1900’s well publicized murder cases Shannon illustrates the beginning of the evolution of investigation techniques and scientific crime scene procedures.

Chapter two tells in detail New Ulm’s memorable case, the murder of Dr. Louis Gebhardt. The dentist was found dead on Tuesday evening, Nov. 1, 1904 of multiple stab wounds, in his upper office located on Minnesota Street. Sheriff William J. Julius and Chief Adolph Krause collaborated on the investigation which resulted in an arrest of a member of one of New Ulm’s prominent families. Shannon says he believes he has this case solved.

This free event will be held at the Brown County History Museum, 2 North Broadway, New Ulm. For more information, call: 507-233-2620 or email programs@browncountyhistorymn.org.