The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-12-27
Correspondence of the Minnesotian.
The Murder Case at Hastings.

HASTINGS DEC. lG.
DEAR MINNEsoTIAN Our busy little
town seems to be in constant excitement.
After being the practical head of navigation
for long time in consequence of the gorge
IF ice at the head Of town, and the drive of
business by our merchants in relation to it,
the church folks have been preparing for fes-
| tivals during the ensuing holidays, the first
IF the season being fixed for the 18th inst.
While the ladies are thus engaged, the more
excitable portion Of the community have
been engaged in the investigation of charge
Of murder, held before w.. V. B. Moore,
Esq, Justice Of the Peace.
Tie case was the United States agt. Ed
ward Loderlund. From the evidence it ap-
pears that on the I'd of November last, Lo-
derlund and his wife resided in the house Of
Dr. Charles Wessenburg, about ten miles
below Hastings, on the Rcd Wing road Lo-
derlnnd and his wife had lived unhappily to-
gether, he being O. violent temper, and
frequently threatened her life. On the
morning of the 2d ult. a quarrel ensued
about getting up in the morning to make a
fire. After breakfast Loderlund went to
Poplar Grove, and while absent his wife paid
a man Ssl7, which was his due. After Lo-
derlund returned home his wife told him
what she had done, and Loderlund abused
her in most violent MARINER, accusing her
Of theft, and using epthets improper to men
tion here, as we'll as threatening to kick her
CUTS ont and wishing her in he'll.
While thus abusing his wife. Mr.. Fisher
came to the house, and in few minutes Lod-
erlund left the house with Fisher and went to
the stable, short distance from the door.
In the meantime DR.. Charles Wessenburg
and Emily, his wife, occupied the room next
adjoining, and heard everything that tran
spired in Loderlund's room. Immediately
after Lode lund and Fisher went out to the
stable, Dr. Wessenburg went into Loder
lund's room and discovered Mrs. Loderlund
standing by the stove, with her hands on her
left side, eXclaiming, 6 Oh my side, oh my
side" Wessenburg asked what was the
matter. Mrs. l.. said, Now Loderland has
done it well-help him God when he dies
She then went to bed, while Wessenburg
went to call Loderlund, who immediately
came in and found his wife speechess and in
the agonies of death.
When Loderlund had ascertaincd that his
wife was deal, he rolled upon the floor and
cried, " Dear doctor, dear doctor, don't
make me unhappy and ruin me for ever" and
during the investigation he went to the
house where he Uoderlund) boarded in
Hastings, and threatened Wcssenbury that if
he testified to what he knew he would take
his (Wessenburg's) life.
\ singular feature in the affair is, that the
mater rested quiet until the Doctor and his
wife had g family jar" which was the
means of bringing the fact to light, month
after its occurrence. Accordingly, on the
5th of December an affidavit was made by
the District Attorney, Edward F. Parker
Esq, and warrant issued, on which the
defendant was arrested.
The case was adjourned on motion of L.
Smith and f. Robinson, counsel for defer
dant, until Tuesday, the 7th instant, for the
purpose of eXhuming the body, to ascertain
whether there were marks of violence visi-
BILE. The Coroner found no marks, and re-
inferred the body, not thinking it necessary
to hold an inquest.
On the 7th the case was opened for the
prosecution.
After thorough examination, occupying
near three days, the attorneys presented to
the court the grounds on which they respect
fully rested their case, with the following ex-
ceptions, copy Of which We have obtained
from one of the counsel:
| The United States agt. Earard Lodeslund.
before W. V 3. Moore Esq, Justice of the
| Peacc.)
EXAMINATION ON THE CHARGE OF MURDER.
The District Attorney proposes in the ar
gument for the United States to exhibit that
the evidence shows:
1st, That the testimony is sufficient to
establish the death of Christine Loderlund