Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-02-27
The Terrible Tragedy near
WoSoca.


The telegraph on Thursday morning
of last week gave brief account of a
triple tragedy near the town Of Meri-
den, Steele county, Minnesota, the par
t,culars Of which are Detailed as follows
by the Waseca News
1t il alleged thai an American citi-
zen, Of German birth, a bachelor, re-
siding III the eastern part Of this town.
ship, not many years ago, wrote to an
acq quaintance iu Wisconsin to como to
his place with his wife and children,
The acquaintance came On, bought u
half interest in the farm and heredita.
mcnts. moved into tho house with the
bachelor, and for u time all things went
we'll. But after LAPSE OF a few
months, the husband made up his mind
that his wife was dividing her lov,
about equally between himself and his
bachelor friend. Matters and things
went from bad to worse, until the hus-
band had the best Of evidence for in
quiring " whose pin here since I'xe pin
gone 7" Whereupon he undertook to
administer corporal punishment upon
his bachelor friend, and US conse-
queuce got thrashing himself: He
then LETT for several months, as We are
informed, since which time the bache-
lor has lived in matrimonial clover,
contrary to the statute in such cases
made and provided. The case was
brought before the grand jury last
week, but that body did not indict ei-
ther Of the parties.
Since the above was in type two Of
the parties paid tho penalty Of their
crimes by committing suicide, on Mon
day last.
The history of the affair, as near as
We can learn, is as follows:
Mr.. Alexander Buscr, lawful hus-
band Of the woman, moved into the
house with Anton Ruff, a single man
three years ago last April. They had
three children at that time, two boys
aud a girl, the eldest Of whoal is now
thirteen years Of age. The fourtl,
Child was born about two years ago A
year ago last October, US MIR. Buser
claims, he Was driven away by Ruff,
since which time Ruff and Mrs. Bussr
have lived together in undisputed pos.
session: the children remaining with
the mother.
Last Monday morning when the
th rec Oldest children started for school
the mother told them that she was 20.
ing to Waseca. Inc children remain
Cd at school during the day, and when
they went home in the eve, ing, found
the door fastened. Surprising that
their mother had not yet returned
from Waseca, they went to the house
of Mr.. Spilsne, about quarter Of a
mile away, and remained over night.
On Tuesday morning, the eldest, boy,
and L. Tyncn, another lad, went to the
house, and finding the. door fastened
looked in at the window, .hen they
saw Ruff lying On the floor, covered
with blood, dead. These boys then
went back and got Mike Spilane, Jr.,
who went back with them to the house.
Messrs, Waldo and Whitman also visi.
tod the house, but no ono broke open
the door: Mr.. spiIane's SON then
Grove to Waseca and informed tho Cor.
one, Dr.. Mcintosh, who summoned a
jury and proceeded to the house. Thorc
they found the woman and child dead
on the bed, with their tLroats cut
square across, anA Ruff on the floor,
dead, with his throat cut-the bed and
room having u bloody appearance.
1t appears that the deed was done
with the utmost prcmeditation. A
large butcher knife had evidently been
sharpened for the occasion. The
child's throat evidently was cut first
then the woman was murdered and
laid on the bed, and the child laid up-
on her arm. Ruff then cut his own
throat aud laid dowu beside them, but
ia his death-asony, turaed over aud
fell upon the floor, face downward.
Both Of them wrote letters which
they left upon the table. One of these
was directed BY Mrs. Rusor, to a rela-
tive in Greene county, Wisconsin,. The
letters showed much sentimental affcc-
tion between the two, and accused 9th
ers Of their troubles.