The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-08-20
MURDER +!
A WOMAN STABBED.
DIES ALMOST INSTANTLY.
Her Husband Receives
Seven Cuts.

o0Vcu SulS.
ARREST OF THE MURDERER, WHO
MAKES NO ATTEMPT TO
ESCAPE.
CLAIMS TO HAVE ACTED IN SELF DE-
FENCE.
His Statement Of the Affair.
On Saturday morning word was brought
to Sheriff Geissel that woman named
Holler, wife of John Holler, of the town of
Krain, in this county, some thirty miles
from this city, had been killed the night
before by Henry Moonen and that Holler
had been dangerously cut. Sheriff Geissel
was on the ground in less than three hours
He found Mrs. Holler lying on the road
where she had fallen. Holler was at home
in bed. His story to the Sheriff was that
he and his wife had started out the previous
evening to look for the cows, and had sepa-
rated, as the animals were in two different
places; that he heard cries aud on running
in the direction of the sounds saw his wife
kneeling in theroad in front ofMoonen with
her hands clasped and raised up imploring-
ly, when Moonen who had his gun raised,
struck her blow over the head, breaking
his gun in two; that he dropped his own
gun and ran toward his wife; that Moonen
met him, and "fumbled" over him; that be
felt something burning like" but did not
think about it; that be lifted up his wife,
who gasped once and fell ,back dead that
he then found that he was cut; that he left
his wife there and went home. He did not
speak of seeing Moonen cut his wife.
Coroner Overlook, County Attorney
Brick and DR.. Gilman arrived about four
o'clock and held an inquest. Mrs. Holler's
body showed three terrible cuts-two on
the left side, one penetrating the stomach
and one the heart; the third, 81 inches
long, just above the pubic bone, penetrating
the large intestines and allowing their par
tial escape. Either wound would have caus-
ed death. The verdict Of the jury was that
she came to her death from wounds caused
by some sharp instrument in the hands of
Henry Moonen. Holler has seven cuts
one in front of right shoulder, penetrating
inwardly; another on the second left rib
another on left side Of abdomen another on
the right leg penetrating toward the ab-
domen; another on the left arm near the
shoulder, and two on the right arm between
the elbow and shoulder. Some of these are
only flesh wounds; the first being the most
dangerous. 1t is believed he will recover.
We called yesterday afternoon on Moon
en-, who is now confined in the Stearns
county jail. He is man IS years of age,
about feet inches high, rather stout, and
not vicious looking. He made the follow
ing
I had been cutting wheat all day Friday
at w. Fishers, over two miles off; lit
tie after seven O'Clock was returning home
with my gun "a double-barreled shot-gun)
on my shoulder; while walking along the
road met Holler, his wife and dog; the
road here leaves the section line and runs
on Holler's land; Holler told me to go
back, that I shouldn't pass that way; ! told
him I couldn't 60 back this was repeated
he then came toward me with club in his
hand; we were but about three PAGES apart
l cooked my gun and pointing the muzzle
toward his breast; told him several times to
letmepass; he stepped back to his wife, and
got his gun "a rifle and shot-gun combined),
cooked it and pointed it at my breast; he
again took the club giving the gun to his
wife, who stood beside him, and came
toward me with the club raised to strike
I backed into the brush as far as I could
my gun was loaded but did not want to
shoot, as l thought could get out of the
way; after had backed as far as I could
60 hauled up my gun and struck him
over the right shoulder, breaking the gun
in two; his wife then struck me on the
head with the gun Showing scar on ear and
above temple) knocking me down, and the
dog bit my leg, (showing scars on the
leg, each side of knee); Holler was on top
Of me; do not know where the woman
was I thought they would kill me, and I
drew my knife, small deer knife carried
by my side, as it was all could do, and
cut away; did not know who was cutting;
Holler cried out, 'tHe's using the knife"
and ran into the brush the next knew
was free to get up; got my gun and hat and
started for home, over mile distant; cav
the woman running along the road back
over the way I had just come; Holler was
coming out Of the brush again just ahead Of
me as I was starting; got past him and
ran all the way home; went to my brother,
who is Justice of the Peace, and wanted
him to have the Hollers arrested for as
saulting me; he had not fled his bonds and
could not act; told my wife that would go
to Albany the next morning and make COM
plant; the next day neighbours boy told
me Mrs. Hollerlw WAS dead, SO waited un-
til Sheriff Geissel came; did not know I
had cut her; had trouble, some six years
ago, with Holler about the woman who be-
came his wife; have had trouble.:with him
about this road everybody has had trouble
with him about that.
We learn from Sheriff Geissel that the
town road leaves the section line, on account
of slough, and swings out on to Holler's
land and that it is the regular travelled
road, but that Holler has made great deal
Of trouble about it. He says the affray &C.
CURED on the top Of a little hill, and that
| Mrs. Holler had got to the bottom of it,
some fifteen steps, where her body lay when
he arrived.
The knife used was somewhat like q
shoemakers knife, with the end of
the blade sloping from the edge to-
ward the back. Nearly all the cuts on
both Holler and his wife are supper cuts,
as if made from below. The Sheriff said he
carefully examined Mrs. Holle1s head and
| shoulders, and that neither showed any
mark or bruise.
Mrs. Holler was about 80 years of age,
which is about Holders age. They have
fvo ch;1dron hit Il 10 oho~cod that th,,,