The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-29

A Visit to the Murderess in Jail--What
She Said--Her Appearance, ETC., etc.

A Visit to the Murderess in Jail--What
She Said--Her Appearance, ETC., etc.
This forenoon reporter for The ARGUS
called on Mrs. Nielsen, the woman who
murdered her husband at Rapids City on
Friday morning, full account of which
was given in this paper that evening. lie
found her in the women's department of
the Jail, sweeping and cleaning the room.
She is about feet inches tall; weight
about l40 pounds; rather good looking;
light compilations; dark hair; blue eyes;
rather small hands, wore black a yellow
checked calico dress, and has rather
bashful lo1k, and, taken all together, is
not a woman who would ever be suspected
of committing a cold bloo6ed murder She
is rather shrewd, and eyaded every direct
question concerning the murder by saying
that she had told of that matter before.
She appears to be a woman who would be
easily Influenced by those for whom she
has attachments. She speaks very good
English, and can read and write both
Swede and English.
The following is the substance of her
answers to questions put to her during the
conversation:
My name is Brita Nielsen; I will be %
years old next May; [ came to this
! l olc
Sweden, 5 years ago next August. |
came to Moline three years ago this month,
and was employed as a servant in the
family of j.. G.. Wells for mnnths. |
left his house because was in a fam
lily way; Ansyt Tygersou was my
seducer; | think he is now in Moline |
left MIR. Wells in October; the child was
born in January; 1t was boy In the
following March | was married to Peter
: Nielsen; we moved Immediately to Rapids
City, and have lived there since that time
, The reason | married Nielsen was. Tiger
son, when he discovered nv condition, ran
, off, leaving me in destitute condition, and
| married Nielsen to get home, and to
escape the talk and insults Of the people il
old next June He worked in Gilchrist
-
made me very unhappy. lie never struck
me- The last time heard from Sweden
: (about two years ago. NY father, Andrew
, Gava was still living; my mother Is dead
j have no brothers or sisters; | do not be-
long to any church; my lawyer told me ret
totalG about the case, and [ will answer
no questions concerning it, Peter Mick
Y land boarded with US at Rapids City; my
/ husband never said anything to me about
q hnl or appeared to be jealous, but then
know he dill not hike him My child died
in July last. rested we'll last night.
: was very tired, not having had much slecI
0 for several nights; | had been thinkns
about this matter the murder) some time
!, and could not sleep Mr., Herkert is very
kind to me, and has furnished me Will
: some crockett work to amuse myself with
a My husband, | think, did not have an!
q money. | would ike to visit my home
= again; | have many things there that
will never use again and which would l.
c very useful to my neighbors; | will 500.
!, become mother again; | have nothiu.
e more TO say.
. When asked about her husband, sh'
" said: My husband, Peter Nielsen, cam,
to this country from Sweden about clever
t I'D years ago; he had been working q
t Bowless coal banks before we wer
n married, after which we moved to RAPID
J City; he intended to become citizen @
$ the United States, having taken out hi
o first papers; he had often spoken Of takin
is out his last papers and becoming a citzel
n bu, G:1 lot DO SO; my husband used to b
IS harl drinker in the old country, al,
d draI.i, pretty hard before We were married
II / Lever saw him drunk but twice after "
d were married. although be often took
d drink. ,dy husband was short, heav
1t set man, and few days ago weighed Is
Of pounds.
e Mieklanl left Rapids City Tuesda
Is mar4ing and said he was going to Moline
st h. IS 40 ut 81 years old; good looking;
le liked liGl very well, and he always side
Is VIVA ,iIe, though not when my husban
Is was agaund My husband was Away
croS7 ana it would take the whole day +
al name over what all lie was fussing about
= When asked it she would like Ito sa
} anything in the paper she said: IN
ne What's done, is done, and | can't help
S now.
At Mrs. Nielsen will probably remain in ia
g until the May term of the circuit court
e Messrs Kenworthy & Beardsley ha'
Ia been retained to defend her. The defen;
will probably be insanity.