The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-04-19
HANGING OF noloNo.
fhs Perpetiator Of Ono 81 tho
Most hldeou6 Murders on RECORD
Executed at Fergus Falls,

ITO Fe1pot1ato1 OF Ono OF the
Most Hldeou6 Murders on RECORD
Executed at Fergus Falls.
Nelson Olson Ho:ong was duly executed
1T Fergus Falls. Minn.. at the date and
hour announced. His last night on eartl,
vas was spent in sound sleep; and no
dreams of the terrible fate: which awaited
him seemed I'd. trouble his mind: After
Nels awoke he lay on his cot fol i few
that he *onld not need his bed any more
md that he could take it out: Every
sound seemed to startle him, and he
complained about people peeripg into the
windows to catch a glimpse at him. When
asked what he wanted for breakfast he
called Tor fresh Ssh, but as none could be
obtained! he was given 9 fried spring chick.
drinking two cups of tea. Hiter Breakfast eeiss
several ministers called. remaining with
him Tor some time. TO them Nels express.
I'd the belief that he was going to heaven
showing that their labors have not been
in vain.
After dinner he sent for Sheriff Branden.
burg. He asked him il he had anything
against him. The sheriff said: mo. Nels,
you have been Il good boy since you have
Ssen IN, here here. ~" ell.'' replied Nels, you
nave bsen kind to me and given me good
home, but um going to better home
! now" The shefiff retired and tbs minis !:
terra continued their labors with the
! prisoner.
AT 1852 p: in Sheriff Brandenbure enter.
ed Ho'ong' 8 cell, carrying a small valise.
TO the prisoner he said, WELL. Nels,
must now perform my duty" and. taking
| from his pocket the death variant, he be.
gan reading it to the condemned man, who
stood with his head bowed upon his
breast. staring ut the floor OF his CELL His
lace was pale, but he betrayed no emotion,
and 1T became evident that he would pass
away without finching.
On the march to the gallows the con-
demned man walked slowly, but vi tn a firm
step. and with his head bowed. When
they reached the eallows he looked up ut
the rope with the fatal moose in the end,
but what ever feelings lie may have expe.
ricnced. 40 signs were depicted on his lace:
Sheriff Brandenburg and the watch walk.
ed on either side, but he assembled the
steps without assistance and took his place
ON the center OF the trap asking if he was
in the right place. Rev: A: Void, OF the Nor.
~egian Lutheran church, assembled to the
platform and offered short prayer III
Norwegian. asking the Almighty to be
merciful to the sinful man. and finishing
with the Lords Prayer. The condemned
mans legs were fastened together with
shackles at the ankles and a strap just
above the knees: His arms we're also
strapped just above the elbows. The moose
was then applied the knot coming under
the left ear. As Sheriff Brandon.
burg was drawing tho black cap
over his head Holong murmurcd "Oh,
Jesus in scarcely audible tone, and they
were the last words he ever uttered. The
sheriff then stepped back. and, giving the
lever sudden jerk. the trap fell, and the
murderer OF Lille Field dropped seven feet
ard hung motion.ess. There were only q
few spasmodic jerks of the limbs. 1t was
Just o'clock when the trap was sprung.
In eleven and half minutes his pulse
ceased at the wrists and in twenty minutes
gave its final beat.
1t was on the morning OF Friday. May
~, 1887, that the brutal murder was COM
1nitted for which Nels Olson Holons
hanged. 1t occurred in the little town OF
st. Olaf, near Ashby, Mimi. Lille, the fit.
teen .year.old daughter OF Mrs. Alex. Field,
was on the morning OF the tragedy lett at
home with her little brother and the hired
man. Nels Olson Holong. The latter was
enamo:ed Of the girl, and had for some
time been prosecuting her with attentions
which she did not reciprocate. About
g o'clock Friday morning. Nels told
Clark. the little boy, to take
scoop shovel over to a neighbor a mile
away. When the boy returned there were
no signs OF Lille or tho hired man. The
boy remained around home until evening.
when his mother and older brother, aged
twenty-eight. returned from town. The
absence OF Nels did not excit any suspicion
OF wrong. and the girl had been in the hab-
it OF going to Il neighbours house over
night. Early the next morning when Mr.
Field went to do the chores he noticed that
the cattle had not been fed, and on pass
ing through the hog yard fearful sight
was revealed to him-the nude body Of his
sister, dead. hacked and mutilated and
partially eaten by the hogs.
Shortly after his capture he confessed
the murder as follows: II killed Lille
Field. ] don't know what my motive was,
for she had never done any thing to me. I
wanted her nicture and she would not give
it to me. We quarreled, and l struck her
on the back Of the head. She did not move
after that; then [here the murderer drew
his finger across his throat significantly
threw her into the hog pen. am very
sorry that murdered her.