St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-01
CHARGED WITH MURDER.
Testimony Begun in the Famous
Olson Case.

AT 10 O'clock yesterday morning the
district court, with Judge Kelly Oh the
bench, was opened, and the trial OF
Olaf 2. Olson, charged with poisoning
his wife in April, 1887, was begun. AS
soon as the prisoner entered the room
and took his seat behind his attorneys.
MI. Mum, on the part OF the prosecu-
ton introduced the case to the court
and jury. He carefully reviewed the
whole story and related matters which
the state would endeavor to prove in
support of its case. How Olson had
Mrs. Lyndman and how he, with herself
and son had gone out in Big Stone
county and settled OH claims. Mrs.
Lyndman occupied the middle claim
while her son and Olson were on
each side. She did the housewOrk
/ for all. while they cultivated her
farm in connection with their own.
In 1856, he said, Mrs. Lyndman sold her
stock and crops for $4,000. Olson de-
manded $500 of this money. and upon
being refused, took it by force. Mrs.
Lyndman being an aged woman of about
SiXty-five years. desired to pay visit to
her daughter in Denmark, at WHICH
Olson suggested accompanying her.
they started for st. Paul, where they
took quarters with OlSon's brother. on
latter part of March, 1887 Shortly
thereafter Mrs. Lyndman became ill,
and died Oh the 9th of April. Her
son. NelS Lyndman, who had been left
on the farm, becoming anxious as to
the success of his mothers trip to the
old country, wrote to his sister in Den
mark and learned that his mother had
not arrived. Then he wrote to st. Paul,
receiving a letter from Olson, stating
that his mother was well and would
shortly resume her journey. When
Mrs. Lyndman came here she
deposited 1915 in the Bank of Mime
sofa. The day before she
died the money was drawn out
by Olson and a woman who represented
to the bank that she was Mrs. Lynd-
man. Mrs. Lyndman was buried OH
the afternoon of April z by Olson. and
the cause of her demise was given out
as dysentery. LYndman grew suspi-
cious and came to St. Paul, only to find
that his mother had been dead and
buried about year. He notified the
authorities and had her body eXhumed.
and found traces of arsenical poisoning
AZ grains being found in her system.
Olson was then arrested, and the grand
jury found an Indictment against him
for the crime for which he is now being
tried. The first witness put upon the
stand was Nels Lypdman. He is forty
six years old, and son of the dead
woman. He testified as to the re-
lations between his mother and Olson.
Cross. questioning then began by
the prosecution and defense continued
during the afternoon. Several other
witnesses were called, one of whom was
the sexton of Oakland cemetery, to
testify to the burial and pXhuming of
the right body. Other testimony dis
closed nothing Of Importance and the
principal witnesses In the case will
testify to-day. The court room was full
all day, and Notwithstanding the dull
proceedings of examining witnesses an
eagernerness was displayed by the
spectators who closely followed each
turn. The prisoner sits as uncoucerned
as stranger to the case and has no ex-
preston whatever upon his thin pale
face. lie speaks to the interpreter but
seldom and poses his hands on his lap,
holding his SLOUGH hat and gazing stolid-
ly in wonderment and doubt at the jury.