New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-01
LYNCHED FOR BEING DISAGREEABLE.
THrRTY-THREE NuGHBoRs IMPLICATED IN
THE MURDER OF OLSEN, THE WIS
CONSIN

HE MOhDIls VI Ol<SDNf lie
CoNsIN FARMER
Chicago Nov. 3O-A dispatch from Milwaukee says:
GAS the facts connected with the lynchng of the
old man, Hans Jacob Olsen, at Preston. Wis, on
Saturday night, become known, storm of indignation
arises. The facts have been hard TO get at as the
newspaper correspondents in the vicinity Of Preston
have been intmidated or have friends implicated In
the crime. The facts have gradually become known
throughout Trempeleau County, however, and the
result has been popular demand for the arrest and
prosecution Of the men who composed the mob
Eighteen men, many of them prominent citizens, have
already been arrested, but the charge of riot,
instead OF murder They have given bonds. and arr
now out bail Six men implicated have fed from the
State; others still in Blair or Preston, anu
will be arrested. Thlrty-three people in all are
known TO have been implicated in the lynchng. One
Of the men in jail IS Olsens son. and old Mrs
Olsen Is also charged with completely
There were number of young men and boys IN
the mob and one Of the boys under arrest Nelson
has made q confession His statement Is that upon
the arrival OF the mob at the house of Olsen &c
tachment sent into the house to bling Olsen out
rope was then put around his neck, Olsen being
In his night clothes and barefooted. lie was maie
to stand on the frozen ground While the moo
harangued him. He asked to be allowed to stand on
the porch and to have his clothes brought 10 him.
which was done by his wife. Olsen was asked by
the mob IL he would leave the country. His reply
was that he did not know; that this was his home'
and he did not know what right they had 10 order
him to leave 1t: and finally said he would not 60
Then the rope was placed over the limb of tree
twenty feet from the house. and Olsen was pIned
up Upon being let down, he was asked again II
he would leave the country His reply was mat
he intended 10 90 to the pinery to work as soon as
his wife could finish his mitts and socks. This d'1
not satisfy the mob, and he was strung up the
second time When let down he was asked
If he would leave the neighborhood'
HIS faint reply wa, Yes" BY this time he was haip-
less ana they carried him into the house, putting him
on the floor where lay praying and recitng portions
of the Bible At this tine there were only four OF
The lyncLerS IN the house. Meantime the mop Out
side was taking q vote whether or not they shOuIi
hang him. A lew voted no, but the majority seaiod
his fatc and he brought out and hanged ms
was about 81 D. IN. lie left hanging until p H.
the next day when the coroner took him down. 49,
OF en- was at time osIcrOus farmer Wheh
the wheat crop failed he found himself, Ike man.
farmers I'm the western part of the stare, in plnchcl
circumstances, ard compelled 10 secure most Oh
his creditors by mOrtgaging his personal properly
and growing CROPS. Ailer repeated failure OF crops,
olsen like many Of his ncghbOrs, was neeced padly
lie resented the pundering, and, as occasion ana
opportunity presented, publicly denounced those who
he considered had done him the most wrong. lie
probably made statements construed as threats, bnl
there IS no evidence of his attempting to DO any
one physical harm.