Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-12-06
HOW JACOB OLSEN DIED.
SLOWLY PUT OUT OF THE WAY

SLOWLY PUT OUT OF THE WAY
MILWAUKEE,, WIS, Nov, 30
As the facts connected with the
lynching of the old man, Hans
Jacob Olsen, at Preston, become
known, a storm OF indignation
arises. The facts have been hard
10 get at, as the newspaper cor
respondents in the vicinity of Pres
ton have been intimidated, or have
friends implicated in the terrible
crime. The facts have gradually
become known throughout Tremp-
clean county, however, and the re-
suit has been popular demand
for the arrest and prosecution Of
the men who composed the mob
Eighteen men, many OF them
prominent citizens, have been
arrested. but on the ch irge of not
instead Of murder. They havr
given bonds, and ara now out of
Jail. Six men duplicated ave fled
from the State, others r" still in
Blair or Preston, aud will be ar.
rested Thirty three people in all
are known to have been implicated
in the lynchIng.
One of The mea under arrest
who 10 now 10 jail, is Olsen's son.
Old Mrs. Olsen is also charged
with completely. There were a
number of young men and boys
In the mob and one of the boys
now under arrest, Christ Nelson,
has made confession. In his
statement he says that upon the
arrival of tho mob at the house OF
Olsen a detachment was sent into
the house 70 bring Olsen out. a
rope was then put around his neck,
Olsen being in his night clothes
and bare feet. He was made to
stand on the frozen ground while
the mob harangued him.
He asked to be allowed to stand
on tue porch and to have his
clothes brought to him, which was
done by his wife. Olsen was asked
| il he would leave the country. His
reply was that he did not know !;
that this was his hOu4e, and he ala
not know what right they had to
order him to leave it, and finally
said he would not go. Then the
rope was placed over the limb OF a
tree twenty feet from the house
and Olsen was pulled mp. Upon
letting him down he was asked II
he would leave the country. HIS
reply was that he intended to &c
the pineries and work as soon as
soon az his wife could finish his
mitts and socks.
This did not satisfy tue mob
and he was strung up the second
time. When let down he WAS ask
ed again If he would leave. Ills
faint reply was "yes."
By Ibis time be was helpless
and they carried him into th'
house, putting him on the hoor
whore he lay praying and recltlnl
PORTIONS OF the Bible. At thl'
time there were only four OF thu
lyn ;hers In the house.
Meantime the mob outs ide wa
taking note whether they shoul'
hang him for good. There were
few who voted no, but the nAjorlt.
sealed his fate, aud he was bcough
out and hanged. This was aOon
: Q o'clock at night. He was lei
hanging till 2 p. IN. the next IA
: when the coroner took him down.
Olsen was at one time pro
porous farmer, bat was rnlned D
a fsiIure OF the wheat crop. " he
: crop failed, he found himself, liz
0 many farmers in the western pa
8 of the State, IN pinched clrcuI
T .tances and was compelled to s
J. cure most of his creditors by mol
e gazing his personal property an
:, growing crops. After repeate
= failures OF crops, Olsen, llNe ni"'
n of his nelghbors, was feeced bAdI
4. He resented the plunderlng' a
d AZ occasion aud opportunity pr
10 sented, publicly denounced tho
st whom he considered had done hl
at the mos: harm. He pro0ao
ly made statements construed
at threats, bat there is no eyIdenc
10 at empting to do any Que physl
ar harm.
10 In the fall of 1884 he sold SO
IT. oak "grabs" for tuel," aud an
tn ploslon of what appeared to DO
,ot powder charged "grub," result
to in Olsen's being tried aud S'nt
lin the penitent!ary. lie relur'
zee home this eur, AMI 80 tar as
IN. be learned, conducted himself pr
10 eriy.
or, ---
Ii, IN nnnn