The record-union., 1891-05-30
get out of the room long enough to send
for the Sheriff.
SHERIFF STANLEY LISTENS.


Zwald readily consented to proceed
with his story in the presence of the new
arrival.
After the death of my wife," resumed
Zwald, in the same calm and collected
manner that had characterized the nara
ton OF the wierd story SO far, Il remained
there two years and a half. But didn't
like the place after l had committed the
deed, and every time anybody men
toned my wife's name to me. imagined
that they either suspected or knew that [
had killed her. So, at the end of two
years and half, I packed up and moved
with my four children to Nebraska. To-
eating at place called Wayne. We got
along nicely there for awhile, but finally,
a man with whom / had become ac-
quainted, and who seemed to take con-
siderable interest in me any my children,
told me that l was a fool to attempt to
bring my children up without the care of
a mother. l thought so, too, but at the
same time told him that 1 was making
the best out of a bad job. They had no
mother, and that was all there was about
it. Besides, they were all pretty well
along in years then-the oldest boy here
being Is years old-and / thought they
could pull through all right. Suisse
quently this man
INTRODUCED ME TO A WIDOW
Who resided there and who had the repu-
ton Of being very nice, respectable lady
/ was greatly pleased with her at first,
and concluded to take my friends adj
vice and get married again. I proposed
to her, she accepted, and we were mar
ried, after being acquainted only very
short time. cannot now recall her last
name, but her first name was Jennie. 1
had great hopes of happy life, but in a
couple of days | became aware that nv
second matrimonial venture was as bad
if not a worse one than the first.''
Judge Henry took occasion at this point
to warn Zwald that he was confessing
himself to be q murderer. and that the re-
suit would probably be very serious, but
Zwald declared that he had carried the
burden on bis mind as long as he could,
and he did not care what the result was,
Sheriff Stanley sat and gazed at the
man in amazement, and Zwald's son had
worked himself up into high fever of
excitement. The only apparently calm
person in the room was Zwald himself.
THE SECOND MURDER.
Resuming his strange story, Zwald
said that this second wife began to pick
upon him and his children right away.
and made matters very disagreeable gem
orally. She quarreled and scolded on
the slightest provocation, and finally he
decided to flee. He packed up, and was
ready to depart one night, when he
thought of his children, and he deter
mined to remain until he could take
them with him. He went to bed, but
had no sooner done so, than his better
half began to abuse him and scold as
usual. He tried not to heed her for a
while, but she grew so abusive that he
finally lost his temper entirely, and, in a
fit of passion, seized the bed-clothes and
damned them over her head-more to
quiet her than anything else.
According to his own confession he
proved very successful at this.
He said she grOaned and struggled for a
time, but he held the heavy quilts down
tight over her face and head until she be-
came still. When he removed the bed
ding he found that she was quite dead.
He had smothered her.
Zwald picked up a shawl which was
lying on chair near by and illustrated
to Judge Henry and the Sheriff how he
had committed the crime.
His son at this juncture began to weep.
A QUEER INQUEST.
Judge Henry inquired if there had
been no charges brought against him or
any investigation.
Zwald replied that there had been an
inquest, but verdict of death from natu-
raj causes was rendered, as there were no
evidences of violence or poison to be
seen, and there was no proof that he had
anything to do with the woman's death,
Judge Henry asked Zwald's son if he
knew anything about this, and he replied
that he now remembered that there had
been Coroner's investigation into the
cause Of his Stepmother's death, but he
never had any idea until now what it was
all about. He also remembered that
nothing had come of the investigation.
Zwald then finished his story. After
the Coroner's inquest he moved with his
oh fn and tod
this city, and then on the ranch near SUIT
teryille, where he has resided for the past
five or six years. During the past couple
of years, he said the matter began to
bother him, and, try as he would, he
could not shake off the dreadful feeling
that had come over him. His conscience
tortured him until he could not sleep nor
eat, and at last it became simply unbear-
able, and he resolved to confess.
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
After he had finished his strange story
Zwald told his son that he had better go
home with the cart, as he (the father)
would probably have to remain in town.
Judge Henry, being still suspicious
that Zwald might be crank, asked him
what he was going to remain in town
for.
"Well, answered zwald, smiling sadly,
Il could hardly expect to be allowed to
walk the streets free man now, in the
face of this confession. ! don't regret
though what | have done, in spite of the
awful fix | am In. / thought the whole
matter over for weeks and weeks before
| decided TO take this step. You cannot
imagine how much better l feel since /
have made clean breast of it. I know
the world will call me villain and a
murderer, but can't help it now. I'm
guilty, but had just cause for killing
both of them.n
Sheriff Stanley then took Zwald into
custody and escorted him to the County
Jail, where he was locked up.
WILL BE INVESTIGATED.
Steps will be taken Immediately to in
yestigate as to the truth of Zwald's
story-or at least for some corroborative
evidence. The authorities at Anoka and
Wayne will be written to first for their
knowledge of the man.
Both Sheriff Stanley and Judge Henry
are convinced now that Zwald really
has told the truth, and is not insane.
Others who talked with him in Jail are
also of the opinion that there is more
truth than poetry about the story.
To RECoRn- UNION reporter who in
terviewed Zwald, he declined to talk
much about the affair, saying that he
had made full and complete statement
to Judge Henry, and that would be suffi-
cient for all who were interested. He
said he felt easier in Jail with the knowI-
edge that he had confessed, than to be
free and suffer the torturings of his con-
science. He had committed murder and
was willing to abide by the consequences.
Persons who have known Zwald since
his residence in this county are unable to
account for his strange confession. They
say that he has always been quiet, in
dustrious old man, who seemed to be
striving hard to bring his family up de-
Gently. He always seemed morose, and
worried over something, however, and
some had often wondered what was the
cause of it.
Bart Cavanaugh, ON whose ranch Zwald
did some work last year, says that he al