The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-07-28
Murdered in
Cold Blood.

which was still warm. She was quiet
good old woman, against whom no MOI
tai could be expected to hold either
enmity or Jealousy; neither lust MOI
gain could have melted her slayer to the
dreadful deed, and yet she was dead
Who did the deed?
The scene Of the murder was the fam
lily residence, on Bear Greek, six miles
from the city There were no tramps
or desperate characters about, and the
evidence at the coroner's inquest is con-
elusive that her killing simply amount
ed to wanton murder. 1t is one of that
class of crimes which startle the com
munity in which it is committed, and
gives the inquirers into the mysteries
OF human life another problem to deal
with. The general opinion is that her
husband, John Hansen, sent her soul,
unshrived, to the dark unknown, and
he is under arrest on suspicion of hav
ing done the terrible act.
The murdered woman was struck
from behind; stalwart arm swung the
ak, and a coldblooded fiend left the
body where 1t fell. Before the weapon
was found, DR.. Belt, with professional
acumen, defined it and told the coro-
ner,s jury its nature and the direction
from which the fatal blow was deliv
cred.
The news was first brought to town
by e. A. Coe and d. Burnside, who no
titled the coroner. This official secured
a steamer and proceeded to the scene,
about 12 o'clock Wednesday night, ac
conpanled by DR.. W. C. Belt. A jury
consisting of e. A. Coe, A. II. Church,
d, w, Burnside, w. R. Grimes, G. w.
Cole and e. Erickson, was impaneled
early yesterday morning and the ex-
animation begun. DR.. Belt was first
called and testified that he had exam
ined the body, which he described as
that of woman about SO years old,
we'll nurtured, face natural, pupils di-
lated. on removing the hair he found
a punctured wound in the upper and
back part of the skull, penetrating both
tables, about half an inch in width and
two inches in length, running obliquely
from left to right, slightly longer on
the left side. Fractures radiated back
ward, and from left to right as far as
the base of the skull There were evil
dent symptoms of fracture at the
base of the skull. Blood flowed from
the ears and nose. There were no signs
of bruises on other parts of the body,
and no evidence of a struggle. The doc
tor thought the wound was produced
by downward blow with blunt in
strument, and that the assailant had
stood little to the left. The crime,
he believed, had been committed with
in twelve hours, and that instant death
had ensued. The scalp wound did not
extend so far forward as the skull frac
ture.
The jury then viewed the Scene of the
crime, and adjourned until o'clock.
At half past one Sheriff Smith, who
had chartered the steamer Queen, start
ed for the scene of the crime, accom-
panied by Coroner Pohb Constable
Oberg, and an Historian reporter. Short
ly after arriving at Bear Greek the ex
animation by the Coroners jury was
resumed, John Hansen being the first
witness. His story was in substance
that he got up at $3.50 o'clock Wednes
day and being unable to find his wife,
had started in to feed the chickens,
when he discovered the body lying cold
and stiff in the berry patch. He then
called Nylund, who was employed at
dyking. and next conveyed the news to
Coffey's store.
John Nylunds evidence was not ma
terial except where he testified that he
had helped carry the body into the
house and that it was limp and warm
instead of cold and stiff, as testified to
by Hansen.
V. H. Coffey also testified that the
crime must have been committed only
short time before he saw the body.
Mrs. H. C. Swenson deposes; Never
saw the Hansen's quarreling, but had
heard her complain of her husbands
drinking.
Mrs. R. D. Church testified to having
heard Mrs. Hansen say she was afraid
of her life, and that Hansen would Kill
her.
The only other material evidence wai
that of A. Johnson, husband Of Mrs
Hanson's neice, to the effect that Mrs
Hansen had told witness wife on Wet
nesday that she was afraid ''he will xii
me yet on this place"
The jury then went 10 their delibers
tions, returning shortly after and gi'
ing the following verdict:
Bear creek, Or, July 27, 1893
We, the undersigned jury, Summoned
by the coroner of Clatsop county, Or
gon, to inquire into the cause Of tn,
death of Mrs. Caroline Hansen, fine
that deceased came to her death on tn
26th day of July, 1893, at Bear Greek
| Clatsop county, Or, through a woun'
! inflicted on the head by a blunt INSTR
ment. smashing her skull and causing
almost instant death, at the hands o
unknown parties; and we further fin'
from the testimony that John Hansei