The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-11-10


National bank, but paid about half OF
it for his farm last Saturday. The
remainder is still in the bank. Some
days ago he went to Louis Under,
IN the bank, and handed him two
pocket books containing money
and told him to give them to Mrs.
Nelson. He gave no explanation for
his action but said that Of late his
head had felt'strange and he did not
know but that he was losing his
mind. He sometimes wanted to kill
himself. Mr.. Under went and fol-
lowed him, fearing that he intended
to do himself injury. Nelson took
very peculiar course, crossing the
streets many times.
1t is believed that Nelson was out
of his head when he committed his
rash act. Those who knew him con-
cur in this belief.
John johnson states that Nelson
was at his house between six aud sew
en- o'clock, Wednesday evening. He
said that he was tired of living and
was going to make way with himself.
He had no rope then.
Coroner Shoemaker decided to hold
an inquest and summoned the follow
ing Jury, which met at John kleln's
undertaking rooms: 4. Paddock, j.
r. Williams, John Klein, l.. Burrel,
Louis Under. John Anderson.
j. A. Flittie appeared for the state
and Mr.. Paddock acted as clerk. The
inquest began at 2.20 p. M, when athe
jury viewed the body.
PhilipSvartengren was the first wit
ness sworn. l am twelve years old.
| found Lars Peter Nelson this morn
ing while my father and | were hunt
ing rabbits. Witness described the
position in which the deceased was
lying when he found him.
Frank Svartengren was sworn and
described the position and condition
of the deceased when found by his son.
Charles Yates was sworn and also
testified to the position in which the
body was found.
Mrs. Brita Christina Nelson
was sworn. Was wife of LarsP eterNel-
son. Saw him alive last at p. m.
Wednesday at our home in Lime
township. Whenever anything
has gone wrong he has not
seemed right in his mind. The
last time he seemed wrong was week
ago Thursday, after bargaining for
the farm. He said he would kill him
self because he found the land in
numbered. when it was represented
to him that there was no incumbrance.
There was forty acres of land. He
had threatened to kill himself before
this, once three years ago, because he
was out of work and did not earn
enough money. He had 81 900 then.
He never was sick. He seemed tC
think he must have more money al
the time, and if he lost any he must
kill himself. He was pretty neal
crazy all day Wednesday, because he
could not get the upstairs of the
house on his farm.
Louis A. Under was sworn. Knew
the deceased for ten years. I had al
ways thought him simple minded until
last Saturday, but he was close about
money matters. Nelson said that at
times he felt as though he could not
trust himself.
The jury brought in the following
verdict:
THAT the said Lars Peter Nelson
came to his death in a fit Of menta
arrangement, at some time unknown
to the jurors between O'CLOCK
Wednesday evening November l 1898
and a. m. Saturday morning Novem
Der 4, l893 by then and there in Lime
township in said county and state
severing an artery in the left wris
and hanging himself by the neck with
a small rope TO tree"