St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-04
KILLED HER SWEETHEART,
A MUROEREsS or EIGHTEEN ~,
SOUTH DAKOTA.
SHE'S TO BE TRIED ToDAX.
Whilc Thomas f. johnson Was
Trying to Shoot Miss Minnie
Van Akin She Snatches His
Revolver and Fires Two Fatal
Shots Into His Thrilling
Story From Lead City.

&sCVOttCE AuA lHOS 1WO
Shots Into His Head-Thriiling
Story From Lead City.
Special to the Globe
CHAMBERLAIN. S. d., June NO
crime during recent years has caused so
great sensation in the western portion
of the state as the killing of Thomas E.
johnson by Miss Minnie Van Akin,
which occurred at the home of the girls
parents near Lead City about ten days
ago. The newspapers at the time of
the murder printed brief kilograms con
cerning it. Recent developments prove
there are many peculiar features
surrounding the case. and some sensa
tional and startling evidence is expect
ed to be produced at the preliminary ex-
animation. which is set for tomorrow at
Lead City. The murderess has already
made a statement i'll which she says
that upon learning something detri-
mental to Johnson's character she de-
eided to no longer keep him company.
When she told him of her determina-
ton. he begged. entreated aud finally
THREATENED TO KILL
her. protesting that he would not see
her 60 with any one one but him. Mrs.
George Clark, at whose residence John
son boarded, says that OIL the evening
preceding the murder messenger from
Miss Van Akin arrived at the house.
and, finding Johnson absent, requested
Mrs. Clark to tell him on his return that
Miss Van Akin wanted to see him.
johnson returned to the house later.
and, upon being informed of Miss Van
Akin's wish,- Immediately went down
town, where lie met the girl. and the
two returned to Johnson's room, where
hey remained until nearly IL o'clock
that night. During their stay in the
room Mrs. Clark heard loud talking as
though the two were Quarreling. but
could not distinguish what was said.
Shortly after this the two took lunch in
Mrs. Clark's kitchen. Parties during
the evening heard Johnson remark that
he wished the girl would not bother
him. as he did not care for her, thus
contradlcting the girls subsequent
statement that the attentions of john
son were distasteful to her. From
JohnSonS room the two went to the
home of the girl. What occurred there
is best told in the girls own words.
She says:
MISS VAN AKIN'S STORY.
"When we entered the house my fam
lily were asleep, and the rooms were
dark. We entered the sitting room. I
wanted to go for light, but he prevent
ed me. saying the electric light which
shone into the room was light enough.
He renewed his declarations of love for
me. and his proteStationS against our
parting, but l remained firm and told
him we must part. He finally grew
desperate when told him must retire.
He said we must settle this question
now. He asked me where his revolver
was (she had previously induced him to
give her the weaponl, and told him in
my trunk in the kitchen, and that if he
wanted it he might get it himself. He
went and got it and toyed with it in his
hand. when he again resumed the con-
versation. Finally, after repeated re-
fusals on my part to continue going
with him, he said: IF you don't con-.
tinue TO 60 with me I'll kill you.' He
pointed his revolver at me and was go
ing to shoot. when 1 pushed him. caus-
ing him to fall. AS he was falling he
shot, the ball going through the palm
of my left hand. Before he struck the
floor the. pistol dropped from his hand
to the floor beside me. We both
sPRANG FOR THE GUN,
but got it. fired at him. the ball en-.
tering his head, and as he was rising l
fired again, this ball entering his head
also. l shot blindlv, not taking aim at
any part of his body. After the shoot
ing my parents came down and took me
up stairs. did not fire but two shots.s ]
The crime is the sensation of the /
whole western part of the state, and
more SO from the fact that both the
principals have always been considered
persons of unblemished regulations.
The girl is about eighteen years Of age,
very good looking. and has always borne
AN excellent character. Although the
self-confessed murderess has made
full statement of the matter there are
phases of the case which would indicate
that she has not told all she knows of
the true causes leading up to the mur-
der. 1t is also limited in some quarters
that she did not commit the crime at all,
butts attempting to shield a third pef-z
son who has so far remained in the
background. All these matters are ex-
pected to be brought out and cleared up
at the preliminary examination tomor-
row, and if they are it will materially
change the aspect Of the case. -