Omaha daily bee., 1895-07-31
CAME FROM FAR TO KILL HER
Peter Volgreen Fatally Wounds Woman
Whom He Calls His Wife.
GLAD OF IT AND READY TO SUFFER FOR IT
She WAS Living Here with Cyrus Mat
Innd-ShootinE WAS ut the Model
Steam Lnundry-StHtc-
ments of the Parties.

land, a starcher in the employ of the Model |
Steam laundry, was shot three times by Peter
Volgreen, a former lover. One of the shots at
least is supposed to be fatal, and little hope
is given by the attending physicians that the
woman will recover. Volgreen was arrested
while he was standing beside the body of his
victim and is now in the city Jail.
The affray occurred in the Office Of the
Model steam laundry, near the corner of
Twelfth and Dodge streets Shortly after
noon Volgreen, who appeared to be somewhat
under the influence of liquor or was laboring
under some strong mental excitement, en-
tered the office and inquired for Mrs, Mat
land. Miss Maggie Anscow, who was in
the office at the time, summoned the woman,
and a few minutes later she entered. Judg-
ing from her manner Mrs. Maitland was
not pleased to see the man. but Volgreen
greeted her in affectionate manner,
although Miss Anscow was unable to tell
what he said, he spoke the Swedish Ian
guage. The two talked for several minutes
and then Miss Ainscow saw Volgreen pull a
revolver and point 1t at Mrs. Maitland He
did not shoot, but repeated the gesture two
more times. Miss Ainscow called to Vol
green not to shoot and then out of the
office to find policeman.
The shooting occurred few seconds later
S. Treeger, who lives at 4l9 South Tenth
street, was entering when Volgreen, stand
ing directly in front of the woman fired the
first shot. He followed it up with several
more and Mrs. Maitland fell TO the floor.
The noise of the firing attracted the en-
ployes about the place and they locked into
the office. Volgreen made no attempt to
escape, but remarked that he had killed the
woman, was glad of it and was perfectly
willing to be strung up on the nearest tele-
graph pole The police were at once notified
of the shooting
ONE WOUND FATAL
| Meanwhile the woman was placed on
| stretcher and carried 20 the Presbyterian hos
ptal, distance of two blocks and doctor
| summoned. An examination was made and 1t
! was ascertained that she had been shot
| three times. One of the bullets entered the
! right arm midway between the elbow and the
| shoulder. Another had gone into the right
| shoulder just above the collar bone and ap.
| peared to range downward. The other and
| apparently the most serious wound was on the
| right side Of the abdomen. In the right arm
| at the shoulder, bullet could be felt just be-
meath the skin The shots were fired
| from 3S-caliber revolver, which is in pos
session Of the police.
The doctor did not succeed in locating the
| bullets at once, but gave it his opinion that
the woman could not live. 1t feared that
| she had bed internally from the wounds in
| the shoulder and the abdomen. She remained
| conscious, but was evidently suffering so
IIHuCn pain tHdt Sne could not tdlk....
| From what has been learned of the cir
| cumstances Volgreen called on the woman
| with the full and deliberate intention of kill
| ing her. He has admitted much himself,
| but he was so much under the influence of
liquor, with which he had evidently nerved
| himself to the deed, that he was unable to
| make a statement. The cause of the COM
mission of the deed from what has been said
by Mr.. Maitland, her husband and Volgreen,
/ was jealousy.
Volgreen became acquainted with the
woman some seven or eight years ago, when
he was employed in this city by an ice com
pany. He fell in love with her. and, as the
| attraction was mutual, the two lived together,
but without being married, They did not
get along well, and it is said that
Volgresn abused her shamefully. Five
years ago they left the city and went to
Minneapolis and lived there until last
June, passing as man and WIFE
A little over five years ago, while they
were living together in this city, Cyrus Mat
land became acquainted with them. He did
not see much Of the woman, but several
years ago he removed to Minneapolis and
became better acquainted with both she and
Volgreen. He fell in love with her, and,
finally, as she was being continually abused
by Volgreen, she consented to go away with
Maitland and marry him. Both Maitland and
the woman say that she informed Volgreen
that she intended to leave him and go away
with Maitland. At any rate they left together
| On JUNE IL cdHe " lHls ClNy, WHERE
Maitland says they were married in July.
They have been living at 1905 Paul street.
WARNED OF HIS COMING.
Last Wednesday the woman received a
telegram from Volgreen, in which he stated
that he was coming to Omaha; that he in
tended bringing a revolver with him and thai
ne was going to settle with her. He arrived
in the city on Saturday and obtained en-
ployment with the Arctic Ice company as
helper.
Augusta Maitland is about 2S years of age
Her maiden name was Franzeen. She is a
Swede. Both she and Maitland say that
they are married. When the police ar
rived at the laundry she told them that she
was housekeeping for a brother. She has
told the same thing to the laundry employees
VOlgreen says they are not married, but arc
simply living together.
| Volgreen is a Norwegian about 35 years Of
age AS stated heretofore he admits that
he tried to kill the woman and says that he
is glad of it, but when taken to the station
he was too intoxicated to give more than ar
| incoherent account of the affair. He said
that he very much in love with the
woman apparently because she was the bes
housekeeper he ever saw He was placed ir
cell and orders were given that no one
was to be allowed to see him.
Cyrus Maitland appears to be fully cognizant
of the past history of his wife.
VOLGREEN MAKES A STATEMENT.
Volgreen so far sobered up late yesterday
| afternoon as TO make statement, Whlch Wai
| taken down by Captain Mostyn. In II ht
admitted that he shot the woman, but hi
5 was not so anxious to hang on a telegraph
, pole as he earlier in the day He wal
| not willing to answer any questions that re
e lated to the shooting, always evading them
{ He said he did not remember anything abou
IT,, but thought that he fired only one bulle
! at the woman. He could not tell whether th
shooting occurred on the sidewalk or in tn
office of the laundry.
In his statement, despite the fact that HI
said that he was in love with her, Volgreel
did not speak highly OF the character Of tn
woman. She always insisted on keeping
b boarding house, he said, and was always in
: innate with some one of the boarders. II
stated that 1t was in this way that she be
came acquainted with Maitland. His sus
picions were finally aroused and he tried L
induce her TO give up keeping boarders, bu
she refused TO do so,
. Since he came to the city on Saturday Vol
To- | green said that he saw the woman ever,
day eXcep, Monday. On three occasions sh
gave him money, once 80 cents another tim
d 50, and third time 81 so. He also said tina
y he was in wine rooms with her. and tha
once she tried to induce him TO kill Maitland
He stated that he bought the revolver
month ago in Minneapolis with the intention
t Of coming here and killing the woman be
t cause he could not live without her.
: Volgreen denied that Maitland and tn