The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-16
MAZE OF MYSTERY
SURROUNDS THE DEATH OF NELS
N. LAWSON, OF GROVE
CITY.
MURDER, ACCIDENT, SUICIDE.
THE YOUNG MAN CERTAINLY CAME
TO "A VIOLENT END, BUT
HOWs
A PISTOL FOUND NEAR HIS BODY
Letter to His Sweetheart-The Police
Incline to the Relief That Law
son Killed Himself.

NelS M. Lawson, a young man whose
home is at Grove City, Mimi, was
found dead about 8 o'clock yesterday
morning on the viaduct over the Great
Northern tracks at Fifth street and
Second avenue northeast. A bullet hole
in his right temple told the manner of
his death, but whether it was a suicide,
an accident or a murder remains yet
to be proven. The body was first found
by young man, who in turn told a
farmer. The latter called Charles
Svanberg, 621 Quincy street northeast,
who was block away at the time, on
his way to work, and he, in turn, noti-
fed the authorities. Coroner Kistler
had the body removed to the morgue.
A pistol with one empty chamber was
lying near the body and upon searching
the clothes another weapon of the
same make was found in a hip pocket.
The wound on the dead mans head
showed that the shot had been fired
at close range, as the skin and hair
about the bullet hole were scorched
and burned. The body was identified
by a receipt given by the Archibald
Business college, 16 Fifth street south,
and showed that Lawson had paid $40
tuition. A letter to Sarah Wilcox, of
Grove City, to whom, it appears, the
young man was to have been married
in a short time, was also found.
The young man boarded with his sis
ter, Mrs. Hudson, 448 Madison street,
and when the terrible news was broken
T. G. Foster, also lives at 1916 Bryant
avenue north
The young man had been in attend
ance at Archibald's Business college
since his arrival in Minneapolis Oct. 2S
He was the son Of well-to-do parents
who own farm of 600 acres near
Grove City. A brother arrived in the
city yesterday and Identified the re-
mains. He says that he knew his
father had sent Nels q remittance Of
SIS since Thanksgiving, but thinks he
could not have had much remaining,
although he was not one who spent his
money foolishIy.
Officer Thomas Collins met Lawson
about o'clock yesterday morning near
Hennepin avenue and Second street.
Upon inquiring why he was out so late
Lawson replied that he mad been at a
dance at Olson's hall, Washington and
Twelfth avenues south, and was on
his way home. 1t developed later that
he had visited friends on the South
side before going to the dance. Lawson
evidently crossed over to the East side,
and it is reported that a patrolman in
that section of the city heard a shot
about 2:30 o'clock, and it is thought
that Lawson met his death about that
time, as his body was cold when found.
Yesterday afternoon a post mOrtem
was conducted, but no new develop
ments were unfolded, except the find
ing of the f1attened bullet in the un-
fortunate mans brain. It was evident
ly 32-caliber. Coroner Kistler will hold
an inquest at 10 o'clock this morning.
Although Detectives Howard and
StaValO have been at work on the case
since the first, but little is known as
to how the young man met his death.
The police and detectives are inclined
to believe that it was suicide The
position of the body and pistol, the po-
sition and nature of the bullet wound
and the fact that there was appar-
emily no motive of murder inclines
them to this theory They say, as his
watch was found on him and there is
no proof that he had a pocetbook, that
other hand, the relatives and friends
will believe nothing except that the
young man was murdered as they
think by footpads. His associates at
! the business college say he was inclined
to be absent-minded,a and was somewhat
| nervous, but he was a very pleasant
| young fellow and they cannot conceive
any reason for his taking his life. His
sister is reported as saying that be-
| fore he left home Monday night, he
| took a receipt out Of a red posketbook
and placed the latter back in his
| pocket. She is sure he carried money
with him. Only few days ago he was
commenting upon the holdups with
some friends, and told them he carried
| a revolver with him, and would never
be robbed without struggle. His re-
| latives knew he carried weapon with
! him, but never knew him to have two
| pistols. 1t is also reported that drops
of blood were seen for some distance
away from the place where the body
was found. This would indicate that
he had been attacked and then wound
ed his opponent, who bled as he fled
after shooting the young man. All
these facts discredit the idea of suicide
| in the minds of relatives and friends
and they sincerely believe that he was
attacked and shot by footpads
! Lawson was fine looking and ath-
! letically built young man about five
feet nine inches in height. He was
| about thirty years of age and weighed
| about It's pounds. 1t is expected that
! further light will be thrown upon the
matter at the inquest this morning.
In THE HOLE