St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-18
ALLSOP WAS AUSTIN.
His Identity Seems to Be Firmly Es-
tIbliShed.

There is little reason to doubt that James
Allsop of Tacoma, who was arrested by De-
tectiye John Courtney, of the Minneapolis po-
lice force, on the charge of numbering Lena
Olson, at Duluth, Aug. "a, 1884, was none other
than A A. Austin.
Lena Olson, domestic, was induced to
leave the city in the company of man known
as A. A. Austin. A few days after her de-
parture her dead body was found at Oatko
Beach, Duluth. Death had been caused by a
fractured skull, the wound having been in
ficted by some blunt instrument. The crime
was charged to Austin, who had disappeared
completely.
The officials of both Duluth and Minneapolis
had about given up hope of bringing the mur-
derer to justice, when Detective Courtney dis
covered that Albert Ellison had boarded
with Mrs. j. D. Guinond, 323 University ave-
nue. southeast, and that just prior to the day
Of the murder he had left under somewhat
suspicious circumstances, leaving his valise
behind. The valise was finally opened and
contained evidence which led to Allsop's ar
rest. Papers taken from the satchel dis
closed Ellison's identity as Allsop. He was
shown to be a widower with five children
and Tacoma newspaper clipping contained
an account of Mrs. Allsop's death in run
away accident. Inspector Courtney believes
that Allsop killed his wife. Courtney was
place
Allsop under arrest should his description
tally with that of Ellison.
Allsop made the acquaintance Of Lena OIL
son at Mrs. Clay's employment bureau, on
Fifth street where Allsop represented himself
to be wealthy widower, of Los Angeles, in
search of housekeeper. The murderer's
motive was to secure the $3.50 which Miss
Olson had in her possession at the time.
Allison was not unknown to the police Of this
a1k
spectors Hoy and McNulty, at the instigation
of George H. Hollidge of the Tacoma Light
and Water company, a charge of obtaining
over $1,000 under false pretenses. Allsop set
tied the matter by refundng the money
Shortly before his arrest he had married a
Mrs. Minthorn, at Tacoma
strong piece of evidence against ALISON
is the fact that his signature of his will
found in the satchel tallies exactly with the
signature of A. A. Austin.
Hayward's possible connection with the case
is indicated by Allsop's Minneapolis land
lady, Mrs. ]. D. Guinond of 313 University
avenue northeast. She AYERS that she has
seen Allsop and Hayward together. In de-
tail her interview runs:
"Allsop came to my house perfect stranger,
Thanksgiving day, 1893 He wanted room and
board and gave his name as Ellison. Ho
represented himself to be broker rented
room to him and he was here about three
months when he left me, without paying his
board and owing $40, which 1 loaned him.
subsequently my husband and myself
learned that he was a frequent caller at the
Ozark flats. One day in the early part of 94,
I met him near Donaldson's Glass block. A
man whom 1 afterwards identified as Harry
Hayward was with him. I also found in his
valise fine silk handkerchief which the
police have discovered to be Hayward's
Some time after this, in July, I happened to
be at Minnehaha when I met Ellison again
with lady whom l know positively to have
been Lena Olson. He also called her Miss
Olson. The next thing I heard about Miss
Olson was the news Of her murder. From
the description given of Austin, 1 knew that
it was my boarder."
Mrs. Guinond stated further that she found
! in the grip beside the handkerchief, a will
drawn by A. G. Austin, in the same hand
| writing as Ellison's. also papers showing
him to be forger for upwards of $1,000. and
newspaper clippings relating to the death of
| his wife.