The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-15
RECORD OF CRIME
AT the Bottom OF the Honsard Chi.
saso Tragedy.
PETER H0uGAARD A FUGITIVE
From Denmark Ja.tiso, and Hts Real
Name was JSns Iianssn-ErIdence thas
The Plan to KIN Himself, WIFE and Five
children was Known aud Had the CO.
Operation of III. WHOA Letter to hit
Mother.

CHICAGO, Jan, 1.-THE name Of the
man who aSphyxiated his wife, 1--WE
children and himself. IT appears. not
Peter Housaard. but Jens Hansen. The
murderer seems to have been fugitlyS
from justice, having swlndled creditors
out OF $4,000 and fed 20 America from
Denmark. Upon his arrival in this
country he assumed the name Of Peter
HoGsaard a letter written by the
mans wife to the Danish vice consul
January indicates thnt che was not
ignorant OF her husbands purpose,
Other circumstances connected with the
case would tend to show Hansen had
probably been engaged In crooked
transactions since coming to Chicago,
and had been made desperate by the
failure OF his schemes. While It was at
first thought the deed was caused by
restitution. investigation II Is said
shows this was not entirely the case.
In examination among the personal
effects OF the dead family number OF
letters were found throwing light on
the circumst anceS leading UP to the
murder. A letter sealed and addressed
to the dead mans mother In Denmark,
was in substance as follows:
My dear loving mother: / am sick
to death. have but o few more hours
10 live. My loving wife and children
have been well cared for. There Is but
one In the world who would mourn my
death. She IL my mother. blame no
one for this. ! would never do 70 any
one what has been done to me, Peace
TO those who have pursued me; OF them
God will Judge. Your unlucky Son,
JENS."
Another letter found was written by
Mrs. Hansen TO c. l. II. Koedt, tho
Danish Nice consul In Chicago. Late
last night Lieutenant T4erney secured
a translation. II was 10 the effect that
Mr. Roedt had promised her TO secure
position OF some kind for her husband,
She reproached the vice consul for not
keeping his word. She wrote she had
pawned her watch for an amount equal
TO one tenth OF its value and mentioned
an Enclosure OF IS which amount the
vice consul had loaned her. The final
words OF the letter are;
After what found yesterday there
Is nothing LEFT now for US oil but death
by starvation or freezing"
This letter is dated January 5. and on
the reverse side OF the sheet are the
words: II have no hard feelings against
you. but pray 10 God that you will do
as do. you have put seven people who
never did anything TO you, In their
graves
This letter causes the police 10 think
husband and wife had reached an un-
Outstanding concerning their final end.
and had discussed the method OF their
taking on al least week ago.
According to story told by Charles
II. Hopkins. OF this city, who acted us
agent foT Hansen says the latter is n
fugitive from Danish justice. having
defrauded his creditors in Denmark out
OF $4,000.
Hopkins says: II received a letter
from the Danish consul which Informed
Hansen who had hitherto claimed to be
HoIEaard was wanted for fraudulent
transactions In Denmark. When I told
Hansen OF this he contested his crook
ed transactions 10 me. He formerly
had a commission house in Denmark,
near those In South Water street he
secured large amount OF produce from
the Danish farmers and after diSposing
OF II for cash, len with his family with.
out settling with his creditors"