Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1897-05-06
The LAR|M0RE TRAGEDY
A Repetition of the Occasional
Horrible Crimes Done
on the Prairie.
A Fiend Cuts the Throats OF
Four Helpless Young
Children.

Cnilofo0.
Assaults the Mother and Es-
capes in the Darkness
Posse in Pursuit.
The details of tho terrible tragedy
that occurred at .. m. Saturday morn.
ing lsst, at the farm house OF Knut Hill.
stead, 8 miles from harimore, sre at hand.
This fearful crime recalls the Bombsrger
murder near Cando, Rollette county
whore, under the same circumstances, q
family Of six was killed, and the muir
derer afterwards hung.
A man named August Norman, about
q years Of age, has been of and on
working for Hillestead, who is well-to.
do farmer. Mr.. Hillesteal ha,l gone to
a farm few miles away to work it and
remained there over night. During
Friday afternoon Norman came to he
house, where the wife and children we're
and said he was going to remain over
night. There was no objection. 80 at
night he went to bed with the oldest
boy, Peter, sbont Is years OF age.
Shortly after O'Clock in the morning
he got up and went down stairs, going
to the bedroom OF Mrs. Hlllestead, the
door being unlocked. He told her he
had colne.to ruin her and kill the family,
but she fought him OF for time. He
then locked her in the room and said he
was going to murder the children. He
ran up stairs, secured razor somewhere
and cut Peters throat, then ran down
staiss and went into the room occupied
by Thomas a boy Of l3, and out his
throat, also striking him ou the hesd
with some blunt instrument. he then
cut the throsts of Adolph and Arthur,
boys Of II and years Of age, killing
them insrantly, bat did not lnjure the
two little girls, aged Z and 9. After
this fearful work he went back to the
room in which he hsd locked Mrs.
H,llestssd and told her de would not kil |
the two little girle II .e4ie would accede
to his demands. She did go 10 save their
lives, At 4 O'Clock in the morning he
picked up all the lamps ard lauterns
and carried them out N the yard, so the
children could not get q light, then took
one Of the horses from the barn and left
the locality. Mrs. Hillestesd, as soon as
she recovered, went to neighbor's snd
gave the alarm. Word was sent to Lari-
more aud Coroner Eounsvell called to
the honse, while posse started in pur-
suit of the murderer. He, said he killed
the boys becsese they were no good any
vay. and also told Mrs. Hillestead that
he was not through yet and was going
to get even with some other people he
had 1t in for. He said he was not crazy,
but simply wanted to get even with
Hillestead for not giving him work.
The coroner arrived at the house about
s O'Clock in the morning and found a
fearful sight awaiting him. The two
boys, Peter and Thomas, that the man
had first attacked with the razor and
some kind OF q blunt instrument, we're
not yet dead, but the doctor thinks they
will not live on account Of sosing SO much
blood. The other two boys, Adolph and
Arthur, we're cold in death. The two
little girls were uDharmed.
Mr.. Hillstead arrived home in the
forenoon and is nearly crszed with grief,
and IL the man is caught by any OF the
people who witnessed the man's anguish
Norman viii, not live long, it sufficient
rope and a tree can be found.
Norman has relatives living at Rose
Lake, Mimi, and his mother lives at
Lincoln Park, Nevada.
The murder is almost similar to the
one committed by Alfred Bomberger at
Cando IN July OF 1898, he numbering six
naople. instead Of four as in this case.
He was tried in November and hanged
in the January following.
The razor with which be did the fear
,nl work was one that was Ia the house
belonging to Mr.. Hillastead
There were seven children in the
family, the oldest only ID years OF age.
Il is supposed that the man went
south on horseback.
Saturday the people OF the entire
raiobborhood we're looking for the
..csped man, who is known in Grand
Forks. where he was brought last year
On I charge Of shooting at another man.
Ttis hardly possible that he can escape.
No word has yet been received OF the
capture Of Norman. the murderer Q. Nth the
H;lleetead boys near Larimore. Mon
day be was seen BY three persons, on the
black pony which be made OF with the
night ., the murder. I. might !'s..i.s % .nss
,hs man took southsr'y direction
.ov.rd. tho Northern Pacific track, - It