The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-07
SWAN II. HELLNER, WHILE INTOA-
ICATED, SHOT HIS WIFE
THREE TIMES.
SHE DID NOT GET DINNER
WHEN HELLNER CAME HOME LONG
AFTER THE USUAL MEAL
HOUR.
SUICIDE HIS NEXT EFFORT

This Was More Successful, as He
Put the Pistol I'm His Mouth and
Sunk a Bullet in His Maddened
Brnin-LiquOr is Credited With
DethrOning HeIIner's Reason
His Family Is Very Reticent.
Crazed with liquor and enraged be-
cause she would not prepare sub
stantiaI meal of meat and potatoes for
him in the middle Of the afternoon,
Swan P. Hellner attempted to kill his
wife yesterday afternoon and after fir
ing three shots at her, every one or
which took effect, he turned the smok-
ing barrel Of the weapon in his mouth
and put a bullet in his own brain.
The Hellner family live in a neat lit
tie cottage at 997 Margaret street, but
a few blocks from the Margaret street
police station. The house Is surround
ed with a we'll kept lawn, dotted here
and there with flower beds, and at
the rear are a number of hives CT
bees. On the outside 1t presents the
appearance Of the dwelling place Of
q happy family, but after the shooting
yesterday it was learned that the scene
within has been one of Quarreling and
strife for the past two years.
HeIlner was tailor by trade and
had a little shop at 1914 East Seventh
street, which he shared with a shoe
maker named A. Peterson. From
Peterson it was learned yesterday that
he was a hard worker when not drink
Ing, and at such times was pleasant
and agreeable to those about him, but
that he has been in the habit Of 60
ing on sprees frequently, and when
under the influence of liquor was surly
and brutal to everyone.
UNDER LIQUORS INFLUENCE.
Peterson said that all of last week
Hellner had remained in his shop
working, but that on Monday morning
ne noticed that he was under the In
fluence of liquor He came to work,
but remained only a few minutes and
then left. At the home 1t was learned
that Hellner had returned to the house
Monday forenoon. He took a jar Of
honey that had been collected from the
hives and left, and nothing more was
seen Of him until yesterday morning,
when he came home and got a suit Of
clothes, saying that he was going to
the shop TO clean and press them.
Nothing more was seen Of him until
about $3.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
when he returned. His wife and
daughter, Hilda, were seated In the
front room Of the house when he en-
tered and asked that he be given
something to eat. He had been drink
Ing heavily and was in a surly mood.
His wife told him that there was
nothing in the house but bread ami
milk, but that she would get that for
him If ne wanted it. Hellner flew into
a rage and demanded that his wife
prepare him meal Of meat and po-
tatoes, and when she explained to him
that she had no meat in the house he
rushed at her and made an effort to
draw his revolver from his hip pocket.
but was prevented by his daughter
The rest Of the story Is best told by
the daughter, Hilda. when papa
rushed at mama 1 feared that he
meant to shoot her, for he had often
threatened her life, and so I ran to
them and prevented him from drawing
his revolver. Ee then walked away
from mama, and she got up and went
into the kitchen, and a moment later
he followed her there, and I followed
him. 1 reached the door just in time
to see him pull out his revolver, and
I ran and grabbed him arm, but by
that time he had begun shooting. l
do not know just how many times he
fired, but l saw mama fall and J.
dropped his arm and started toward
her, and then he placed the revolver
IN his mouth and fired and fell to the
floor, with his feet inside the kitchen
and his head across the door sill and
on the stoop outside"
THREE BULLETS HIT HER.
After the shooting the daughter, Hill
Ga, ran to the home of DR.. Spates, who
lives at 1000 FauQuier street, about two
blocks from the Hellner- home The two
hurried back to the scene Of the shoot
ing and found Hellner lying just as
he had fallen. Mrs. Hellner had drag
ged herself across the yard to the home
Of Anton Johnson, 993 Margaret street