Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-12-21

man that attempts 20 ca
will make them all bite
they get through within
pointed the rifle at Bra
ach and said that if h>
where he was he would
right through him. eff
comes l want you to let me
you don't will kill you, and
know how near you come
right now" He also asked Bra =
if he thought he (Kjerland) had petter
give himself up when the sheriff came
and he told him that he thought it VIVA
the best thing he could do. KjeriauS
then said F"Well, maybe it is; no L
think won t. I'll have to go to the
penitentiary for life or they will hang
me and won't give them the satisfae-
lion of doing that He put the guG
to his own breast and asked Rrandvick
to pull the trigger, and upon his refus-
al said II will shoot the first -
man that comes after me-" Kjeriaud
then vent up stairs and was quiet urH-
til early Saturday morning, whea he
ate little breakfast, took the rifle a,ki
went out doors and looked around
He told Mrs. Brandvick that he was
sure the sheriff and his men would
come after him. Then he went uR
stairs and was not seen again alive.
To properly connect this narratiQe
we will at this point commence the deA-
cription Of the part Sheriff ChrsteH
and his assistants took in the affair
About eleven O'Clock Friday morn-
ing Mr.. Schjeldahi, of Highlandviibe,,
telephoned Mr. Christen that Big
John" Kjerland had stabbed his wiEe.
and that he (Christen) had better conss
mp. Mr.. Christen replied that uider
the circumstances, the woman not tss
ing dead, it would be proper to have a
warrant sworn out for Kjeriand's az
rest, aud waited in Decorah for them
to come down. AT one o'clock Mr.
ChTisten was again telephoned that
"Big John" had killed his neighboI,
GiIbertsOn, and he at once, in cempauy
with Officer Otto Olson started for the
scene, arriving at Highlandvlle about
400 p. M, where they found out wii2x
particulars of the tragedy they could
Then they drove to Kjerland's place bn
see Mrs Kjerland She asked them e.
they couldn't stay with her that night.
or get some neighbors 20. Mr.. G. en-
deavored to get some of the neighbeEs;
to stay with her but could get none To
volunteer, as they were all afraid Kjer-
land would shoot them. a sister af
Mrs. Kjerland was the only one Of the
neighbors who would stay with her
After repeated endavors, being uH-
able to get any of the farmers ia
assist them in looking Tor Kjeriandu
Christen and Olson then drove back
to Highlandville and telephoned tr
DIR. Daubney to send up two good metrs
and he sent Officer Geo. Mizener aud
II. Olson, with Peter Ringdahi AZ
driver
During the afternoon Coroner Gth-
soil, DIR. A. +. Barfoot and c. "
Houck went UP TO the scenes of the
tradedy and held an inquest.
All this time the officers could uaS
ascertain the whereabouts of Kjerlsnf.
so they telephoned to several different
points to find out if he had been sesss
or to have him arrested if seen.
When Mizener and T. Olson arrived
from Decorah the party drove near es
Kjerland's place, sent one team back
to Highlandville, and put the other in
neighboring barn. Then they walSeT
to Kjerland's and spent the night thecsH
some staying in the house with the
wounded woman, and others watching
outside. About 5 o'clock in the mora
ing Officer Miaener said he was gettiur
hungry, and they oil went to a hosae
near by and found the inhabitants
dressed and watching. They wem
admitted only upon proving theu,-
selves to be officers, and got break.
fast. While there the man told thess
that neighbor had been there inc,
night before who said that boy bz9
told him that Kjerland was at Brand--
vick's drinking, but was not drunk.
Then they got their team and wenis
over to Brandvick's. They left the
team short distance away, and walked
toward the house from the west ,con,in@
cautiously down steep hill and fnd-
ing the house. situated on a sis2s
hill in the valley near Bear cruss-
When they were going down the side
(Continsed on eighth page.)