The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1899-05-30

EMIL LII hO1 IA
rived. Dykstra told the Justice that
he had been commanded by the Al
mighty to offer up his son as secri-
nee after the manner OF Abraham, who
went to offer up his son Isaac. He
said he had slept little during the past
three or four nights, the command
having worried him greatly. He had
read his bible. he said, and prayed
that the decree might be counter
mandsd, but, he declared, the spirit
persisted. Two days before Dykstra
told Cornelius Van Brunnen, the aged
father Of his wife. Vyverke. OF his in
spiration. It was then seen that his
insanity, which had been noticeable
heretofore In q mild form, was devsl-
oping into a violent state. Mrs.. Dyk-
stra and her two children, Peter, 5
years old, and another son 20 months
old, were removed to the home Of her
parents to prevent their meeting with
harm at the hands OF the husband and
father. Early on the morning Of the
tragedy Peter was sent from the house
Of the grandparents 10 assist his IA
Their about the farm work. The lad
arrived shortly after o'clock snd
found his father busy about the barn
The moment Dykstra caught sight OF
his son he grssped the corn-knffe
hanging on a hook nearby and started
AZ the little fellow with the weapon
raised above his head. The boy turned
about and ran as fast as his little leg
could carry him, pursued By his mad
father. He had gone but 100 yards
when the parent overlook him and
with a swift thrust Of the peculiar
weapon nearly severed his bead from
his body. Dykstra, without even look
ing at the prcSrats body. hurled the
knife 70 one side. and ran back TO the
stable. where he quickly unhaltsred q
horse, and, jumping astride II, rode
away across the fields.
Mrs.. Van Brunnen, who had feared
for the safety Of her grandchfld, was
watching from the rear door Of her
home. She saw the chase and the at
tack and then started TO raise an alarm
among the neighbors. Her screams
quickly brought q crowd. and they con-
suited as to the best method Of pur-
sun. II was thought that Dykstra was
making an effort, 70 escape. and q half
dozen men mounted horses and start
ed in the direction he had taken. 9th
ers ran for doctor, but on his arrival
life vas extinct, and the body Of The
child was covered with sheet and LEFT
wing until the coroner and his phys
ica4n could be summoned Dykstra
was taken from the once Of Justice De
Young and testified at the inquest Az
he entered the little parlor his dis
heveled hair, wild eyes and appear
anee in stocking feet proved to the
coroner's physician his insane eondi-
ton.
II required but q short time for the
Jury 70 reach q verdict, which was to
the effect that the child bad been Kill
ed By It's father while demented
The murder threw the Httie German
settlement into q turmoil It was the
most horrible happsning the hamlet
had ever known. Farmers came into
the village and gathered in knots
about the corners TO discuss the trag-
edy.
Dykstra Is IS years old and q Hol-
lander by birth. Ten years aso he
emigratsd 70 this country and settled
near his present home. Three years
later he married and has always been
considered honest and upright Though
during the last two OF three yees he
has been 20 intensely devoted to re-
hgion that many Of his acquaintance
ann-.a Ia. ..a..A .nnr,1A n.fua way