The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-23
is HILSTROM
A LUNATIC7
Many Who Declare u. Is Per
f,ctly Sane.
WILL BE EXAMINED TODAY
.----,-------
Mrs. Nooers Talks Of Her Husband S
Nooers and HiIstIom
Were Always Friendly.
WILL BE EXAMINED TODAY

The wife and children Of Matt Hi
strom, the slayer OF Lake Mooers, were
brought into the city yesterday by
sncrin Lingille, and they are now
comfortably quarttred nj the Astor
House, og guests Of the county
Mira Hllstrom and her eldest son
and daughter VIII appear as witnesses
today az the examination Of Hllstrom.
AIrs. Hllstrom was interviewed by an
Ahtorian reporter yesterday and piled
with questions relating 20 the mental
condition Of her husband. Mrs. HI
strom II simple little woman Of the
most common type Reports that she,
NJ we'll az Hilstrom. is insane. ore abb
surd. Tor the woman appears just as
clear as any ordinary individual. How
ever. she IL simple In the extreme.
In the interview she related the in
cldents surrounding the killing o. Lake
Mooers. Said she.
My husband repeatedly told me that
certain men IN the neighborhood were
intent upon doing all Of us harm. At
first l cndeavored 10 argue him ont Of
this idea because did not believe
anyone could be illy-disposed toward
him. Rut he continued relating his
statements so much that finally grew
TO think that possibly he had some
just grounds for the charges
Il believe now that lac was not right
mCrtally but had no particular rea-
son 10 suspect this prior 10 the shoot
ing"
sleriff Linyille tells most interest
Ing story in connection with his trip
to the Hllsirom homestead in quest os
the family yesterday
Mrs Hilstrom began raylng as soon
as she saw him. exclalnIng;
They've hung him; oh. they've
hunG him!"
Sheriff Llnville at once persuaded
Mira. Hllstrom that her husband had
not been hanged. that TO the contrary,
he was alive and well and waited TO
nee her aud the children. With this
she al once greed &c accompany him
"a town.
Relative 10 his trip 10 the Hllstrom
house Sheriff Llnville said 10 an AS
torlAn reporter:
II was much surprised TO Gnd that
the eldest boy and girl, aged respee-
lively 10 and u were exceedingly
bright children. / had quite long
conversation with the girl. and during
our conversation | asked her n her
father did not know better than 10
believe anyone intended TO do him
harm. TO this she replied:
Papa told us that some men were
coming TO take us away; that they
would cut my throat and my orothers
and kin him. too, He repeated H. so
often that | believed what he said, l
could not but wonder what the world
was coming to, But, anyway, We be-
lIeved that what papa told us was
true.
The sheriff continued by saying that
the girls statement throughout was
most rational and reasonable. "She
was undoubtedly impressed with the
absurdity OF her fathers statements"
said he, but, girl like, she finally
gave ia to the conviction that her
father was right and that his best
friends We're really seeking his life.
THE mother expressed herself In
something Of similar veln," said the
sheriff, Il asked her II she did not
know better than to believe that men
who had befrlended her husband as
Lake Mooers had done would wilfully
seek his life?
Yes she said, L looked at 1t In
that way myself but he held out that
they intended TO kill us and was fin
ally persuaded TO believe what he told
me, can see now that he must have
been crazy
1t was with the utmost difficulty that
Sheriff Llnvllle could at first convince
Mrs. lIilstrom that her husband had
hot been hanged. Convinced Of the
truth, however, she readily consented
to accompany him to Astoria.