The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-28
OLAF PALLESSEN'S TRIAL.
Alleged Murderer to lie Arraisned In
Criminal Court No. 1 Today.

Criminal Court NO. i Today.
Oiof Pallessen will be put on trial today
in Criminal Court No. 1 before Justice
Clabaugh for the double murder of his
wife, Josephine Pallessen. and Julia Hen
gesbach, the two-year- old child of a
neighbor. The crime was committed on
March IA last in front of the home of the
alleged murderer in Twenty-second Street
northwest.
Pallessen will be represented by Attor-
! ney Andrew Y. Bradley. 1t is understood
that his defence will be plea of insanity.
This is rot surprising when 1t is recalled
that when arrested Immediately after the
commits sion of the crimes Pallessen de-
| clared that he was prompted to commit
the deeds by some power over which he
had M control. In fact, he stated that he
had been inspired or directed by this
power tn destroy four persons, which he
said his srrest would prevent him from
doing.
The circumstances connected with the
killing of his wife and little Julia Henges-
bach have heretofore been told in detail
and are no doubt still fresh in the mind
of the public. Briefly they are: Pallessen is
painter by trade and for some time prior
TO the commission of his crimes had been
out of employment. He was honest and
industrious, IL is said, and daily sought
work, but without success. His forced
idleness, il is believed, affected his mind
and he became mOrose. On the day he
killed his wife and the child of neighbor
it is said he walked the streets all day
in search of work and failing to find en-
ployment returned to his home about
o'clock in the afternoon. He found his
wife sewing and with her was Mrs.
Henges5ach, the mother of the child
which was killed When Pallessen entered
the room he sat down quietly without say
ing a word. His wife noticed his unhappy
condition and suggested that he take
dose of the medicine which she had pro-
vided for him and which he had been TAX
ing for some time for nervousness. This
suggestion by his wife apparently angered
Pallessen beyond control and rising quick
ly from his seat he rushed into the dining
room and secured a long sharp pointed
carving knife.
His wife and Mrs. Hengesbach became
alarmed at his action and the former
picked up her child from the floor and
rushed hastily out into the street Mrs.
Pallessen followed, but not quickly
enough to avoid the murderous assault Of
her husband. He caught up with her at
the foot of the steps as she was about
passing out into the street. Laying his
hand on her shoulder he stopped her in
her flight and raising the deadly weapon
which he held in his right hand high above
his head he plunged the murderous blade
to the hit between his wife's shoulders.
With groan she sank to the ground and
death followed almost Immediately.
Pallessen, however, did not stop his
murderous work. Seeing Mrs. Hengesbach
fleeing from him with her child clutched
closely In her arms, he made a wild dash
after her. With a few strides he over
took her and began stabbing both her and
the child with the knife with which he
had just taken the life of his wife. Mrs.
Hengesbach screamed when she saw Pal
lessen approaching her. This attracted
the attention Of people in the street, who
came to her assistance. They were too
late, however, to prevent Pallessen from
adding another murder to the one already
committed. Before he could be prevented
he dealt death blow to the child which
Mrs. Hengesbach held in her arms and
also inflicted several dangerous wounds
upon Mrs. Hengesbach herself. As re-
suit of the wounds inflicted Mrs. Henges-
bach was believed for several days to be
at deaths door. She recovered, however,
and will be the principal witness against
the accused.