The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-07-26
FIND 1T MURDER.
Corners Jury Renders Verdict
That Violence Was Done.
Decides Thst John Widell Met Death al
Hands of Persons Unknown.
stance of Testimony 81 Inquest.
..Some Coaf!ictions.

The coro-er's inquest over the death
If the Lie John Widell was held at the
npd.ftaking rooms of John Klein &
90. Tuesday forenoon commencing at
o'clock. The jury consisted of j. H..
Moore, John Nyquist, Isaac FELTON,,
o. A. Eberhart, O. Nicholson and c..
P. Williams, and the examination of
witnesses was conducted by County
Attorney S. B. Wilson, and in sub
stance was as follows:
The first witness was Mrs. Anna
Leidloff, who resides on Pike street.
Said she was at Miss Carrie Ellefson' 6
rooms at Ait South Front street at
about 8 o clock Saturday morning and
first heard of the accident. Went there
for the washing of Mr.. Gilbert which
she was to do. Said she did not know
John Widell and would not have
known him if she had met him. AS to
her movements Friday night. Said she
was at the bowery dance on Walnut
street with Maggie Duffy and Mrs
Miller. About II 80 went to Mrs.
Miller's room in Contra! block, where
they left the latter. Mr.. Miller had
thrown pail of water over Mrs. M.
and the latter wanted to go there to
change her clothes. Did not see her
after that Went down through the
alley to her room. Maggie Duffy was
with them. Left Mrs Miller and re-
turned to bowery dance with Maggie
Duffy. Staid until it closed, about
two O'Clock. Said Mrs. Miller did
not stay with her Friday night.
Said Miss Ellefson told her of the
death of John .Widell when she went
after the washing, but did not give
her any details. Did not appear to be
much concerned or excited about the
affair
Mrs. Miller was the next witness
called. She had worked for Miss Ellef-
son since the 18th of May. Was with
Mrs Liedloff during Friday evening.
Went to her room in Central block
about 9 or 8 80 O'Clock in the evening
to get some things. Mrs Leidloff and
Maggie Duffy were with her. Did
not stay there that night because she
did not dare to. At about II 80 had
pail of water thrown on her, and with
Maggie Duffy and Mrs. Leidloff went
to the latter's home and theressstaid all
night. The other women went back to
the dance. Thought they came home
some time early in the morning. Had
seen John Widell once. Met him at
Miss Ellefson's. That was five or six
weeks ago. Heard of his death about
nine o'clock. Did not know who told
her, thought iU was some of the
women. Said she had talked with Miss
Ellefson about the death of Mr.. Widell
and that Miss E. had said that he had
not been there the night before, and
that she had not seen him. Said Miss
Ellefson was not excited over his death
and did not feel in any way to blame
for his death.
Miss Carrie Ellefson was next called:
Said she had not known John Widell
very we'll. Did not see him Friday
night. Had not seen him for four or
FIVE weeks. Was home alone during
the evening. No one was in the rooms
except Mr.. Weckworth, who occupied
one of the rooms and Mr.. CASTOR, who
has the three rear rooms Was not
feeling very well. AS it was SO hot did
not retire until about II 80. Thought
it might have been twelve or after
when she went to sleep. Heard no
noise in or around the building, nor
did not hear any during the night.
Thought she would have heard noise
had there been any. Did not hear any
one in the hall except Mr.. CASTOR
when he came in. First heard of John
Widell's death at about five o'clock
Saturday morning when Mr.. CASTOR
came to her door and said there was
man dead at the rear of the building.
She got up and went out on the porch.
Did not dress. Looked over the rail-
ing and saw the man. Did not see his
face. Did not go down stairs. Just
took look and went back to her
rooms, and Mr.. CASTOR went for the
police. Heard some say how they
thought it happened and some seemed
to think she knew all about it. Said
she had no company except now and
then friend who called to see her.
E CASTOR testified that he rented the
three rear rooms at AT South Front.
Had worked good deal at the cement
works, and work there now. Came
here from Bloomfield, Iowa, some
thing over two years ago. Went to bed
Friday night about II 80 and went to
sleep shortly after. Did not hear any
noise during the night Could not say
that he knew John Widell. Had met
him once at Miss Eleffson' s. That was
at dinner time. Could not say how
long ago that was or how long the
deceased was there. Got up Saturday
morning about 3 o'clock. went out on
back porch and walked around. Motto
ed the railing was broken and ex-
amined it. Went around the end of
the bench there and looked down and
saw body of man below. Did not go
down. Could not say why he went
around end of bench and looked down.
Went and told Miss Ellefso and then