Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-26
MURDER IN FIRST DECREE
Charge 10 BE Made Against Antsn Chris
tiansen by Presenter.
VIOLENCE EXPECTED At THE INQUEST
while Mob Forms I'm Front of Cor
oner's Rooms Police Omcials
Quietly slip
Ont of Back Door.

A complaint charging murder in the first
degree will be filed this morning against
Anton Christensen, who shot his wife to
death last Saturday afternoon in their
rooms at 1921 Dodge street.
Coroner Bradley held an inquest over the
remains OF Mrs. Christensen yesterday aft
srnoon and the verdict OF the Jury was that
deceased came TO her death by pistol shots
fred by Anton Christensen, her husband.
The Jury was composed Of A. R. Toozer,
foreman; George Redmond, d.. G.. Middleton,
d. r. Stuart, John Fitzpatrick and Charles
Marley.
The hearing Of testimony began soon after
1 O'Clock and continued for three hours.
County Attorney Shields m the wit
nesses and Gurley and Ransom, represent
Ing the defendant, were present, but other
than to make notes OF the testimony took
no part in the proceedings. Christensen
was not placed on the stand.
The coroner's rooms we're filled with
friends of the murdered woman and as 1t
had been reported that an attempt would
be made to get hold of Christensen, the
officers who guarded him were very eau
tious. After the conclusion OF the testi-
mony a large crowd congregated on Twen-
tieth street at the west entrance Of the
building. More than 100 people formed a
line on each side of the door, extending into
The street. As they waited Captain Mostyn,
Detective Savage and Oficer Vanous hustled
Christiansen out the north door of the house
and into the wagon and had driven of before
the crowd realized what had happened. II
there was any intention of taking Christian
sen from the officers this move 'effectually
stopped II and there was no demonstration
made.
christensen Seems Indifferent.
During the inquest Christensen sat In a
corner of the room near the witness stand,
closely guarded by Detective Savage and
Oficer Vanous. He looked squarely in
front Of him during the taking of testi-
mony and only once did he show any signs
that he heard any Of the proceedings. That
was when Ida Mangausen told of how she
rushed to the murdered woman as she lay
or the bed and called to her to see II she
was dead. She described in minute de-
tails how the blood rushed from the
wound in the forehead, how good and pa
tient the murdered woman had always
been and how Christensen had abused her
repeatedly.
"She never told anyone how much she
suffered" said Miss Mangausen, though
4 frequently saw her in tears, and on
many occasions l heard the two quarrel
ing. The day Of the murder Christiansen
came nome TO dinner and was not salts
fed with the way Mrs. Christensen cooked
the meat. He abused her for this and
then cooked some meat for himself. A
this time he told her her time was
short"
AS Miss Mangausen continued her testi-
mony Christensen nervously fingered his
hat, and in his face there came a faint ex-
AAaaNA- DaAkNA -
from the room after the inquest he re-
quested the officers to be allowed to look
at the body of his wife. This request was
granted, and as Christensen stepped into
the street from the room his appearance
was entirely changed. The sullen, hard
look on his face had given way to one
Of worry. He hung his head, and as he
stepped into the wagon he slowly raised
his hand and rubbed his eyes, as though
to wipe away tears. Enroute to the po-
lice station he did not speak. but sat and
gazed at the bottom of the wagon. The
evidence given at the inquest was a re-
lation of the same facts published in The
Bee Sunday.
Funeral of Murdered Woman.
The funeral Of Mrs. Christensen will oo-
cur at 2 O'Clock this afternoon from the
residence Of her mother. Mrs. Minikus,
2209 Pacific street. The place Of burial has
not been decided upon. Mrs. Christiansen
leaves a mother, two sisters and three
brothers. Her father died about twenty
years ago.
Christensen has one brother and one
sister and both are highly respected. He
owns q lot with two small houses near the
Willow Springs distillery. 1t was said by
q relative Of the dead woman that he was
trying to realize on this property in order
to pay the attorneys to defend him.
He and Mary Minikus were married
twenty years ago. The marriage was OPP
posed by the relatives of Mrs. Christensen
and the two eloped. Three weeks after the
marriage he began to abuse his wife. one
OF her relatives said, but Mrs. Christensen
rarely ever complained and always eau
toned her son from saying anything about
her unhappiness.