The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-26
THoEN MURDER TRIAL
Important Testimony Given by Miss
Berg and Miss Aaker.

GRAND FORKS, N. D.-Good progress
was made yesterday in the Thoen murder
trial, and at o'clock the state rested
after having called six witnesses during
the day. 1t is probable, however, that
several more will be called by the state In
rebuttal. The first witness was Justice
Of the Peace Cameron Of Thompson, Who !
acted as coroner during the inquest.
Solomon Larson, at whose farmhouse
near Thompson, Kjorvestad was killed on
June 8, was the next witness, but nothing
developed from his testimony, except
that he had been drinking with Kjor-
vestad and was upstairs asleep when the
trouble occurred.
Emma Berg, Larsons housekeeper, was
the next witness. She told of returning
from dance on the Minnesota side of the
river with Emma Aaker at o'clock in the
morning, and finding Larson and
Kjorvestad at the house. Larson was
drunk and went upstairs and fell asleep
on the floor. From $3.50 till 9 a. m. the
girls were alone with Kjorvestad
Kjorvestad became insulting in his
actions and insisted on the girls drink
ing Finally the Berg girl threw the bot
| tie out of the window, and when Kjorves-
| tad went after it, she locked the doors
and windows and refused to let him in
the house. Kjorvestad demanded that
Thoen open the door and let him in. but
Thoen said he could not as the Berg
woman told him not to. Kjorvestad then
| smashed the window, the Aaker girl at
the same time escaping from the room
through the south window. Miss Berg
and Thoen went up the stairs to the sec
ond floor Kjorvestad appeared very
| angry and followed the two upstairs.
Thoen attempted to hold the trap door
down. but Kjorvestad forced it up in spite
Of him, breaking the door in two Thoen
called for club to defend himself and the
| ojr ri him Nf hoard
| Thoen later called for the rolling pln
which was given him. and as Kjorvestad
poked his head upstairs he was struck
blow and knocked down stairs and was
later thrown out of the window through
which he had forcibly entered.
The two girls and Thoen went to the
bank Of the cooley, short distance away,
where they remained for short time,
about a half hour, the Berg girl making
one trip to the house in the meantime,
and on her return to the cooley bank
stated In answer to question by Theon
that Kjorvestad was still sleeping.
Miss Aaker took the stand and cor
roborated all that was testified to by Miss
Kjorvestad loked very angry and
threatening when he appeared at the win
dow before smashing it in to enter the
other window through fear. She also
stated that Kjorvestad used vulgar Ian
guage.
Constable Donavan of Thompson, who
arrested Thoen, was called by the state
and testified to statements made to him
,, by Thoen in which the latter had admitted
striking the fatal blow and throwing
Kiorvestad's body out of the window.
The defense introduced Mr.. Wikken OF
Grand Forks county to prove that
Kjorvestad's reputation was bad, but this
was ruled out by the court when 1t was
; shown that what the witness had heard OF
the dead man had been since the shooting
LA CROSSE, WIS.
, At a special meeting Of the common coun-
Gil, preliminary steps were taken to amend
the ordinance recently passed granting a
way company to operate within the city linn
its. The franchise, as originally passed
: provided for an annual tax of $500 on the
which the company would be liable under the
law. The company refused to accept the
franchise in that form, and threatened tc
ectonap1e ee feature was stricken TRt
object of the company is to furnish bette
connections with Vernon county points DJ
: amendment cutting out. the tax provision will
. undoubtedly be passed as soon as it can b
s legally voted upon.-The members of the Wis
annual tour, visited La Crosse last night
S arriving on the Diamond 10 packet Dubuque
Stops were made at Red Wing, Lake Git!
, and winona When. the packet arrived i
= was greeted by immense crowd, whe
, cheered for the visitors. The Press Club ant
. the Board Of Trade had committees at tn
, levee to meet the editors. and a few speeches
$ were made by prominent local citizens, t.
d which responses we're made-The La Gross
9 & Black River Falls Railway company, formed
e for the construction of an electric line be
: tween the cities named, has definitely decide'
=, to build large dam at Black River Falls h
o where the pawer- house for the operation o
: the road will be located-William Blake, al
: employe of the Milwaukee road, succeeded il
2 soaring away two footpads by displaying
It silver-mounted cigar case last night. 4 II
was unarmed when held up but drew tn
I cigar case from his pocket and pointed l
|. in the faces Of the 11ighWaymen. In the din
/, light they mistook it for a revolver and too
e to their heels.
!s ABERDEEN, s. d.
The Brown county republican to
. was held In this city yesterday afternoon an
There was "A large attendance, every precinc