Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-09-09
PETER OLSEN'S AIN is TRUE
Mary Peterson Lying at Point of Death
with Bullet Wound in Breast.
SHOT is FIRED BY A REJECTED sUlToR
AsuaiIRnt Runs from House and
Disappears and Belief is that
He Has killed Him
self.

SnOJ through the LETT breast Dy rejected
suitor, Mary Peterson lay at a late hour
last night at the point OF death in her faith
er's house at 24O6 Pacific street. Peter
Olsen, the would-be murderer, was a flu
gitive from Justice and possibly a suicide.
Drs. Gtsh and Condor attended the wounded
woman. but from the first there was profuse
Internal bleeding and they expressed little
hope Of her recovery. The police had two
men at the two bridges and at other places
OF advantage, but we're unable to capture
the man during the night. ..
At the time OF the shooting Mary Peterson
was sitting at the back of the kitchen facing
the door, which is the entrance from the
street. Just across the table and facing
her was her younger sister, Pletina, and
to the left nearest the door the old mother
sat. Suddenly Olsen opened the door with
out knocking and taking three steps toward
his victim, which brought him to the side
OF the younger sister, he drew from his
pocket a revolver and fired at a distance of
only two feet, the bullet striking Miss
Peterson in the breast and passing downward
in close proximity to the heart The would
be murderer then turned and fed through
the gate and east on Pacific street. Neigh
bors hearing the shot, ran to the house and
helped carry the stricken woman to her
bed and sent for DR.. Gish and notified the
police. DR.. Condor was later summoned
The shooting occurred at ten minutes after
8 o'clock.
Love Long Drawn out.
Olsen had been hoplessly in love with
Mary Petersen for almost ten years, in fact
almost since he came over from Denmark
with the family He had been very de-
spondent for long time at her refusals to
marry him and had talked Of going away to
Denver so as never to see her again. He
had several times threatened to kill himself
Last Saturday he came to see Miss Petersen
and she was not at home, being purposely
absent as she wished him to know that his
visits we're distasteful to her. Olesen sat
for some time moodily talking with the
mother and younger sister. Rletina so she
says, told him that her sister did not want
him to come again. and that she would 20
with any fellow she chose to. He went
away without making any threat, but came
back only to kill the girl.
Olsen had practically made his home with
the Petersens for years and was In the habit
Of speaking of them as his relations This
the family disclaim, saying that the young
man became acquainted with them coming
over on the ship from Denmark and that
as he had no home they took him In, fed
and washed for him at such times as he
was out of work. The young woman had
never cared for him and had been much an
noyed by his persistent attentions.
Bid His Friends Good Bye.
Olsen is dairy worker and has lately
been employed by Nels Nelson at Fifty
seventh and Center streets At about 6
O'Clock yesterday evening, so his empoyer
told the police, he came down from his room
at Nelson's dressed in his best clothes and
bid everybody goodbye. He refused to say
where he was going or what his intentions
were, but said he would not return. Neil
son says that he has noticed the man has
been acting strangely for several days.
When his room was searched last night a
note was found in the pocket of his old
trousers, which were lying, with his other
clothes, on the bed. The note was in the
Danish language, and translated reads:
Oct. Snow 1 will say farewell to all,
everybody | love In this world. Farewell
al, kind friends; Nels Fling owes me 500,
that l think will be enough to pay the
funeral expenses. N. Nelson can keep my
baggage. H. P, OLSEN.
From this 1t is evident that the deed
was premeditated. The police consider
that it is a hint at suicide also. During
his residence in Omaha, Olsen had worked
In various dairies, among these places
being Jacob Jenson's and Hans Jacobsep's
In East Omaha. He is said to have been
formerly drinking man. He is supposed
to have had some money in banks. He
was 80 years old feet inches tall, and
weighed $50 pounds. He was of dark com
plexion, dark eyes and black hair and
rather thin face. He wore a dark suit
and black soft hat at the time OF the shoot
ing. In two photographs in the possession
OF the police he is shown with a short
mustache. but Is said to be now smooth
shaven.
His victim was "a years old and the only
support Of the family. Her father, Lars
Petersen, has been hopelessly paralyzed
for several years and unable to leave his
chair Her mother is quite elderly and the
younger sister, Pletina, ony a school girl.
Miss Petersen was employed at the logging
factory OF L. c. Huntington & Son, ll14
Jackson street.
The police have notified the authorities
at Blair, where Olsen was said to be a
frequent visitor at the house of one Peter
Hendriokson. One of the neighbors Of the
Petersons says that he heard two shots
fired, but no bullet mark could be found
in the room.
GALE SWEEPS LAKE ONTARIO