Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-11-22
DRAGGED TO DEATH
FRED MESSENBRINK SUSTAINS
FATAL INJURIES in A
RUNAWAY.
His LifeIess Body Found Near His
Home In fhe Town of Horton

Home In the Town of Horton
Foul Play Suspected.
Late last Wednesday evening word
was received in Morris that Fred
Messenbrink, we'll known to Morris
people and one of the prominent
farmers of Stevens county, had been
murdered and robbed while driving
from Hancock to his home in the
town Of Horton. The sheriff and his
deputy were at once notified, and
they in company with Coroner Game
and County Attorney Bicknell, left
for Hancock to investigate the matter
aud if necessary to hold an inquest.
They arrived soon after midnight,
and after a careful investigation, they
came to the conclusion that death
was the result Of an accident ana
that an autopsy was unnecessary.
We have been unable to learn all
the particulars, but Judging from re-
potts that come to us the exact cause
of his death will never be known.
It seems that Mr.. Messenbrink left
for Hancock some time during the
day with load of wheat. After re-
ceiving his money he made several
purchases, gave A. Overstad $25 on
account, and at $50 left for home.
At $50, when one of the neighbors
who had also been to Hancock but
returned by another road, stopped at
the Messenbrink home to deliver a
message, they found the team stand
ing in the yard without it's driver.
One of the boys took the team and
started back to Hancock Immediately
to see what had become of his father,
thinking that they had run away and
left him. He had gone scarcely
half mile up the road, however, when
near the Hoppe residence, he found
the lifeless body of his father lying
in the road. His head and hands
were badly bruised, his clothes torn
and it seemed very evident that
death was the result of foul play.
The body was taken to the home, the,
authorities notified. and upon their
arrival an investigation was CON-
menced.
Going back over the road where
the body was found, only a half
mile farther, they found his hat,
keys, tobacco, and purse containing
a small amount Of money and two
deposit certificates, one on the Han
cock bank and one on the Stevens
County bank. At first it was thought
that he had been murdered and
robbed, but when the purse was dis
covered there was very little reaso n
to doubt but that his death was &C.
cidental. He was town treasurer of
Horton and was expected to pay off
a bridge crew the following day, but
when the certificates Of deposit were
found in the purse, the suspicious
Of murder and robbery were dis
p,' ed, The wagon seat was broken
out there was no evidence Of blood |
in the box, which proved conclusive
~ that he had been killed outside of |
the wagon, and probably had been
thrown out by the breaking of the
8 at, and dragged to death. The
body was found near a sharp turn
in the road, and it is thought that a !
quick turn of the team had Olsen
gagged it. The wagon tracks could |
be traced very easily. Taking these
facts into consideration the author,
tiles came to the conclusion that |
death was accidental and that an
autopsy was unnecessary.
Since then some of the members
of the family have been rather
AT er the funeral services
held yesterday in the German Luth-
eran church in the town of Hort N
they refused to allow the remains to
b buried until after an inquest was
held. The body was left at the
church and as near as we can learn
an inquest will be held today.
Mr. Messenbring was prosperous
farmer, good citizen, and his death
is a great loss to the community.
In speaking Of his past life, the Han
cock Record says: "He was one of
the most enterprising, energetic and
farmers of Horton, a loyal
friend and neighbor, devoted to his
family. He has held town Office for