The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-10-02
Officials Go to Scene Of Y~esterdays's
Murder for The Purpose.
Grams Begins to UnIoosen His Tongue
to Some extent.
He Frames Poor Excuse as MITIGATION
for His Act.
Says He attended 10 Shoot Himself,
but Was Prevented.
From Fridays Daily.

The inquest over the remains of the
late Mrs. Augusta Grams, who was muir
dered by her husband near Smiths Mill
yesterday morning, was held there today.
Coroner Kennedy, County Attorney Will
son, Sheriff Williams and CLAYTON Ken
nedy drove over to the place this morn
ing, and will probably return this even
ing.
Grams has expressed a desire that
John MOOnan of Waseca should be his
attorney, as he has been his. advisor in
other matters. Relatives nave consulted
A. w. Lossow and desire that he under
take the defense, if one is to be made.
Grams claimed to Sheriff Williams
yesterday afternoon that he did not
know hat his wife was at the house of
her son when he vent there, until he saw
her standing on the back porch. How
ever, there is evidence showing that he
had a strong impression that she was
there. In order to throw those at his
house off of the track as to where he
intended to go, he started off in an OPP
posite direction from the house where
he subsequently found his wife. This
would tend to show that he did not in
tend to be baked in his purpose.
Grams also told the sheriff that when
he saw his wife he asked her why she
would not 90 home with him and live
with him. She replied that she would if
he would do what was right. He then
proposed that each get q lawyer and
settle their matters, but she replied with
an obscene expression, and turned to
go into the house, and that he then shot
her. This is a different story from that
which he told his nephew Immediately
after the crime, and shows that he is be-
ginning to frame excuses for his act.
However, no one who knew the deceased
takes any stock in this story, as it said
that she was not the kind of a woman
who would make the remark attributed
to her.
Grams told the sheriff that he had in
tended to commit suicide after his re-
turn to the house. He said that it was
his purpose to lave had less expense to
the county. He loaded the gun and then
hid it, in order that he might get it
again and shoot himself after he had
dressed himself in better clothes. The
vigilence of the nephew kept him from
self-destruction, although the nephew
was unable to find the gun. The Jail
officials will keep a close watch to see
that he does not suicide in the jail.
The defendant will probably not be ar
in the municipal court before
tomorrow, owing to the absence of the
county attorney.
Grams has had the reputation in his
neighborhood of being a bad man, ac-
cording to the officers, and this is said
to be why the threshing crew did not
give chase to him after the murder.
Last evening Sheriff Williams had
quite a talk with the prisoner, but the
latter had but little more to say. When
asked about having a lawyer he replied
that he wanted a piece of rope more than
he did a lawyer.
The sheriff set Pat Masterson, a trus-
ty prisoner whose term expires tomor-
row, to watch the murderer last night
to see that he did not attempt to take
his own life. Grams slept somewhat
uneasily, but today the effects of strong
drink have passed off.
Duane Cummins took a kodak picture
of Grams at Eagle Lake yesterday.
Grams insisted that Marshal Presnall
should stand up with him, but was anx-
ious to have his picture taken, and said
that he wanted some of the pictures.
Inquest Concluded.
The coroner's inquest was concluded
and the officials reached the city at three
o'clock this afternoon.
The coroner's jury consisted of Nels
Nyquist, John Anderson, Cooley Root,
John Hall, August Deccue and Isaac Jen-
kins.
The witnesses examined were all of the
children of Mr.. and Mrs. Grams, Grams
nephew, his wife and hired girl and Rich
ard Nyquist.
1t developed that the latter was an
eye witness Of the shooting, but the de-
tails of the sad affair were almost exact
ly as published by The Free Press yes
terday.
The jury brought in a verdict that
Emil Grams shot his wife with murder
GUS intent.