The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-07-08
Identity Of the Poisoned Girl at Min
neapoIis Is Established.
The Free Press Discovers Much Of the
Young Girls Past Life.
Married One Man and Soon After That
EIoped With Another.
Lived in Mankato Over Year Ago..
Employed as Domestic.
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
No question remains now that the girl,
who was found at Minneapolis to have
taken a dose of poison and was removed
to one of the hospitals of the city, as
told exclusively in last nights Free
Press, formerly lived at Mankato. Her
name was Olga Swedberg. She worked
in Mankato at many different positions,
never staying great while in the en-
ploy of anyone.
The life of the young girl, so far as
known, appears to have been far from
happy. She was the daughter of Ole
Swedberg, who lived with his family a
number of years ago in Belgrade. From
Belgrade, the family moved to a farm
in Mile Laos county, and later went
to Duluth. 1t was here, according to
common report, that the father and
mother had falling out, and were di-
vorced The father came later to Man
kato, where he labored in various ca
pacities, working from time to time at
the Widell quarry. The daughter also
came to Mankato to work. She was
employed for a time at the knitting
mills and also worked out at times as a
domestic.
Last summer, Olga Swedberg was en-
ployed as a servant in the home of w.
w. Paddock. She remained here only
three weeks, and then secured position
as domestic in the household of Judge
Buck. At neither of these places was
she the steady, Industrious sort Of
girl that was wanted. On the contrary,
she was much given to romance and
love affairs, and was for time infatuat-
ed with young saloon keeper. She re-
manned at the Buck residence one month.
One day she struck the little Abbott boy
for what amounted to nothing at all,
and was discharged. She next got work
at the Saulpaugh hotel, but not long af
forwards left for st. Paul, where she
worked for time at the Windsor no.
tel
Something h,ore is known of her move
ments here through letters that she
wrote to girl friend in Mankato. She
told how she fell in love with and mar
ried certain Joe Salfer, cook and bar
tender at st. Paul. This young man is
thought to have relatives at or near
Mankato. Subsequent letters told how
she had got tired of living with this
husband, and had eloped with another
man, whom she called Frank, to Min
neapolis. Frank, she said, was a gam
bier She declared that he often came
home at night with $3.50 as the winnings
of one day. She liked to 80 live with
Frank, for he always. had plenty of
money and gave her such nice clothes to
wear She said too that in clipping she
had taken the name of Maud Stearns.
"For Cabs sake, don't give me away .
she said in one letter, cor I shall be
killed"
1t was last Monday night, that the
girl was found lying in poisoned condi-
tion on street in Minneapolis. Whether
she poisoned herself or it was the act of
another, no one could tell. The matter
was taken up by the police, and the girl
was removed to the hospital.
On the person of the girl was found
small photograph of dwelling. On the
front was written, sour old home
On the back were the words, "109 Han
over street, Mankato." The Minneapolis
chief of police on Tuesday afternoon
called up Chief Donahue about the case
Chief Donahue found out that the ad-
dress correspondent with that of the
dwelling of Judge Buck. The chief in
formed the family and was given a
photograph of the Buck residence. By
comparing this Photograph over the tele-
phone with that which the poisoned girl
had, the two police officers learned be-
yond doubt that the photograph in the
girls possession was one of the Buck
residence. The girl certainly must have
stolen it, though it had never been
missed.
Mrs. Abbott, daughter of Judge Buck
has been corresponding by letter regard
ing the case A friend in the Twir
Cities was told by nurse at the hospi
tai that the girl had said that she usei
to live at 100 Hanover street in Man
kato.
The description given by the Minneap
oils police of the poisoned girl cores
ponds precisely with that of Olga Swed
berg. She was a tall, slender girl, will
a pleasant address, and was very GOOD
looking.
Olga Swedberg has scarcely any rela
tives in Mankato and vicinity now. He
father not many days ago left fo
Sweden, after saying goodbye to hi
Mankato friends. The girl has one uncl
living here, Louis Swedberg, her father
half brother, whose home is at 927 Nortl
Front street This family know but lit
q r A Tri