The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-17

Continued From First Page
ing department, and the two engaged
in conversation.
They were walking side by side when
Richmond stopped and permitted Miss
Christian to pass him. Then he drew
a revolver and fired two shots into her
head Satisfied she was dead, he sent
a bullet through his brain.
Richmond was popular grain man
and Miss Christianson was one of the
fashionable modistes of Minneapolis.
When Richmond fired at the woman
she fell to the curb. He bent over her
and when satisfied that she was dead
he pointed the revolver at his temple
and pulled the trigger before the few
Mortified spectators were able to inter-
fere.
Both died. instantly, and because of
this fact it is believed the real cause
of the tragedy, which is one of the
most sensational in the city of Mime
apolis, never will be known.
The startled spectators summoned
the police, who in turn called the cor
oner, but for nearly half an hour the
bodies lay on the sidewalk.
Crime Was Premeditated
There is no doubt that a man with.
a disordered brain committed the dou-
as his mental capacity permitted him
to think, the crime was premeditated.
for on his person was a note in which
he said that should anything happen"
to him he wanted Judge John H.
Steele and L. A. Lydiard, the city clerk.
notified at once. This was done, and
they have taken charge obfthe remains
of the unfortunate man. -
For months Richmond had been
troubled with insomnia and nervous
disorder, and this, in addition to a be-
lief that Miss Christianson desired to
discontinue his attentions, is believed
to have worked upon his mind to such
an extent that after he had succeeded
in making an appointment with his
sweetheart he determined to take her
life and his own.
There were several witnesses to the
shooting, and T. j. Janney, the real
estate man, tells the clearest story. He
was walking along Eighth street when
he saw man and a woman ahead of
were walking side by side, when the
man stopped and the woman passed on.
Then there were three shots fired.
Il did not have the slightest inkling
there was any trouble said Mr.. jan
ney yesterday afternoon, for there was
nothing to indicate there was any dis
pute between them"
E. J. Anderson, who has Offices in the
Chamber of Commerce, was walking
on the opposite side of the street. He
saw man and a woman stop near the
corner of Second avenue south and
Eighth street, and he passed on. Sud-
denly ne heard shot, and turned about
in time to see Miss Christfanson fall to
the pavement and to see Richmond
place the weapon to his head and shoot
himself.
Richmond Well Known
Richmond was about thirty-five years
of age and had been in Minneapolis
about fourteen years. coming here from
Moorhead. He became acquainted with
some of the members of the Minneapo-
| lis Chamber of Commerce and worked
for several firms until about nine years
ago, when he accepted q position in
the Office Of City Clerk Haney.
He held this for some time, and it
was not until several months after the
beginning of the administration of City
| Clerk Lydiard that he left the office and
| took charge of the uptown Office of the
grain firm of L. T. Sowle & Co., and
was employed until early in the sum-
Iner, when he made a trip to the East
with Judge John H. Steele, who was a
close personal friend.
He stopped at the Brunswick hotel
| the greater portion of the time. Al
| though out of employment, he was not
| in want and was supplied with ample
funds with which TO meet all his ex-
penses. He is not known to have any
relative in Minneapolis or elsewhere,
and his closest friends are in the dark
as to his antecedents. He was a MEM
| ber of Ark Lodge of fzMasons,. belonged
| to the mounted cOmmandary of the
Knights Templar, was a member of
the Shrine, and carried some life insur-
ance.
Richmond's Victim
Miss Christianson, the victim of the
tragedy. was one of the best known
modistes of Minneapolis. For many
| years, with her two sisters, she con-
| Quoted an establishment on Ninth
street and later one at Eighth street
and Second avenue south, in front of
which the murder and suicide occur
! red.
Since February she has been in
| charge of the dressmaking depart
ment of the Donaldson Glass block.
The members of Miss Christianson' s
| family objected to her marriage to Mr..
Richmond, although they are said to
have been engaged for several years.
| They sought to prevent the marriage,
|, and even went so far as 80 yenuest