The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-01-31

WINE performing her duties in the
dining room of the Smith hotel in Fair.
dale. Miss Anna Englrud, aged Is, was
murdered in cold blood by Otto We
berg, a former sweetheart.
Weberg, who is twenty-eight years
Of age, entered the hotel with rabbit
under his arm and carrying Win
chester rife in his hand. He went
into the dining room. dropped the
rabbit, took aim and fired point-blank
at the girl who was standing near a
table. The bullet entered her lungs
and she died almost instantly. Her
breast was terribly lacerated by the
bullet.
Murderer Escapes.
The murderer then fed from tho no.
tel and sought hiding place. Jast
as soon as word got round that the
crime had been committed, search
ing party was formed and the youthful
slayer was put under arrest. and lodg-
ed in Jail.
Weberg has been paying attentions
to Miss Englrud for some time. and
last summer the girl asked him to
cease, but this only angered the youth
and he threatened to kill her. He
bought revolver for this purpose.
and just about the time he was about
to commit the rash act, he was dis
armed. The girl in order to escape
further attempts on her life by the
youth, left town, and did not return till
last week.
She resumed her former position in
the hotel, and Weberg Immediately
resurrected the old affair by calling on
her. He again met with rebuke. But
being closely watched all the time he
did not dare arm himself to carry out
the threat made last summer.
He has been employed in a butcher
shop for some time and on the night of
the tragedy he found an old Winches.
ter. Taking jack-rabbit and the gun
he went through the streets, appearing
as though he had been hunting. He
did not stop to talk to any one. but
went directly to the hotel.
Took Deliberate Aim.
There were a number of people in
the hotel when the deed was commit
ted, but the only man present was
Theo Lordlie, who happened TO have
come in just previous. AS Webcrg
dropped the rabbit to the floor, Lordlic
stopped down to pick it up with the
remark that he had not shot it as it
was frozen hard. AS he did SO We5erg
raised HIS gun and fired. Not u word
was spoken by him, but the girl saw
what was coming. raised her arm and
exclaimed, "Oh, Otto"
AS soon as Lordlie heard the shot he
wrenched the rifle from the murder.
ers hands or he would undoubtedly
have ended his own life also.
Before he could be stopped he
rushed out of the house and down the
street running nearly a block to the
restaurant of ALT Edwards, where he
entered and told Mr.. Edwards and sew
eral others who were there that he had
shot the girl, then quickly passed
through an inner door and Il moment
afterward the rear door was heard to
slam and it was supposed he had
PASSED out into the night.
Lordlie quickly notified the citizens,
and in another minute Il thorough
search of the town was commenced by
a party of fifty men. Owing to the ex-
tremcly cold weather, 80 below zero. it
was reasonably certain he had sought
cover in town, and in about half
hour he was found in the room back OF
the restaurant, having slammed the
back door to give the impression that
he had gone out, and then he had lain
down on Il narrow shelf projecting
from the wall and covered himself
with lot of clothing, and so well was
he hidden that the room had been
thoroughly searched by several people
before some one happened to touch his
fcet.
Carried Out Wish.
When discovered he came quietly
and was taken to the Fairview Hotel
in charge of Constable George David
son. He was taken to an upper room
and tied hand and foot.
Deputy Sheriff Hagen was telegraph
cd for Immediately after the murder,
and he arrived at 1880 q. NJ. and at
once started for Grafton with tho
prisoner, accompanied by three other
men.
There was but little talk of violence,
and although many fear he will escape
the moose on an insanity plea. nearly
all felt it was best for the law to take
its course.
When taken to the hotel he asked Ii
he had killed the girl, and when told
he had, he remarked: 1T was what |
intended to do. and have my wish"
Upon being asked II he had been
drinking he said he had drank pint
Of alcohol during the day. but that he
knew what he was doing, that he was
glad of it, and that it was her fault.
Upon being taken upstairs In the hotel
he began to cry, and asked to be
killed.
Weberg is man about twenty.eight
,,o.ro .,1l on6 has hpnn irving tn force