Morris tribune., 1908-12-19
SHOT WIFE AND SEL1,
Tragedy at Cokato Involving For.
mer Stevens County Residents.

wife and then himself at Cokato on
Saturday. Mr.. and Mrs. Carlson were
formerly residents of Eldorado in this
oeunty. The st. Paul Dispatch gives
she following account of the tragedy
Cokato, Mimi, Dec. IA. Mrs. Carl
son the divorced wife of August Carl
son who was shot by her former hus-
band Saturday afternoon about 8
O'clock, as described in Sundays Dis
patch, died at II o'clock Sunday
morning, having suffered terribly
from her wounds.
Carlson, who had tried in vain to
get Mrs. Carlson to return to him,
ahaa himself after wounding his wife,
and died instantly.
The double tragedy, which comes as
~ serrible climax to sad domestic
akfama, was enacted at Knapp, rural
station in Cokato township, about six
miles north of this village. The shoot
ing was done in the presence of the
four Carlson children, the Oldest of
whom is but II years old.
Carlson and his wife were married
some years ago, and almost from the
Rrst had led a life of stress, and after
many unavailing attempts to patch up
their difficulties, Mrs. Carlson left,
taking her children with her, and
went to the home of her father, John
Landstrom.
Her father furnished her with a
little home not far from his, and it
was in her home that the tragedy oc-
CURED.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carlson were divorced
early last summer and as early as the
first of July Carlson came here from
his home at Herman, Mimi, to at
tempt a reconciliation with his wife.
He met with no success and again
came here last Friday to renew his
guest.
While in town Carlson, who was
well known here, acted in his usual
manner, and nothing which might
give the slightest intimation that he
had in mind the commission of any
irrational act. Although, it is said, he
did tell several friends that if his wife
did not return to live with him he
preferred to end it all, as life was not
worth while without her.
He reached Knapp Saturday after
noon, and without stopping any
where went directly to his former
Wife's home, where he found Mrs
garlson and children alone. The
crime was committed almost imme-
diately after the man reached the
place.
From what the children are able to
say between their sobs, it is learned
that as soon as Carlson entered the
house he, began to plead with his wife
10 return to him. This she refused to
do despite his pleas and emphatic
promises that he would do his duty
by her and the children.
w ACA Sd1AoOA saw U1c1U LAS SAOIu
were useless he became violently en-
1aged, and threatened bodily harm to
she woman. AS he turned away from
her she made leap from the room
and started for the adjoining room,
which she had almost reached when
the enraged man pulled revolver
from his pocket, and, taking deliber
ate aim, struck the fleeing figure in
the middle of the back.
sShe Immediately sank to the floor.
Taking a few steps nearer the pros
trate form Carlson fred two more
shots to. make sure the woman was
dead. He then deliberately walked
over to the opposite wall, and, press
ing the muzzle of the weapon to his
head, fired and dropped dead.
John Landstrom, the father of Mrs.
Carlson, is well-known and respect
cd citizen of this vicinity. Before her
marriage to Carlson Miss Landstrom
was known as one of the bellies of the
county.