The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-11-05

TO TR|PlHN|uROER
Killing of George Thoburn, His
Wife and Mother Follows
Trivial Quarrel
Quill Lake, Sask.s Nov. 5.-John
Mesci, accused of the murder Of
George Thoburn. his wife, and Mrs.
McNiven. Mrs. Thoburns mother, on
Monday on the Thobnrn farm, north
of Quill Lake was captured in the
district south of here today by T.
Rasmussen and E, =. Gardiner. of
Quill Lake. t
Rassmusson and szardiner found
Mesci watering his team about forty
miles southwest Of here. They got
quite near before being noticed. and
covering Mesci with their rifles de-
manded that he throw up his hands
He gave. up quietly and allowed the
handouts to be put on without a
struggle. After being arrested Mesci
made a statement OF. the tragedy to
his captors. 80
Mesci's Coafession.
! Mesci said that he. wished to go to
town on Monday morning to enter for
,, a homestead. bat Thpburn objected.
This made him angry and he:swent
and got gun and sshot Fhoburn
twice. Then he ran iSsiSe the, house
1 and the woman cams, hat ts6id started
Ito run to s;the houseMof y. Morley, a
nefghbor. Mescf. gave chase,> and
catching Mrs. ;McNiven first; hit her
with the gun. knocking her down. He
then cut her throat Mesci then pro-
ceded to hunt for Mrs. Thoburn, who
had run into a. small bluff to hide.
After short search he found her,
knocked her down and cut her throat
and remained sitting on the body una
til life was extinct. He then returned
to the home and dragged Thoburn's
body into the house and threw 1t into
the cellar and left it in the position
in which it was found. He also COW
cred Mrs. McNiven body with some
hay. s.3
Stayed Around All Day.
| Coming back to the house. Mesci
says he stayed around nearly all day
feeding the children and preparing
for a long trip. In the evening he
made supper for the children and put
them to bed, but he says the boy
would not remain in bed. He then
httched up Thoburn's horses to a
democrat and loaded it with a large
assortment of provisions both for HIM
self and horses, also taking gun and
dog and lot of ammunition.
When captured. Mesci did not ap-
pear to realize the extent of the crime
he had committed, but was thinking
very much about his position before
he had been captured long. He was
taken to Wynyard and will be brought
back here in the morning, when an
inquest will take place. -.
Nothing else Is talked hereabout but
the crime in the village. The lynch
ing of Mesci was threatened by a
number of the more excited citizens,
but extra policemen were sworn in
and the prisoner will be we'll looked
after antil he comes up for hearing.
Bodies Viewed by Many.
A number of persons viewed the
bodies Of George Thoburn, his wife
and her mother as they. lay side by
side in the little square building used
as a village hall. 1t was ghastly
sight and one that will long he re-
membered Mrs. McNiven had been
hit on the head with q heavy stick
apparently. The features were quite
natural. and both women were Dress
ed when killed.
Mr.. Rasmussen and e. f. Gardin-
Ell, who started on the trail of the
murderer yesterday afternoon arriv-
ed. home this evening after q hundred
mile drive on the trail of Mesci.
Rasmussen and Gardiner went south
east upon hearing that the supposed
murderer had been seen. No trace
could be found Of him other than that
he had stopped at Enerson's. until at
ed eastward and had stopped for din
ner two miles east of town. They
pushed on in the darkness, but fail
Ing to find any trace Of him for some
time they finally halted until daylight
and then divided. Rasmussen and
Gardiner found where Mesci had tried
to stop for the night. They proceed
ed to q house nearby to enquire, and
'Eaw Mesci watering the horses. They
covered him with their rifles and took
him in charge.
4 4 = 4 4 - = = 4,
- s.s., THE WEATHER. -
North Dakota-Partly cloudy
tonight and Saturday.
- 4 = a'ASE tE* : = tis* SO