The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-10-21
SWENSON GUILTY
THE AGED CLAY COUNTY MiSER
CONviCTED-MURDERED
HIS SONS WIFE
ACCUSED VICTIM OF THEFT
AND EVIDENCE SHOWED THAT
HE HAD GIVEN POISON
IN WHlSKEY

IN WHlSKEY
Vermillion, S. D., Oct. 1S-The jury
In the murder trial of Nels Swenson
returned a verdict of guilty yesterday
and fixed the penalty at life impris-
onment in the state penitentiary.
When the twelve Jurors filed into
the courtroom yesterday after having
announce that they had agreed on
a verdict, there were not more than
a dozen people present TO hear their
conclusions as TO the guilt or inno-
cence Of Swenson, the aged farmer
resi5iug in Garfield township, Clay
| county, who vas accused of the muir
der Of his daughter-in-law, Bertha
| Swenson, and no one believed that
the verdict would be I'VE, the jury,
find the defendant, Nels p. Swenson,
guilty as charged in the Indictment,
and fix the penalty at life imprison-
ment in the state prison at Sioux
Falls"
There was no demonstration on the
part of any of the ~Swensons when
the verdict was read The accused
man expressed no emotion, and sat
| concerned state of mind. The son
Oscar was present, as was also his
wife. The letter was the only n
who seemed TO realize what the con-
viction really meant, and as her
father-in-law was led away to jail
by Sheriff Kempker she broke down
completely and cried like a child.
With tears streaming down her
cheeks and sobs that could not be
suppressed, she babe ar affectionate
| farewell to the aged farmer, and was
then escorted from the court room
by her husband.
SWENSON DISPLAYS WRATH
The man convicted of murder did
not seem to realize what the convic-
ton meant to him, he was mad all
the way through, and just before be-
ing taken to Jail started to display
his wrath to members of the family
dlu II "dS Hol uili oliS VI hio -
torneys advised him to keep still that
he would desist. He arranged with
the son Oscar to take charge of his
affairs. and turned over to him cer-
tain papers and deposit checks hat
he had on his person.
owing to the fact that the day was
Sunday, Judge r. b. Trip would not
set the day for pr~onouncing sentence.
In the meantime Swenson will be IN
charge of Sheriff Kempker. Attor-
ney August Frieberg, when asked as
to what the defense would, do, replied
that a motion for a new trial would
be made just as soon as possible. IN
case a new trial Is denied an appeal
will be made to the supreme court.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME
The crime for which Nels p. Sven
son stands convicted was committed
on Wednesday, July Z, 1903, at the
Swenson farm home near Alsen. in
Garfield township, Clay county. On
that day Bertha Swenson, wife OF
Charles Swenson, and daughter-in-
law of N-ls Swenson, arose for the
days work at an early hour, as was
her usual custom. She prepared the
breakfast, and after breakfast wash
ed the dishes n tidied up her home.
During the forenoon she baked
bread, fried doughnuts, got dinner
and attended to other work o the
house. She was apparently in the
best OF spirits. The elder Swenson
arrived at the house about noon, but
the son Charles did not sit dow to
dinner until a half hour later. Dur
ing the time that Nels Swenson was
at dinner Bertha remained with him
in the dining room. Just what took
place at that time was not made
clear. A half hour later when Char
les came to dinner Bertha had gone
into the attic. He did not think much
OF this. After finishing dinner he
went out to do some chores, n
then returned to the house to tell
Bertha that he was gong to go over
to Oscars to finish scraping. Not
finding his wife in the kitchen or
elsewhere in the rooms below. he
started to the attic. At the top OF
the stairs he found Bertha lying
across a box, APPARENTLY in a faint. He
could get no answer from her. and
when he picked her up to carry her
downstairs she began vomiting.
SCOFFED AT HER SICKNESS
The elder Swenson came into the
house about this time, and was told
that Bertha was SICK anu neeueu a.
| doctor. The old man scoffed at the
| idea hat she was sick IND told Char
| ley that she was dead drunk. In
| stead Of going at once for a physic-
ian. Charley took the old mans word
for it. and waited.
After an hour had elapsed. the
| husband concluded that the sickness
was other than a plain drunk, and
he went to a neighbor's and tele-
phoned for a physician at Beres-
| ford. DIR. A.. ". Elliott arrived about
the supper hour. and to him the ell
der Swenson took particular pains to
| convey the impression that the wom-
an was only drunk. After the ply
stefan left. Bertha rallied from her
stupor. and called for water. She al
so said that she was freezing, and
asked to be covered up. About z
o'clock Charley remarked hat It was