Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-10-21

time to 60 to the pasture ana milk
the cows His wife objected, and
said to let the cows go. Nels Sven
son said the cows should be MIXED,
and that he would remain with Ber-
tina and look after her. When Char
icy returned an hour later his wife
was very sick and having commissions
He realized then that Bertha was
seriously Ill. As he was about to go
ana telephone for a doctor a second
time. his father walked to the head
or Bertha's bed and took from under
her pillow bottle of whisky.
HUSBAND BECAME INDIGNANT
The husband wan indignant, and
wanted to know why his father was
putting whisky under his wife's pill
low. The old man replied that Ber-
tina had been stealing his whisky.
and he thought he would leave it
there. His idea was to convince the
son that his wife had been taking
whisky. The old man then went up
stairs and found two other bottles
Of whisky, which he said Bertha had
stolen from him. And this In view
Of the fact that four gallons OF whis-
Ky had been received by the Swen-
sons but few days before, gal
lon OF which had gone to the Char
les Swenson home, the other three
being taken In charge by the father
in-iaw and locked up in the little
shed in which he slept
Al o'clock the husband again
telephoned for DIR. Elliott, but before
ne arrived the woman had breathed
her last. To DR.. Elliott on his first
VISIT Bertha Swenson had said that
In, the s ola man had given her poison,
put the Beresford physician declared
that there were no signs of strychnine
poisoning when he examined the
patient This gave rise to the theory
tnat the poison was administered
curing the interval that Charley was
milking the cows, and the prosecu-
ton made strong plea on this
point The finding of the whisky
under Bertha's pillow by her father
ln-iaw was also ground for suspicion,
as Il left the impression that it had
been doped and placed there for =
purpose. 1t was argued that tust as
soon az the old man saw that the
poison would do its work, he desired
20 get the whisky from the house. IN
being questioned at the coroner,s in
quest as to what he did with the
whisky ne replied that that was his
business.
DEFENSE BEST WITNESS
The best witness for the defense
was the little girl, the S-year-old
daughter OF Mary, but before her
cross examination was finished It was
clearly brought out that she had been
coached by members OF the family
% TO what she should say when plac-
"a ON the witness stand. The Jury
evidently did not consider her testi-
mony seriously, else the conclusion
would have been reached that the
woman committed suicide. The it,
[ie girl testified that she saw Bertha
lake bottle from the cupboard. pour
Dut something white into cupful OF
water, and drink 1t.
Back OF the events that terminated
n the death of Bertha Swenson there
stood out In bold relief the accusa-
lion that had been placed against her
Dy her father-in-law Of the theft
rom him of $500. The old man had
accused her to her face, had mem
Toned II to other members OF the
Iamiiy. and even to neighbors. The
oss OF this money was uppermost in
ms mind from the day that he dis
covered that 1t was gone He had
brought $4,000 In gold from Beres-
ford and hid II In an old granary. He
advanced the argument that Some
member OF the family must have
stolen II; that II robber had found
the money he would have taken the
whole thing. From that day until the
tragedy the miser had dotted on the
loss Of his gold.