The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-15
BODY HUNG FROM
TREE FOR DAYS
GRUEsoME DISCOVERY OF SUI.
cIDE's BODY MADE BYA
SCHOOL BOY.

East Grand Forks, N. D., Aug. 15.-
j. E. Hellerstedt, an East Grand Forks
saloon keeper, was found dead, his
body hanging from a limb of a tree
six miles northeast Of this city. Death
was caused by strangulation. The hody
was found ten feet from the road and
short distance from the Grand Ma
rias cemetery, by Ole Larson, jr, who
was returning from school.
Evidences Of death show that the
man had been hanging from the tree
several days and that he had been
doped. His relatives state that he
had been sick more or less all sum-
mer and showed signs of fermentation
Hellerstedt departed for Warren,
Mimi, last week to visit his sister,
Mrs. Axel. Johnson. He had been
there just over night, getting up the
next morning before the rest of the
family and departing for East Grand
Forks.
How he came to be in the woods
near the Grand Marais cemetery is
mystery, but his body was badly de-
composed and his face as black as
charcoal, showing that he must have
ben dead several days. ole Larson
who was returning from school and
found the lifeless body said that he
noticed the man there the day before
when he passed through the field to
his home, but thought the man was
only sleeping and paid no further at
tention to him until yesterday when
he saw the same figure in the woods.
Local Men on CcAna
The boy was somewhat frightened
at first and did not go near the body,
but summoned Mr.. Sandeen, a farmer
residing near by. About this time
Charles Hanson, Al Parry and ole
Hoimo Of this city were just return
ing from Oslo in Mr.. Hanson's auto
mobile. They were summoned to the
scene by Mr.. Sandeen and inspected
the body, afterward notifying M. Nor
man. the Grand Forks undertaken and
also Coroner J. Stenshoel of Crookston.
According to Mr.. Parry's descrip-
ton the man had taken the straps
from a new suit case which was near
by and strapped one end to the tree,
making a loop out of the other which
he put around his neck. He then evil
IDENTIFY stopped down and strangled
himself, his face falling near the
trunk of the tree and close to the
ground.
To the party in the automobile, who
knew the man, his features looked
familiar. but they could not place
him because of his decomposed con-
dition. An inspection of his grip
showed that 1t was neatly packed, con-
tanning a suit that had Just been
pressed, various toilet articles and
number of letters which they did not
touch figuring it best to leave 1t all
for the coroner's inspection. The
automobile party returned to this city,
meeting the undertaken on the road,
whom the directed to the scene OF the
tragedy.
A thorough inspection was made OF
the body at Grand Forks and also the
numerous letters which he had In his
grip. 1t was then that his identity was
discovered, when check for $25 was
found in his pocket which was signed
by George f. Buckley OF this city and
also an agreement which gave Heller
stedt half interest in the Buckley
saloon on DeMers avenue near Third
street. The agreement showed the
amount OF cash that was to be paid
on the place, and for the balance a
note was given. Al letter from Axel
johnson of Warren also disclosed that
the latter was relative and he was