The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-08
WERE BOTH KANSANS.
Olsen Brothers Found Dead in Mis-
souri, River Lived at Marquette.


found on the bank of the Missouri have
been identified. They are Nels and c.
w. Olsen, brothers, who had probably
committed suicide because of financial
reverseS. The deaths, it appears, were
deliberately planned. On January %,
following a series of reverses on the
board of trade, the brothers left their
apartment house here and have not
been seen alive since. After their de-
parture relatives said the men had an
nounced they had lost alr' and in
tended to kill themselves. Rumors had
it the losses amounted to between $75,-
900 and 100000. Police were notified of
the threats the brothers are said TO
have made against their lives. Search
was instituted but no trace of them
was found. Two fishermen came up
on the bodies yesterday. They ap-
peared to have been dead for several
weeks.
Clutched tightly in the hand of one
man was a 38 caliber revolver, con-
tanning two empty shells. Authorities
say he may have shot his brother and
then turned the gun upon himself. At
tempts had been made to remove from
their clothing all marks which would
establish identity. A post card ad-
dressed to Nels Olsen was found in a
coat pocket. The pocket also con-
tanned advertisements from several
money lenders.
The Olsens are said to be retired
farmers. They formerly operated a
brokerage OInco Il sylvia, Kan. Two
sisters and a son-in-law Of one of the
men reside there. The brokers regis
tered at the board of trade here as be-
ing from Lindsborg, Kan. Henry SAM
uelson of Mcpherson, Kan, who knew
the OIsens, called at the morgue here
last night and identified the men by
their clothing.
Formerly of Mcpherson County.
Sylvia, Kan, April S.-News of the
suicide compact of the Olsen brothers
was confirmed at Sylvia last night by
Claude Carey, employer of Harry
Holmgren, Oliver Olsen's son-in-law
Oliver Olsen. it appears. had lived in
Kansas City several months, going
there from Marquette. He had ac-
quired about $25,000 by farming. Fu-
lures on wheat as a road to fortune
set out by alluring letters from "buck-
ct shops" attracted him, and he went
to Kansas City to further his specula-
tions. From the first the tide turned
against him and he began to dabble
indiScriminately.
In February Harry Holmgren, who
was a bookkeeper at Marquette, went
to Kansas City and married one of
Olsen's daughters. He then came to
Sylvia and was employed by the Carey
Mill company as cashier. Last Febru-
ary he received a telegram that his
father-in-law and father-in-l laws
brother were missing With his wife,
Holmgren went to Kansas City and Wis
tied with his wife's relatives. While
there he was told that his father-in-
law and father-in-law's brother had |
left, saying they had lost on the stock
exchange and that there was nothing
else for them to do but commit sui
eide.
The Father Left Home.
The Olsen girls had considered
themselves wealthy and when the
father one day revealed the fact that
they were next to poverty they became
enraged. He told them that he was
home. The girls telegraphed Mr.. !
who. with his wife. went to
Kansas City and brought the other !
two sisters. Ollie and Yaider. back
with them.
Harry Holmgren says he has dealt !
with several brokers in Kansas City, !
Logan & Bryan About a
month ago Mr. Logan was in the city
talking with Mr.. Holmgren. presum- |
ably about the Olsens. When a Wis |
itor called at Holmgren's house last
night, Mrs. Holmgren answered the |
call and refused to say anything about |
her father.
1--WE know all about it we want to-"
Late last night Holmgren in re-
sponse to numerous kilograms from |
the coroner and undertakers Of Kan
sas City, sent a telegram saying that |
he would not claim the bodies
1t had been known here by Mr.. |
Carey that the two brothers had in
formed relatives that they had dam |
aged their credit irreparably on the |
stock market and that they would die !
together. Holmgren at first refused to
have anything to do about 1t, but final |
ly notified the Kansas City police to
look for the two men,
The Olsen brothers dealt with the /
Christie Grain company in Mcpherson. |
Kan, before that firm failed and in |
their trading was done with |
the A. NJ. McDermott company of !
Kansas City. Their deals with McDer- |
mott netted them $4,000. but they |
lost it all when a Cincinnati firm |
failed.
Slriners to Ride Brros.
New Orleans La, April S.--The camel, |