The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-30
COrOner'S Jury Returns a Yer.
dict Last Night.
HE TELLS HIS STORY.
Proves an Excellent Witness in
Own Behalf.
Denies Emphatically Connection
With Murders.


Nordmark according to the coroner's
jury. is held responsible for the brutal
murder at Scandia. He IS helpless and
alone with the entire world seemingly
against him. His demeanor is calm and
fearless and if he is the murderer It
cannot be suspected in any manner from
his actions. Were it not for the death
of the children public sentiment would
be in his favor. for IAndahl was not
| liked by his neighbors.
Charles Nordmark the accused. who
was called to the stand Tuesday was
very cool and did not seem to mind
MS relation to the crime with which
| he is charged When approached by
\ a reporter OF the State Journal he was
| very cordial but refused to be led out
on the subject, being very wary and
cautious when questions asked. He Is
now trying 10 make believe that his
| eycSlght is poor and says that he can
| hardly see his hand before him which
| is something new for him, as none of
bis neighbors ever knew of this failing.
| when called to the stand he testified
/ SO follows:
In answer to questions by County
Attorney William Vance:
Your name is Chas. Nordmark?''
Yes. sir
Q.-How old are you?
A.-Ihirty-eight years old, mean
Q.-How long have you lived in
the country?
Al have lived here since I'll.
| Q.-How long have you lived on
the farm where you now live?
Al have lived there IL years.
part of the time did not when there
was flood.
o.-You have lived there the past
two years?
A.-Yes. for the last three years.
Q.-How near to the river bank is
your house?
A.-Not very near. Can't say Just
how far from the river. about 500 or
Q.-How much land have you
A.-Forty acres. May be a little
| more or less.
/ Q.-You do your own farming?
A.-Yes. 1 have been farming there.
Q--Who are your neighbors?
A--One is Alex LindahI. one is Ida
Q.-The Nordmark place is south
of you?
A.-Yes.
Q.-The Lindah1 place is just across
the road from you?
A-Yes.
Q.-About 40 rods across the road
is his house from yours?
A.-Yes. About 40 rods across.
about one-quarter mile.
Q.-Your land is Immediately be-
tween his and the river?
A.-Yes.
Q.-Between your places is there
A.-Yes. a section line runs there.
Q.-Running north and south?
A.-Yes.
Q.-How long have you know Alex
A.-Since he has been born I guess.
since he has been big enough to get
out.
Q.-when did this trouble start be-
tween you and him?
A.-There has been nothing but
trouble since they farmed the place.
They let their cattle and hogs run on
my place and there has been quite a
bit of trouble.
Q.-How many years has that been?
A-Something over 80 years. 1t has
been 2s or "a years since / first
plOwed that strip and they have left
their cattle and hogs run there night
and day more or less until here just
lately.
Q-Just lately?
Aust lately they have not, but
last summer and fall they did.
Q-Just a little while back you told
Alex Lindahl to take his boat away
from your land /; to keep it away from
there, did you not?
Al told him to take that boat
away from there and not to land on
my place; to keep it away from my
place.
Q.-Away from that landing there?
Al told him not to tie 1t along
my land. I did not want him to chop
down trees.
Q.-You do not like Alex Lindahl?
Al did not like the way he had
of letting cattle and hogs run over my
place the way he had. 1t has been
going on night and day.
Odd you see him going to the
river Saturday?
A.-No, sir
Q.-See him on the river2
A.-No. I did not see him.
Q.-What were you doing Saturday?
A.-Working around home tending
to the team and chopping wood.
Q.-What were you doing Saturday
afternoon?
A.-Raking UP weeds and trash ana
old grass on the field and hay land.
Q.-The field north of the house?
A-Yes, in the field north of the
house and the land where the hay is
south of the house.
Q.-This landing where Alex Lin
dahl kept his boat is right at the
northeast corner of your land, is it
not?
Al don't know where the landing
is at all.
Q.-You have seen him in his boat
along the river?
Al have seen him go up and down
the river sometimes.
Q.-You have seen him going up the
road at the north end of your land.
have you not2
Al have seen him going that way
sometimes.
Q-You were rakins weeds on the
north end of the farm toward the east,
were you not?
O-There Is quite a wide strip OF
brush between where you were and the
banks of the river?
An some places it is wide and
some places not so wide.