The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-01-27
Kills Wife Then Self.

Pierce, Neb,, Jan. 23.-Special to
The News: Oscar Johnson, a farmer
who lived six miles southwest of
Plainview, cut his wife's throat with
butcher knife in the kitchen of their
house at o'clock Saturday afternoon
and then went to the barn and took
his own life in the same manner.
He had just returned from Plain
view where he had appeared perfect.
y rational. After returning home he
ate his dinner and then sent his boys
10 the fields. A short time after this
two of the boys saw Mr.. Johnson stag
gering to the stable They followed
him and found he had cut his throat.
Hurrying to the house they found
their mother lying on the kitchen floor
with her throat cut
Temporary insanity is thought to
be the cause of the deed Mr.. John.
son was in good circumstances, own.
ing a half section of good land and
fine buildings and having a deposit at
the banks at Plainview Of late he
has imagined that the banks were try
ing to break him.
Thursday he accused his wife of at.
tempting to put poison in his coffee.
There are seven boys and four girls
in the family.
Coroner Salter of Pierce called a
coroner's jury, who found that the
deed had been committed during an
attack of temporary insanity.
Evidence of a Struggle.
Neigh, Neb., Jan, 23.-Special to
The News: A murder and suicide
took place Saturday afternoon about
o'clock just across the Antelope
county line in Pierce county, nearly
seventeen miles northeast of this city.
Oscar Johnson murdered his wife
with butcher knife, and ended his
own life with the same weapon few
minutes later
The cause of the double tragedy is
given as an unbalanced mind on the
part of the husband and father, who,
it is stated, was slightly demented on
two occasions last summer, but upon
receiving medical aid was considered
by the family as entirely recovered.
The report was received in Neigh
about o'clock Saturday afternoon,
| but as the crime was committed in
| Pierce county the officials here were
not notified. 1t appears that during
the afternoon the father had instruct
ed his boys to drive to the field. He
managed with great care to have the
entire family of children as nearly as
| possible out of the house, and then
entered the home, locking himself and
wife in room, commenced the awful
destruction of life.
| That there was a terrific fight be.
tween father and mother is apparent,
as the furniture in the room was
more or less broken In the effort OF
the demented person to accomplish
his end.
| After killing his wife he cut him.
self on various parts of his person
with the butcher knife, but the fatal
stab was that inflicted In his throat.
He left the house and was seen by the
boys, who were returning from the
field, going toward the barn, but be-
fore reaching the building fell over
dead.
1t is said that Mr.. Johnson, who was
Dane by birth, was about so years
of age, and his wife 40. They have
eight children, the youngest being
over years. The family have lived
on their present farm about fourteen
years, having moved there from this
county, where they had previously re.
sided eight years or more. He was a
well-to-do farmer, stock raiser and
shipper.
w. w. Keys of this city has the fol.
lowing to say: Il have known Oscar
Johnson for many years; have SOLD
him cattle frequently when l was on
the farm, and he shipped about three
cars of fat cattle each year. He was
absolutely an honest and square man
to do business with"
The crime was committed about
three miles northeast of Midway, the
latter place being considered half the
distance between Neigh and Plain.
view