Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-11-09
DOUBLE TRAGEDY
AT ATLANTIC.
Husband Shoots Wife Then Turns
Iun On Observation-Disclosures Insane
And Sent To Ciarinda Asylum.

J. p. Christofferson, of Atlantic, shot
his wife four times at their home Fri
day evening with % calibre revolver
He then turned the gun on himself and
shot twice, one shot taking effect. News
OF the tragedy did not become known
until eleven o'clock Saturday morning
when q neighbor went to the Christof
ferson home to use the telephone.
A report was made to the office OF
Sheriff Berry and his deputy, Will Nc
Kee went at once to the scene with
County Attorney G. b Clovis. They
found Mrs. Christoffefson lying in a
serious condition with six bullet holes
in her head. As nearly as can be figured
she was shot four times and two of the
bullets came out through her head.
Miss Rosa Christofferson, daughter of
the aged couple, left her home Friday
night, driven out, it is claimed. She
spent the night at the home of friend
and went to her work at the mitten fac
tory without going home Saturday
morning. Miss Christoffsrson knew
nothing of the shooting until she was
told of 1t at noon.
Mr.. Christofferson was unable to give
any story of the shooting. He said that
he had not done it. His wife was in a
semi-consious condition for part of the
time and was able to talk some. She
told Deputy Mckee that her husband
had done it.
Efforts are being made by the officers
to find motive for the crime. The cou-
pie are old and have lived together for
many years and raised family. Their
daughter was with them Friday even
ing. During the evening j. s. Brown
a real estate man, called at the house
and talked about selling piece of real
estate. He states that it was apparent
there had been trouble in the family
The daughter said to him: 1T is too
bad to be put out of home this way"
It seems from the reports made to
Deputy Mckee that the daughter was
sent away from home after Brown left
After this Christofferson is supposed to
have committed the crime. 1t is report
cd that the family had been aroused
because of differences between the hus-
band and wife concerning real estate
deals. Mr. Christofferson had purchas-
ed property few days ago and had
also dickered for the sale of his own
property. His wife is said to have OPP
posed both deals and to have refused TO
sign the deed when Christofferson want
ed to make deed,
There seems TO be no doubt that Mr..
Christofferson was out of his mind
when he committed the rash act. He
does not seem to believe that he did it.
He hid the revolver under the edge OF
the lounge but it was easily found. He
didn't seem to know that il was his
and did not realize the enormity of his
act His friends say of late he has been
at times out of his head, but that other
times he has been apparently perfectly
rational
Neils p. Hoegh appeared Monday
morning at the court house and filed an
information charging J. p. Chritsoffer-
son with insanity, After hearing the
case the county board ordered Mr..
Christoffersen sent to Clarinda to the
asylum.
The testimony showed that for a
number of years Mr.. Christofferson has
been q nonomaniac. Though his mind
has been perfectly clear on some things
he has been insanely jealous of his wife
and has at times made unjust and un
true charges against her. Mr.. Hoegh
is a brother of Mrs. Christofferson.
A number of witnesses were examin
ed by the board of examiners and they
also called in Mr. Christofferson
When asked what he was there for he
started to cry and stated that he had
been told he tried to kill his wife. Hi
said he couldn't understand how he
could have done anything like that. He
related number of alleged instances
and his mind rambled along at rapit
rate Attorney Clovis asked him abou
number of other matters outside o.