The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-10-19
C0NFESSES TO CRIME
'Dygart, Perpetrator of the Atrocious
Anoka County rlurder, is Cap
tured Near Willmar.
Confesses to Double Murder and Also
Admits Killing a Farmer in
the State of Wisconsin.

Az laSG GQ0 UfuG0 WIZ COululUboO Gu0
atrocious murders in Anoka county
on September l2-when he killed Mrs.
Amelia Bolton and her cousin, Frank
Rhodes-has been captured and gives
the name OF James P. Dygart, al
though he admits having used five
different aliases in the past five years.
He was arrested on the farm of
Andrew Stene at Arctander, near
Willmar, on the night of October 10 by
Sheriff Bonde and Chief Of Police
Gilbertson and upon the following
day was taken to Minneapolis and
locked up at central station. It was
due to Mr.. Nelson, neighbor of
Stene's, that Dygart was arrested.
Nelson had read a description of the
man, "Jim,' who committed the
Anoka county double murder and,
noticing the scar under his chin, in
formed the sheriff and the fellow was
Immediately placed under arrest.
After being placed in confinement
OySolU "oS ouOJOSoOA W. e1 g AI11AS
examination extending over period
of three hours and during that time
made full confession of the Anoka
county crime. Later he was again
placed upon the grill and confessed to
the murder Of John Hefstedt, a farmer,
near Poplar, Douglas county, Wis.
Upon being questioned as to the
killing of Mrs. Bolton and Frank
Rhodes Dygart is said to have told
this story:
II don't know why I killed the
woman. I killed her first and then
had to kill the man. Mrs. Boltor
was churning in the house when
came in from the fields and I asked
her for a drink of buttermilk. Sht
said would have to wait a few min
.utes. I didn't think anything at thu
time, but sat down and waited. AS
sat there felt suddenly that wanted
to kill her. I stepped into a room
and got a gun, stepped up close tt
her and shot her. I think she die>
right away.
LAS 1 looked out of the window
saw Rhodes, Mrs. Bottoms cousin
coming across the yard. I stuck tn
gun out of the window and fred, bu
he kept on coming. He came int
the house and ran to the woman an
he ran upstairs into the attic. I ra
after him but he locked himself in
Then I went back downstairs.
II took the woman's body an
dragged it down the cellar stairs an
left it there. AS I came up I hear
Rhodes raise window and saw hi
drop to the ground. I then ran O,
of the house and went after him. B
ran for the field and when was nea
enough I stopped, took aim and sht
him. That time I struck him and /
fell.
II thought he was dead and
dragged him to a place thought W.
best and covered him the best cou]
with the soft earth. I started back
the house, but I turned around ar
saw the pile of earth moving. l kne
that Rhodes was not dead SO I toe
the ak from the house and went bae
and struck him in the head with tt
ak. I then returned to the house, b.
not until had taken the things o
from Rhodes body. I took his wate
and few other things that I don
remember.
II went back to the house lit
while and then I left, going to S
Paul, Minneapolis and other places.
Further questioning of the prison.
brought out what the police believe
be the motive for the crime-the r
fusal of the woman to reciprocate b
attempt to make love to her. Besid
this, they say, he seems to be Undue