The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-08-23

ri. JAMES Z. oW ENSCN.
He went to the apartment at about
| eleven o'clock, laid a rug on the
| floor and lying down, placed his head
on pillow, shot himself in the pit
of the stomach where the ribs join
together. Mr. Swenson must have
held the revolver, a thirty-two cali.
bre, in slanting. position, for the
bullet plowed a hole in the direction
of the heart and penetrated that
organ. Death was almost instantan.
eous.
was premeditated on the part of Mr..
Swenson is evidenced by the care
he had taken in making preparations
for it. He had removed his coat and
vest and after lying down on the rug
he opened both the outer and under
shirts and then placed the revolver
close to his body. When found a
few moments after the shooting he
gave gasp and was dead. He was
lying fat upon his, back. .,
-. JUST 0CIOEc TIC Tragedy
A few minutes before eleven
o'clock this forenoon Mr.. Swenson
stepped into the real estate office
of Hunt & Black, in the village,
and conversed with these gentlemen
He was in excellent spirits and dis
cussed several matters in his usual
intelligent and lucid manner. Neither
gentleman could observe anything
unusual in his actions. Leaving the
real estate office, Mr.. Swenson went
to the room in the home of Mr..
Chaffee and ended his life in the
manner described. Mr. Chaffee heard
the report of the revolver, and at
once stepped across the street to
the Palace livery barn, where he
informed the proprietor, ., John r..
Jones, and his helper, LATE Fair
banks. that he feared that tragedy
had just been enacted in his house.
The three gentlemen went at once
to the Chaffee home and on entering
the store room found Mr.. Swenson
lying on his back and he gave one
gasp and was dead.
Doctor Was Summoned.
However, DR.. H. J. Lloyd was
quickly summoned, but his services
were of no avail The soul of
James Swenson had taken it's flight.
The revolver with which the horrid
deed had been, done was in the
grasp of. the dead man, who had
not moved muscle. Coroner Ken
nedy was notified of the affair.
DR.. Lloyd did not attempt to probe
for the bullet, but it was his opin-
ion that the leaden ball had pene.
trated the mans heart. The body
was not disturbed, pending the ar
rival of the coroner or his assist.
ant The news of the suicide spread
quickly over the village. 1t created
considerable excitement and COM
ment, as Mr.. Swenson was we'll
known to everybody in Lake Crys-
tai, and notwithstanding what faults
he may have had, there were ex-
pressions of regret that he had been
the victim of his own hand. When
himself Mr.. Swenson was an affable,
genial gentleman and possessed
many good qualities of heart and
mind. During the past few months
he had been engaged in getting up
county atlas, for which work he
was peculiarly fitted. He was ca
pable man and his abilities were rec
ognized by his friends.
Was ;-WelI-known.
James E. Swenson was well-known
in Blue Earth county. He had lived
in Lake Crystal for twenty-five years.
He was bright, well educated and
well informed man, but considered
rather eccentric. He engaged in the
real estate and insurance business
and was the promoter of number
of schemes out of which he expect
ed to realize large sums Of money.
During the winter Mr.. Swenson was
examined in the probate court as to
his sanity. He was declared to be
insane and taken to the hospital at
st. Peter where he remained few
months. On being discharged from
that institution he returned to Lake
Crystal and made his home at the
Crystal hotel His wife lives with
her mother, Mrs. T. T. Shepard and
his daughter is living with his
brother-in-law, Charles OFT, at Am
boy.
Had Financial Troubles.
Financial troubles have worried
Mr.. Swenson of late. He is said to
have been greatly disappointed in a