Willmar tribune., 1912-12-25
BOY. COMMITS MURDER OF .
$z@. &. " FARMER NEAR D0NMELlY 7
UnruIy Lad Ends Life Of Worthy
Gentleman Who Would
Reform Him.

RefOrm Him.
Morris Tribune: John King, a well
known farmer of Donnelly was found
dead at his home on Wednesday eve
ming when his sons returned from
Donnelly. A 16-year-old boy who has
been staying at the King home for
several weeks was missing, as was
also a horse and buggy and gun.
When Mr.. Kings sons, David and
Emil, returned with their wives on
Wednesday evening, they found their
father lying dead on the floor with a
gunshot wound in his back. 1t ap-
peared as tho he was eating his sup
per when he was killed, and that
death was instantaneous and that he
had fallen forward to the floor from
the chair in which he was sitting.
From the appearance of the wound,
it seems that the gun must have been
discharged at him from a distance
of several feet, for the shot had
spread several inches and there was
no evidence of powder burns. The
course Of the shot was somewhat up
wards, indicating that the old man
was bending forward slightly at the
time, probably stopped over at the
table. His meal was not eaten.
The boy who is charged with this
horrible crime comes from near Fer
gus Falls. He has been an unruly
boy, and his mother had asked Mr..
Killing to take him in the hope that
the Christian atmosphere Of the King
home would lead the boy to reform.
His name is Ole Christopherson. He
has made considerable trouble at
Fergus Falls, and has been in jail
there. His father is dead, and since
his mother moved from the farm and
married a tailor in Fergus Falls, the
boy has not got along we'll with his
step-father Mr.. King became inter-
ested in helping to make him a bet
ter boy and a couple Of weeks or
more ago was at Fergus Falls and
gave the boy a letter to his sons on
the farm. The boy took up with his
new home, and appeared to be a
bright and willing boy.
Wednesday evening, the King boys
left for Donnelly with their wives
about 5 AS. Christopherson was ask
ed and said he would finish the
chores. AS soon as the King boys
left he must have gone to the house,
eaten his supper, which was in a
dining room adjoining the one where
Mr.. King was. In this room a shot
gun and rifle were standing in one
corner, and he must have picked up
the shot gun, and shot Mr.. King just
as he was sitting down to supper. The
boy then went to the barn, took an
old mare and hitched her to a~ight
wagon, and started north, asa6k
tracks later showed. He pa -
Werk farm six miles north at afgft
o'clock. He must have travelled most
of the night.
The king boys returned at II As
and finding their father killed, mott
fled neighbors and the officials. Sher-
if Zahl, coroner Caine and County
Attorney Beise went up from here at
once, and Immediately took steps to
find the murderer.
The murder is shrouded in mys-
terry, at least until this boy tells what
happened at the King home Wednes-
day evening. 1t is impossible to i'm
agine what would lead even the most
criminally inclined to take the life of
such kind old man as Mr. King.
He appears to have been shot in the
back in cold blood. Robbery was
evidently not a motive, for money
and valuables were not taken.
| John King, the murdered man, is
an old settler in Donnelly, and one
who has been most highly respected
by all who knew him. He is survived
by his wife and a family Of grown
children. He has always tried to
advance the Christian life of the
community, both by precept and ex-
ample, and has lived most useful
life. Of late years he has given ove1
the management Of his farm to. his
sons. He expected soon to go to Cal,
ifornia. He was Sc years old.
Arrangements for the funeral have
not yet been made, as Mrs. King is
with her daughter Hannah at Los
Angeles, CAL, and the funeral will
not be held until they return.
Sheriff Zahl started out early yes.
terday morning, picked up the bugg!
track at Kings and easily followed
it near to Elbow Lake. There tn
snow became thinner and the tract
was lost He went as far as Ashb,
and there fond that the boy had no
yet reached that place. He the,
turned back and finally found hin
: about three miles from Elbow Lake
The boy had been trying to reacl
Fergus Falls.
7 Last night, the boy made confes
sion, the contents of which are no
l disclosed except that he admit
, shooting Mr.. King. He is the mer
est STRIPPING of boy.