Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-05-20
DAWSON 1NCENDIARY
RECEIVES HIS SENTENCE
Strange Case Of Arson IL Closed and
Solf-Confessed Criminal Goes
to saltwater.

to Saltwater.
Madison Independent Press: The only
criminal case coming before the court
was that Of the State of Minnesota
against Anton G. Holtan. Mr.. Holtan
was accused of having set fire to a
building occupied by him as a restau-
rant in the village of Dawson, on Sum-
day morning, April IL, 1914, which re-
suited in the burning Of buildings ag-
gregating 1875 feet Of frontage on the
main business street Of Dawson togeth-
variously estimated at from $4,000 to
$4,000 and the death of Elmer Thomp-
son and Herbert o. Farmer and serious
ly injuring Martin Jacobson and Ar
thur Kreisel. Mr.. Holtan entered a
plea of guilty to the charge Of arson.
Before pronouncing sentence Mr.. Holt
an was placed upon oath and examined
by Judge Qvale The substance Of Holt
ans statement was as follows:
He said he was born in Norway and
was SO years of age last December. He
J
Of age and during the first year Of his
residence in the United States lived in
Kandiyohi county, MINI. Since that
time he has lived continuously at Daw-
son-nearly 80 years. He said he had
become a citizen Of this country and
was a man Of a family having been
married twice. I
He said he was a barber and except
the last three years had followed that
business during his residence in Daw-
son. The last three years he has been
engaged in the restaurant business
Asked by the court when he had first
conceived the idea, of burning the prop
erty he said that, very evening when
he did it. He said he had never before
been accused of any crime or offense Of
any kind. Asked by the court If he had
any explanation to make of why he had
done this thing he said he. hadn't much
of an explanation to give It seems
that he had had trouble getting help
That his wife was sick and had been
for long time. That he was troubled
about her and feared she might not re-
cover. That he worked for the most
part In the restaurant alone and was
SACAc A4OHA Jaw y ClOSA LII tu0 1IlOIu1N&
until 1900 at night. That he was so
tired and worried that he could not
sleep when he did go to bed. That it.
was impossible to get help. He said he
fired the building by spreading gasoline
on the floor. He knew there were peo-
pie living on the second floor and knew
they were awake because he went up
stairs before leaving the premises. AZ
ter leaving the place he walked to Rev
lilo. There seems to have been abso-
lutely no motive, no generalization and
no hope of reward. He seems to have
acted much as a child might have done
without thinking or knowing what the
consequences might be-. 4
Mr.. Holtan was not only questioned
by the court. but also by his attorney,
Mr.. Ewing and by the county attorney,
N. F. Soderberg. =... Sd, ~ II
The Judgment and sentence Of the
court reads as follows: You have
pleaded that you are guilty Of having
committed arson In the first degree,
therefore It is considered and adtudged
that you, Anton O. Holtan, are guilty
Of the offense charged In the indict-
ment to which you have pleaded. name
", the offense Of arson In the first de-
gree and that you be and hereby are
s 4