Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-07-21
BODY OF FARM LABoRER FOUND
ojsrsstf Farm In Town 81 West Bank
10 the Scene Of = Cold Blooded
Murder.

The body Of Gunvold Munson, a
Norwegian, who had been employed on
the farm Of Oluf Gjerseth In the town
Of West Bank (about twelve miles
southwest of Benson), and who disap-
peared on Sunday, June q, was found
last Sunday buried near pig pen on |
the farm. County Coroner Daignault |
was at once notified and he and Sher-
i'll Gilbertson and Attorney Yakey, |
representing County Attorney Lee, au-
toed out to the place. A jury was en-
panelled and an inquest held. The
jury found that Munson came to his
death by being struck on the side of
the head with a blunt instrument, and
that Frank Denner, who also work
ed On the same farm, caused his death.
Munson's remains were brought to
this city and Inferred in the Benson
cemetery on Monday.
It is supposed that the crime was
committed on Sunday evening, June
q, while Mrs. Erickson sister Of
Mr.. Gjerseth, who is keeping house
on the farm, and her children were at
church, for when they returned from
church neither of the men were there.
They thought that Munson had gone
to Ortonville and Denner to Monte
video and no search was. made until
some old clothes of Denner's were
found in the brush near by and were
covered with blood.
Sheriff Gilbertson went over to
Montevideo on Monday to see Mr..
Gjerseth, the owner of the farm, and
he advised him that Denner had been
to his Office on the Monday after the
deed was committed and wanted some
money. He said that Munson had
taken his money. Mr.. Gjerseth did
not think anything of it at the time,
but became suspicious of the story
later. Afterwards Gilbertson went to
two or three farms in Chippewa coun-
| ty, where Denner had worked to get
his photo if he could. He secured a.
couple. On Tuesday night Sheriff
Gilbertson made a trip to St. Peter
to see If he could get any information
regarding Denner there. Denner had
worked there up to last spring. A
man who had worked with Denner
told the shediff that Denner was a
dangerous man and that he had stol-
!. zen about $50 from him and threatened
to kill him If he said anything about
!. Both the men had worked on the
Gjerseth farm about a month. Denner
is native of Russian Poland. There
is plenty of evidence to convict Den
ner il he is caught but it will be hard
to get him. He has had two weeks
start and in that time he could get
|, away quite a distance. There is no
clue as to his whereabouts after leav-
ing Montevideo. The county commits
, sioners, we understand, have been
asked to offer a reward in behalf of
the county, but for some reason or
!0ther refuse to do it. 1t is certainly
1 short sighted policy on their part.
It would seem that they take the stand
Ethat It is better to let Denner 60 free
than to have him apprehended and put
1kthee county to the expense of trying
ffhim. If that is their attitude it is
. Iplacing a premium on crime. 1t is
tcustomary for counties to offer re-
!, wards for the apprehension of murd'
erers and to do everything possible
to assist the authorities in making ar.
, rests. The keeping down of crime is
of far more importance than the say.
ing a few hundred dollars.
Sheriff Gilbertson is, however, do
ing all he can to lay his hands on Den.
ner and will have circulars printed
and distributed. Denner is a bad &C
tor and should be placed behind the
prison bars for the balance of his life
Swift County Monitor.