Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-06-14
AWFUL TRAGEDY IN
STEARNS COUNTY
Man Kills Girl Who Refuses to
Marry Him and Takes Own
Life in 500 Depot.


scene of murder and suicide last
week Tuesday, The murderer and
suicide was James Fitzpatrick, and his
other victim was Miss Sadie Johnson,
who lived near Eden Valley. Fitz.
patrick was former resident of
Eden Valley, and for the past four
years he had been a street car conduc
tor at Duluth. He had been paying
attention to Miss Johnson for some
time, but it seems his love was unre
quilted. Some time ago the young
woman returned his ring and he
brooded over the affair until two
weeks ago, when he returned to Eden
Valley to endeavor to straighten
things out.
Miss Johnson went to Kimball Tues
day afternoon to visit with friends,
and Fitzpatrick saw her board the
train, and followed. After arriving at
Kimball he bid her goodbye. Miss
Johnson entered the waiting room, and
a second later Fitzpatrick followed.
He pulled gun and shot the girl
thru the heart. He Immediately turn
ed the gun on himself, and fired twice,
inf1icting wounds from which he died
a couple OF hours after. Not word
was spoken between the two in the
waiting room, prior to the shooting.
1t is supposed the unfortunate man
brooded over his love affair until he
became mentally unbalanced.
The following details were published
in the St. Paul Dispatch:
A letter that was never mailed,
found in the pocket of James Fitzpat-
rick, who late Teusday June g., at
Kimball Prairie killed Sadie Johnson,
his sweetheart, and committed sui
eide, indicated that his act was pre-
meditated. The missive, addressed to
the girl, read:
81 can't stand this. I'll bury both If
us sooner or later"
| The letter was opened by the
Stearns county coroner's jury, which
| returned a verdict of murder and sui
eide.
Fitzpatrick and the school teacher
he killed grew up as foster brother
and sister in the Patrick Johnson
home, the inquest brought out.
They became sweethearts and
when Fitzpatrick went out into the
world to make his fortune four years
ago the girl accepted diamond ring
from him but informed him they new
er could marry until he made mark
for himself.
Fitzpatrick recently wrote the girl
that he had position as street car
conductor in Duluth, and had saved
enough to buy home and furnish IT,
This brought refusal from the girl
and the return of the ring.
Pursued by Fitzpatrick, the girl
went Tuesday to Kimball Prairie for
visit with friends, in order to avoid
him. He followed on another car OF
the same train, and the tragedy oc
Cured just after they entered the
Kimball Prairie station. It was wit
messed only by John Mackereth, Soc
line station agent.
1T all seemed like motion picture
to me-, Mackereth told the jury
Through my picket window I could
see only a small space in the center
of the waiting room. The girl entered
the space first, then the man appear
| cd. Not a word was spoken.
"The man embraced the girl, who
tried to pull away. Whipping pis
toll from his pocket he placed II
against her heart and fired. Then
placing the pistol to his temple he
fired again"
Miss Addie Johnson, the slain girls
sister, told the jury that Sadie had
premonition Of the tragedy Monday
night.
'She woke up and asked if I heard
a rapping. It's the spirits rapping tc
warn me Of my DEATH" Addie Johnson
said.
After the inquest, four automobiles
bearing the bodies and relatives OF
the young people, journeyed from
Kimbau Prairie to Eden Valley, home
of both.
Fitzpatrick, 26 years old, was left
an orphan in boyhood and was brot
up by Patrick Johnson, father Of the
girl he slew. The girl was % years
old.