The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-09-26
CORONER BELIEVES AGNESS
BREASTED SELF SLAIN
MYSTERY NOTE.L0cATED
Family Formerly Lived At
Bricelyn, Mimi, Tragedy {
IL Minneapolis

Minneapolis, September 22.-AlA
though Coroner Gilbert Seashore and
the police department were satisfied
that Agnes Braastad. sixteen years
old. IL Melbourne avenue Sc. had
committed suicide, relatives Of the
dead girl last night were searching
among her acquaintance for the
friend" who may have stood at the
girls bedside when she wrote her
farewell note.
Anton Braastad. father of the dead
girl, refuses to accept the suicide
verdict and last night insisted that
his daughter could not have taken
her own life. *
my little girl could not have kill
ed herself" he said as she sat at the
home of his son in law, J.. N. Cham
bers, Al Clarence avenue Sc, last
night. ..She was always cheerful and
was so interested in the new furni-
ture we were buying for our little
home"
The family formerly resided at
Bricelyn, moving to Minneapolis
about two years ago.
Mystery Note Is Found.
The note found at the bedside of
the dead girl when her father re-
turned from work Friday night fol-
lows:
"My dear. dear daddy and my dear
sisters and brothers: / was sick this
morning. too, so did not go to school,
I am now given chance by a friend
who is here now standing watching
over me to write these few parting
lines in hurry before j shall part
from you .all forever here on this
earth. But if God lets IL be as my
will is, why pray that We will meet
in heaven with my dear beloved
mother III tell you here now before
/ close that have fought against
this death which am unprepared TO
meet until am so weak cannot do
ii any longer. God bless you all. May
we all meet in heaven. Agnes b.
sPlease place me next TO mother
in the graveyard
The body will be taken TO the for
mer home of Mr.. Baadstad at Brice-
lyn, Minn.. Tuesday. and funeral
services conducted Wednesday by
Rev. X. r. Palmer at the South Blue
Earth Norwegian church, near Brice-
lyn. s--s=-..-s-.-ss:ssssls- =
tarI round Dead.
The father found the Girl dead III
their apartment when he arrived
home Friday night.
The apartment was filed with gas
when he entered. Braastad told the
Police. Frightened. he called ms
daughter. No answer. He rushed 10
the kitchen and then to his daughters
room Pushing open the door, he
saw the girl en- the bed, hands and
feet bound with light rope. The
ras was turned On, he told the po-
lice.
Girl Murdered, Relatives Say.
Relatives and friends Of the dead
Girl are mystified by the lack OF any
known motive either for Agnes TO
take her own life, c. for anyone to
injure here.
Eve believe she was murdered,
Mr. Chambers said today. We
cannot imagine any reason why she
should XIII herself She was gay and
elated over her promotion to the
eighth grade, and never seemed des-
nondent She had attended summer
school and was promoted when the
reru,ar session opened this fall.
aThe handwriting in that note
found in the room does not resem-
BILE her handwriting. Either inc
writing is not hers, Or she was SO
nervous she could hardly write.
Two knives were in the room when
her, body was found One butcher
knife was lying on the bed peside
her and another was lying on the
table. We think she was terrined
by threats into writing that goodoy
note
Ropes Were Loosely Tied.
The lashings about the girls arms
and ankles were so loose that sne
could have united herself with only
slight effort. Detective John y. be-
lair said today. She was not gagged
he said. and the door TO her room.
was moi locked. The only. sign OF
struggle found in the ,Braastad apart :
rent were two chairs overturned IN
tile. dining room. and a rocking CHAIR
timed over in the living room.
Thorough examination OF the giris
hody bv Coroner Gilbert Seashre. Dr.
Il q. Ylyisacker and Professor II. e.
Robertson. University or Mlnheso. 2.
failed to disclose bruises or wounas
Of any sort. The indentation made by
the rope about the girls wrists was
inc only mark on her body. DR.. Sea
shore said.
carl Braastad, the girls father.
found the body dashed on the pea
when he returned last night from
work at the Northwest Malleaoie
Iron company.
The apartment was filled with gas
when, he entered, Braastad to,d me
police Frightened. he called ms
daughter. No answer came: He rush:
cd 10. the kitchen AID then to ms
Itpebter's roori ~ - ~
pushing open the door, he saw the
girl. aipaost.. fully dressed stretcheu
~-t r.-on the he'd. HANDS ana feet
bound with light rope. His attempts
n rouse her were vain.
de called tho neighEors, and the
polics were notified.
pclieyrd She Had Been Dead Hours,
Tho girl had been dead seyeral
. so,,rs when her father came home az
: 40, FRIDAY night the police believe.
4 o~lJ x-hsp II WAS dis