The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-11-04
Minot Man Enraged Over Letter Wife
Received From Man Named I'D"
Had Threatened to Kill Her
Many Tmes-Tragedy at
Hilda Freeberg's.

Hilda Freeberg's.
Mrs. Patrick Bowling, aged about
40, was shot and instantly killed at
6:2O O'Clock this evening at the home
Of Mrs. Hilda Freeberg, who resides
in the Ed Colvert residence west Of
the Home Hotel on West Central ave-
nue.. Bowling then turned the gun on
himself, shooting himself in the right
temple, dying ten minutes after he
was taken to the St. Joseph's hospi-
tai. Jealousy was the cause Of the
murder and suicide.
Mrs. Bowling had lived with her
husband in the northern section of
the city during the summer and they
had frequently quarreled. Bowling
drank considerable liquor and at such
times threatened to kill his wife, be-
leving that she was receiving the at
tentions Of other men.
During the fall, Mrs. Bowling work
ed on cook car for a thresher, re-
turning to Minot about week ago,
taking a room at Hilda Freeberg's
home. Bowling visited the Freeberg
home early in the evening and waited
for the return of his wife, who was
over town shopping. The couple were
in bedroom on the main floor and
Mrs. Freeberg's twelve-year-old son,
the only other occupant Of the house
at the time, heard the couple quarrel
ing. A letter was found in the room
written to Mrs. Bowling by man
who signed his name as ED" and this
aroused the jealousy of the husband
no doubt There is another angle to
the case, however Mrs. Bowling told
Mrs. Freeberg recently that her hus-
band had threatened her life because
she refused to sign certain papers in
an action which he wished to start
against a Minot concern for $4,000
for the loss of her two children, girl
and boy, who were drowned in an
old well on farm four miles north Of
Minot a year ago last summer. These
children were Mrs. Dowlipg's by a
former marriage and Bowling himself
had no authority to start the action.
Papers all made out ready for Mrs.
Dowling's signature were found on
Dowling's person after he died. 1t is
presumed that he had gone to his
wife and told her that unless she sign
ed the papers he would kill her.
Bowling thot she had chance to re-
cover, because they were living on a
rented farm and the we'll was unpro-
tected. Mrs. Bowling had told Mrs.
Freeberg that bringing an action
would never restore her children and
she never intended to sign it. >,
VIM. Bertelson, Mrs. Freeberg's 49,
year-old son, told the authorities that
Bowling fired one shot in the bed
room, which evidently killed Mrs.
Bowling, then walked out into the
other room with the revolver in his
hand, looking wild-eyed, then return
ed to the room, closed the door and
fired another shot, shooting out his
own brains. The boy gave the alarf
and Officers Kane and Brakeman rush
ed to the scene. Both Bodies were on
the floor of the bedroom and so close
to the door it was hard to open it. MIS-.
Bowling was dressed and had on her
plush coat just as she came from over
town, and had taken off her hat, plac-
ing it on the dresser. She had been
shot thru the neck just above the chest
and was dead. Bowling had shot him
self thru the head, the bullet from
his little 20 calibre revolver entering
the head. The woman's body was
placed on the bed and Bowling was
carried to the hospital by Chief Lano,
who soon appeared, and died ten min
utes after reaching the hospital.
The bodies were both taken to the
Rowan undertaking rooms and the in
quest will be held by Justice Lynch.
Saturday.
Mrs. Freeberg, who had been visit
ing her mother at Norma for over a
week, returned that afternoon, arriv-
ing ten minutes after the shooting.
Mrs. Bowling had been working for
Ed Landmark, thresher at Sherwood,
for several weeks, cooking on his cook
car. She came to Minot Nov. and
deposited $500 in local bank.
The following letter, found on the
floor, had probably just been read by
Bowling, which undoubtedly enraged
him, for on the woman's return, he
began shooting:
Sherwood, N. D., Nov. l, 1920.
Dear Edna:
Just got in an hour ago. Took
3 hours to come up. Was little
cold but not bad. I stopped at
Lansford for lunch. God, it seems
lonesome here now. / sure won't
put in any more time than I have
n to up here. Am going to Canada
in the morning and get the rest of
my money and get the rig moved
if / can and then they will have
to get along without me around
& here. How are you feeling
Good, I hope. May be you are
lonely like me-Ha, Ha. see
you did not like tossee me go to-
day and I didn't like it any better
myself but I won't be gone long, /,
I hope You must write me so l
get letter from you Wednesday
night as | may be down Thursday y
night if there is any chance. Well,
l haven't any more to write about.
| will have to close with best
wishes and lots Of k when we
meet. Goodbye dear.
From Ed.
z - = 4