The Cordova daily times., 1920-07-22
MURDERER OF
 BEN ACNEW IS
 IN CUSTODY


 Mossman of Anchorage that Edward E Olsen, young man about 22 years of age, had been arrested for murder of Ben Agnew, Matanuska rancher, Friday, July 2. The dispatch further stated that Olson had confessed to the authorities that he had killed Agnew and told the following story of his crime and the incidents which led up to the murder.
 On Wednesday, June 30, Olsen, who was serving a term in the Anchorage jail for bootlegging, escaped from custody and proceeded in the direc- tion of Matanuska. About 8 o'clock ~Thursday night, he stopped and talked for time with Sam Cappers pumpman for the Alaskan engineering commission at Matanuska. He in- quired of Cappers the way to the ranch of Harry Weickert, who at the time was serving a term in the jail at Anchorage. He was told that Mrs. Weickert was living in Matanuska, a2d was there at the time. Olsen said he did not care to see Mrs. Weickert, but wanted to go to the ranch, and after a few words left in that direction.
 Shortly after leaving Cappers he met rancher named Thompson and also inquired of him the direction of the Weickert ranch This was the last seen of Olsen until he called at the Fenton ranch Friday morning about seven o'clock asking for drink of water. Mrs. Fenton was alone at the time, and not being dressed spoke to him through the door, but did not actually see him.
 At the time he was talking to Cappers he was wearing a rain coat
 On Friday afternoon Olson was ar rested by Deputy Mearshal Frank Hoffman as he was coming into Mat anuska and was taken to Anchorage by the deputy, where he made his confession in the presence of Deputy Mossman and Deputy Hoffman, and other witnesses.
 On Friday morning, Ben Agnew, the murdered man, who was working for a neighboring rancher named Leahy, hoeing potatoes, told Leahy that young man had been at his house the previous day inquiring for the %eickert ranch and had been direct cd to the ranch of Agnew.
 A few days after finding Agnews body Deputy Hoffman and Harry Harmon had found a rain coat COD. cealed in the bushes about 500 yards from the place where the body was found, which corresponds in every detail to the description of the ccat as, given by Cappers.
 Olsen in his confession, said that on the morning of Friday, July 2, he had returned to Agnew's ranch after spending the night at the Weick- ert ranch, and finding no one at home lad entered the house, finding a dem john of white mule and taking sev- era1 drinks became intoxicated. He said he took Agnew's rifle and going ' into the yard shot several of Agnew's chickens, and caught others and de- capitated them with a butcher knife While he was shooting at the chick ems Agnew appeared and called upon him to desist, and made at him with a hoe, which he was carrying upon his shoulders.
 A strugge ensued during which Olsen clubbed Agnew with the butt of the rifle, but finding he was get retaining the rifle. He was pursued by Agnew, and finding he could not escape he turned and shot Agnew.
 He then took wheelbarrow on the place and transported the body to the creek where it was found by the searching party. He then took the rifle back to the house and pro- ceeded towards Matanuska, leaving his rain coat where it was found ~4ater.
 Olsen, who is about 22 years of age, was intoxicated when re-arrest- ed He is of low order of mental ity and has tried to feign insanity since his arrest for the murder He will be brought to Valdez by Deputies Hoffman and Mossman, for trial at the fall term of court.
 The arrest and confession of Olsen is a clever bit of work by the federal authorities, as there was practically no clues at first to connect him with