Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-06-23

Thor Thorson, well-known young
farmer Of southwestern Emmons
county, shot and killed his wife and
himself late Thursday night at their
] farm home six miles southwest Of
Dale postofice. No definite cause is
assigned, but it is believed that recent
i'll health Of the dead man resulted in
a fit of temporary insanity. Two
small children, five and three years
Of age, of the dead couple were asleep
in the room at the time Of the shoot
ing and slept there in the presence
Of the corpses Of their dead parents
the rest of the night. It was these
little tots who gave the alarm next
morning when they dressed and went
to the home of their grandparents
about a quarter of a mile away and
reported that papa and mamma are
bleeding at the nose and don't move
at all. " States Attorney Coventry,
DR.. Hogue and Coroner Louis Portz
went to the scene of the tragedy, but
no coroner's inquest was deemed nee
essary, as the facts in the case were
self-evident. 4
The perpetrator Of the double kill
ing was a young man who has lived
in the Dale neighborhood practically
all his life. He is the son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. B. Thoreson, who live on the
farm adjoining his place. His father
could not give his exact age to the
!. authorities, but it is thought he was
about 80 years of age. The wife was
| an Indiana girl who came here about
eight years ago and taught the school
near the Thorson home. There she
met Thor Thorson, and they were
married when her school term was
completed. Two children were born
ito them, one five and the other three
years Of age.
Much mystery surrounds the details
8of the affair and the cause. Thurs
sday night, Mrs. B. Thorson, mother
..of the dead man, and her daughter,
visited Thor and his wife. She found
the wife finished washing, andSwith
baking of bread practically completed.
ss!About II p. M. she remarked that
sshe must be going home, and Thor
sssaid, Yes, you had better go before
At: is too late. Whether he had in
mind his feaful act at that time, or
whether he simply referred to the
dateness Of the hour, is not known.
Il About midnight, the father, B.
Thorson, heard two shots fired, but
gave the matter little thought, until
The next morning when his two small
grandchildren arrived and gave their
startling information The members
sIbbf the B Thorson family at once
rushed over to their sons home. "A
lister Of the dead man was the first
TO arrive and looked through win
dow in to the death chamber. She
attempted to stop her mother from
going nearer, the latter fainting as she
4eakzed the import of her daughters
action. Mr.. Thorson, the father of
the dead man, went to the house and
assured himself that both Thor and
His wife were dead, and then went to
the Henry Bader home, a mile away,
fpr help. On learning Of the tragedy,
henry Bader notified the Chris. Naa-
den family, and they. in turn called
s0gther relatives, among them being
Hal. Tracy, a brother-in-law Of the
dead man. Mr.. Tracy stelephoned
ninton.
The Thor Thorson home is Z small
tYo-room house, one e-half Of 1t being
used for q bed room for the family,
and the other half . living room and
s4tchen. The shooting had takein,
Haee in, the bedroom There was
sesF xiication taat Thor Thorson
Ind been III bed, and that the shooting
III fok place. when his wife started Us
She was still completely
dressed, except that her shoes were
o Her body was found close Is the