Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-06-23
Thor Thorson, Of Glanavon Township,
Kills Himself About Midnight
Thursday Night. Cause Of Tragedy
Mystery.
Two Small Children Sleep All Night in
Room With Bodies Of Dead Parents.
Five Year-Old Gives Alarm Next
Morning. Death Probably lnstan-
taneous.

bed, and she had fallen forward on
the floor, the bullet which killed her
having entered the head just behind
the right ear and come out on the
opposite side Of the head. Her death
was probably instantaneous, as there
was no indication that she had moved
after falling forward. Thor Thor
sons body appeared to have fallen
against the edge of the bed as it fell
to the floor. He was lying on his
back with his arms extended, his feet
near the body of his wife. The re-
volver, 38-calibre weapon, was
found right near the dead mans feet.
Three chambers were discharged, but
only two of them had been discharged
at the time Of the murder and suicide.
The position Of the dead mans body
indicated that he had first looked at
his wife's body, and, satisfied that she
was dead, he held the muzzle of the
revolver against the middle of his
forehead and fired the shot that killed
him.
Whether or not the sound of the
two shots awoke the little children
sleeping in another bed in the same
room only few feet from the scene
Of the double killing is not known.
They are so young that they were un-
able to give much information. If
they did awake at all, it is probable
that they at once went back to sleep
or cried themselves to sleep, as they
did not become scared until the usual
time for getting up, the next morning.
It is not even possible to tell whether
or not there was a light burning when
Nthe tragedy was enacted. The lamp
was out the next morning, and still
,had plenty Of oil in it. Unless the
lchihren put out the light, which is
mot likely, ,or it was blown out dur
ting the night by the wind, the. double
killing took place in the dark. This
is probable, too, because Of the fact
that it was quite moonlight and Mrs.
'Thorson may have blown out the light
when she went to the bedroom to re-
tire. 4. 4. Is, 5s .s & al
The dead couple were in Linton the
day before the tragedy, and completed
q: land deal with Joe Glas, who owned
a homestead adjoining them. Rela-
tievs state that they had made all
plans to leave last Saturday morning
for q visit with Mrs Thorson's rela-
tives in Indiana. There is some SEN
5timent in the neighborhood Of the.
crime that she. feared her husbands
mental condition, and had prevailed.
upon him to make a visit to Indiana
SO that she would not be alone with
him, as was the case son their farm
In any event, the indications are that
the fateful climax. came quick and
sudden, possibly the result Of a sud-
den burst of anger over some matter,
rather than as a premeditated act.
The dead woman has no relatives
in this county, other than her or
phaned children. She was spoken Of
very highly by neighbors as q hard
woman. It is said that the year she
taught ia Glanavon, just before her
marriage, most Of her money was sent
to her family in Indiana, her parents
being in poor circumstances, and
there being large family. Her
husband was a son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
b Thorson, nephew Of Mrs. Chris.
MAIDEN, and q brother Of Mrs. n P.
Tracy The tragedy: came as q fear
full shock to all the Dale community,
where Thor Thorson and his wife were
well known, and there is much sym
a11Y for the two little tots who are
thus left orphans.
Efforts have been made to get in
touch with the Indiana relatives Of
the dead woman. The funeral was
held Ct Dale Tuesday
,--.- :: POTATOES :
81 For sale. Fasd Kist Linton. tf-adv.