Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-12-21
MURDERER FEARS
MOB VIOLENCE
Slg-, Earl ThrOst in the Wauhoh
Jail Afraid of the Death Fen
atty. viii Get His
Sentence Soon.
PLEADS GUILTY
BEFORE JUDGE TAYLOR
Four Murder Cases Disposed Of in
This Section of the State Within
The Last Ten Days.

Waukon, Iowa-Ths desirs ST
Earl Throst, expressed to County
Attorney E. F. Pieper, of Allama-
kee county, that he be brought be-
fore the district court Judge at an
early date to plead guilty to the
murder of Inga Magnuson at the
Bergen district school Monday, Dec.
IL is believed to be prompted by
desire to cheat the hangman's moose.
Sentiment against Throst is so
str6ns that it is believed strong
fight would be made by the state
- have the death penalty inflicted if
he went to trial and verdict of
guilty resulted
Throst knows how strong the feel
ing against him is running
throughout the county. He was
trembling and fearful when he was
brought into Waukon Tuesday night
and smuggled secretly into the
county Jail by way of back door in
order that an ominous crowd of
several hundred people who had as
senlbled in front of the Jail might
rot resort to violence.
The slightest noise causes Throst
in his cell, to tremble and gaze fear
fully toward the entrance to~his Jail
quarters. He is still AFRAID Of mob
violence.
~ sgts 4srer of thl
school teacher seems 10 be absolute
ly remorseless over his deed, but in
abject fear for his own personal
safety
Knowing that the state has built
up a powerful case against him, be-
sides having his voluntary, signed
and that a verdict of
guilty would be practically assured
if he went to trial, Throst indicated
after he waving preliminary hearing
that he wanted his case settled
quickly. He told County Attorney
Pieper that he would like to go be-
fore the court with as little delay as
possible and enter plea of guilty.
Attorney Bert Hendrick is repre-
senting Throst. He has had several
conferences with the prisoner.
A later dispatch from Waukon has
the following to say regarding the
case:
Earl Throst made no appeal for
mercy to- Judge Taylor when he
pleaded guilty to numbering Inga
Magnuson at her lonely school house
near Dorchester last Monday.
Whether he hangs or spends the
rest of his life in prison, is now
within the discretion of the Judge.
Judge. Taylor will sentence him
later in the week.
1t is probable that he will ex-
anime into the young mans mem
tality. There have been reports
that he was mentally incompetent
and had a guardian. This arose
from the fact that he mysteriously
disappeared at one time a year or
two ago and it was necessary to
appoint a custodian to conserve
his farm property that was left
without care during his absence.
He reappeared as unexpectedly as
he had dropped from sight, and
has never explained or discussed
his absence.
This is the fourth nun e. case
disposed of in this section C the
state within the last ten day.
At Elkader last week, Peer
Kleinow pleaded guilty to the MUIR
der of his former sweetheart,
her Kersten, and A. Nj. Schmidt
was To- i guilty of manslaughter
in killing Andrew Rapp of dubuque.
At West Union Mrs. Effie Ash
baugh was found not guilty of the
murder of her husband.