The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-12-28
new CONFESSION IN
SAILSTAD MYSTERY
"E. J. Kingston Sends a Confession
Reporting What Happened in
Cottage That Burned.


Superior, Wis. = A purported con-
fession of what happened at the Pol
lock cottage at Lake Nebagamor, Wis,
on the night of August 26, 1929, where
Edward J. Sailstad, Eau Claire manu-
facturer, was last seen and for whose
life insurance of $4,000 his former
wife brought suit in federal court
has been received by Judge C. z. Luse
of federal district court, Mrs. Augusta
Sailstad, the mother of the missing
man, and District Attorney Robert E.
Kennedy.
The confession contained on a full
sized sheet of paper written by a man
who signed his name as "E. J. King
ston," in the presence of w. S. Allward,
justice Of the peace of Wascott, Wis,
was today made public by Mrs Augusta
Sailstad.
Say Sailstad Was Murdered.
The writer asserts that Sailstad was
the victim of murder and that it was
his bones that were found in the char
red ruins of the Pollock cottage on
the morning of August 81, 1920.
&c. j. Kingston" was the name sign
ed to the hotel register at Duluth and
Spooner, Wis, and identified as the
signature of Edward J. Sailstad. The
story as related in the alleged confess
sion has convinced the mother of the
missing man that her son was the VIC
tim of foul play.
/ A federal court jury here recently
awarded the former wife, Mrs. Leona
| Sail Richardson, a verdict of $1O,-
600 in suit against the New York
Life Insurance company, one of the
companies which insured the life of
the missing man.
Struck With Black Jack.
The confession is as follows:
"To whom it may concern, this is
Gods truth:
Edward SaiIstad was Internationally
killed and it was his body that was
burned in the cottage fire at Nebaga-
mon. The plan was to get him to
drink drugged liquor and rob him but
he refused to drink. While l was urg-
| ing him to drink and he was refusing
he was struck with black jack from
! behind and knocked senseless. He
never came too. The money was taken
from his clothes. The two women had
the money.
81 started out as l thought some one
was coming | (here a
woman's name was given) over
took me, and we went to the depot, as
we had arranged for the taxi to meet
US there, and take US to Duluth
at was me and not Sailstad that
hired that taxi, and went to Duluth
with - that night and stayed at
the Mckay hotel.
Escaped to Canada.
"-- went out next morning TO
ee about some baggage. We left the no
tel and went to "a rooming house and
stayed for a couple of days and then
took boat for Canada.
During the evening we were out
on the stern deck. l tried to light a
cigar but the wind blew out the match
several time. She suggested that
get i p close to the cabin out of the
wind. l did so and went by the corner
out of sight. While there 1 was aecost-
ed by another man. He was also try
ing to get a light. We talked for a
few minutes.
"When I got back to the place l had
left -- she was gone. l finished
my smoke and went into the cabin but
l never found her again, and have
never heard from her to this day. She
did not strike Sailstad as she was near
me. 1t was one of the others.
Frightened at Trial.
81 listened to most of the trial till
till Mr.. Cadigan said Sailstad might
have been murdered and the cottage
burned to cover up the crime. He
turned and looked straight at me.
felt the color coming into my face and
wanted to run, but that would have
attracted attention to me, so 1 sat still
till court adjourned, then started.
Several times was on the point
of coming forward and telling all I
knew when those dentists were lying
so cheerfully, saying that could not
possibly be Sailstad's body and I knew
it was as I had seen him killed
81 then decided to make confession.
decided to find a justice outside Of
the city. came here. When you get
this | will be out of reach of you as
you would surely want to imprison me
for completely in the crime, but l
got none Of the money. -- had
it and not me.
(Signed) sc. j. Kingston"
"Wascott, Wisconsin, Sept. 29, 1922.
Before me appeared the signor of
this statment and swears the same
to be true statement of facts in the
N after reIated to