The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-12-07
SAILSTAD IN JAIL.
ADMITS HIS GUILT
WisconsinMan Supposed Dead,
Finally Located
TELLS STORY OF PLOT
Staged Death Game That Wife
Might Collect $4,000 Insur-
anee; Ran Away Typist
Associated Press Dispatch.l

ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch
Napa, Cal, December 6.-Edward
]. Sailstad, who was arrested here
last night, admitted that he put
body in a cottage at Lake Nebaga-
mop, Wis, and set fire to the build
ing four years ago in an effort to
make it appear that he had died in
the fire so that his wife might col
lect $4,000 insurance money, &C
cording to District Attorney Thorn
as C. Anglim of Napa.
With Sailstad when he was ar
rested was Miss Dorothy Anderson,
who was Sailstad'sE stenographer
when he was a business man in
Eau Claire, Wis, before his sup
posed death and who, according to
Mr.. Anglim admitted accompany
ing him on his fight from Wiscon-
sin. Miss Anderson was detained
for further questioning today.
Sallstad In Jail
Sailstad is being held in Jail here
on a charge OF arson, at the result
Of the authorities of Superior, Wis.
Sailstad and Miss Anderson were
travelling in an expensive az ONO
bile and told officials here that they
had been visiting various parts Of
the country. repairing typewriters.
NJ first the young woman deelarea
her name was Mary Brown and
said she met Sailstad, who has
used the name Of Kingston since
the Lake Nebagamon fire, in Chi
cago, Anglim said
The district attorney said that
after much questioning Sailstad ad-
mitted that he put the body Of a
man Of about his own size, which
he had stolen from it's grave, in the
cottage at Lake Nebagamon, they
said, he. set fire to the building and
fed. Advices from Superior said
that four cottages were burned in
the fire that followed.
Reason For His Deeds
Anglim said that Sailstad told
him that an Eau Claire Photograph
Company OF which he was presi-
dent, faced financial difficulties, and
1t was to save these as we'll as to
cover his fight with his steno-
grapher, with whom he was in love,
that he set fire to the cottage.
Mrs. Sailstad, convinced that the
bones found in the ashes of the
cottage were those Of her husband.
later married Ross Richardson of
Eau Claire, and began legal action
TO collect the insurance. The com
panies resisted payment but a jury
IN the federal court at Superior
held that Sailstad died in the fire
and ordered the companies to pay.
The companies appealed to the cir
cut court OF appeals at Chicago,
which heard arguments in the case
last month, but has not yet render
ed decision.
The case apparently parallels
that of Alex Kels, Lodi Cal, butch
en- now under sentence Of death in
Folsom prison for burning the body
or an. itinerant laborer whom he
mad slain, in a haystack near Lodi,
and disappearing to enable his wife
TO collect On a large life insurance
policy.
Told Complete Story.
California authorities say he~has
confessed-has told how he took
the body of Allen McFee from his
grave In Lake Nebagamon cemetery
carried 1t to the cottage Sailstad
mad rented ostensibly for his family.
then had fred the house and dis
appeared with the sunshine girl"
1t was the night of August 26.
1920, that the cottage burned. Mrs
Sailstad, contending that the human
bones found in the ruins were those
OF her husband. brought action
against insurance companies to col
lect approximately $4,000 in insur-
ance he carried
The insurance companies. con-
tending that not sufficient proof of
death had been presented, contested
the action, and only recently she
won a verdict in district court here.
a jury holding that Sailstad was
dead and returning an award of the
amount she sought. Appeal on the
case is pending.
Meanwhile, convinced that her
husband was dead. Mrs. Sailstad
married Ross Richardson of Eau
Claire, where she now lives. Early
today she still was not convinced
that Sailstad was alive; it was "only
propaganda against her insurance
company suits" she said.
When arrested, according to Napa |
dispatches. Sailstad was using the |
name of Kingston, and was travelling !
with Miss Anderson in an expensive |
automobile. Miss Anderson is de- |
clared to have admitted her part in
Today the local authorities were
contemplating opening the grave of
Allen McFee with a view to sub |
Stimulating Sailstad's purported con
tession. Officers will be sent from |
ere to bring him back from Cali
rnia, it was said. (
Douglas county authorities today
p lie ready for the returning of
heriff William A. Hagreen Of
, city will depart today for Napa
r take him into custody.
Saiistad's Confession
Financial difficulties caused I'd
g =