The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1928-02-08
SLEEPY EYE SCENE
OF TRIPLE KILLING
Sleepy Eye Man Kills Christ AL
len and Daughter Lillian,
Then Shoots Self.

A triple killing shocked Sleepy Eye
early Saturday morning when Christ
Allen, aged 70, his daughter Lillian,
aged 13 and Jim Jensen, age so or
33, all of Sleepy Eye were discovered
dead, death having resulted from gun
shot wounds.
1t was the opinion of the coroner's
jury that the two former came to
their death from wounds inflicted by
a shotgun in the hands of Jim Jen-
sen and that the latter then turned the
gun on himself to commit suicide.
Mrs. Jensen, mother of Jim Jen-
sen, and Mark Jensen, his brother,
heard three shots shortly before one
o'clock Saturday morning, listened
and heard no further noise, looked out
the window and saw no signs of COM
motion, so retired again until morn
ing. Mrs. Jensen and sons live on
North Third St., the Allen home being
two doors to the south of their home,
with a small dwelling rented by the
sons between the two. She stated
that about ten o'clock Friday evening
Jim entered her bedroom and took
an automatic shotgun from it's rest
ing place. Since he had mentioned
the day previous that he had a pros
pective buyer for the gun, she con-
cluded that the deal had been COM
pleted and that delivery was about to
be made. Neither she nor her son
said anything as he entered and left
the room. Later in the night she
was awakened from fitful slumber by
a shot, followed few seconds later
by second shot and then in four or
five minutes third report. She lis
tened for further signs of commotion,
but hearing none, concluded that
nothing was wrong. Another son,
Mark, asleep in the house, was arous-
ed by the same shots, arose, looked
out of his window and saw nothing
to alarm him. He reports that the
time was about one o'clock.
When mother and son awakened
Saturday morning and looked out of
doors they saw light burning in the
house next door, sometimes used by
Jim. Since it was light enough for
lights to be extinguished they be-
came alarmed and, recalling the shots
In the night, came to the conclusion
that something was wrong in the
house next door. Jim had not come
home during the night, yet his car
was there, giving evidence that he
had not driven out of town.
Mark hastened to the home of
Police Chief Ed. MCGOWAN who re-
turned with him and together they
entered the center house, finding the
outer door open. When Mr.. Nc
GOwan attempted to open a door lead
ing to the living room of the house
was able to open it but partially.
Peering inside he discovered Jim ly-
ing prone on the floor, his feet
against the door. By moving the
feet slightly he and Mark were able
to enter, discovering that Jim was
dead, the left side of his neck having
been shot away, his body lying in
pool of blood and one ear lying on a
nearby chair. A shotgun, containing
several shells, one of them used, was
found nearby, as was also another
used shell on the floor. An empty
bottle was found on the table, and
one small bottle of liquor was in his
pocket.
Apparently Jim had placed the butt
of the gun on the floor, the muzzle
against his neck and pulled the trig-
ger, falling prone on his back when
the shell was discharged. Death
y,onSt have racultad almost INSTANT
ly.
A call for Coroner Reineke was
sent at once and a short time later
he, together with Sheriff julius and
T. o. Streissguth were at the scene
of the tragedy.
Recalling the other two shots, Mark
Continued on page four)