Year: 1879

Special Telegram to the Pioneer Press.


ST CLoun, Nov. l0.-Tne citizens of Todd
county are very much excited over the recent
developments of one of the most atrocious
murders on record. 1t seems that early last
spring family by the name of Coldale settled
in the town of Ward, as neighbors to John
and Michael Moede, who were living toeether
as bachelors. In a very short time this John
Moede succeeded in alternating the affections
of CoIdale's wife and induced her to conc and
live with him. few days ago Moede's house
was burned, it IS supposed by The women of
the neighborhood, hoping thereby to terminate
the scandalous. performances in their midst


Moede laid the. crime to Coldale whom he
knew was his bitter enemy, and openly made
threats that he would shoot him, Another
IMAM whose name we did not learn, was living
with CoIda]e, and few days after Moede's
house was burned they were N issing. Inves-
legation revealed the strongest evidence that
they had been murdered. Buckshot holes
were found in the wall Of the room. large
pool of blood in one place, and IN axe covered
with blood Suspicion at once rested on the
Moede family. John Mocde was found. ar
rested, and taken to Long Prairie, the county
seat, and had an examination last Saturday


Although the evidence was very slight, he was
held to await the action of the grand jury
which will meet in February Ga Saturday a
large number of indignant citizens came in
from the surrounding country, and the officers
had all they could do to keep them from doing
the prisoner violence. In the afternoon, ap
parently becoming somewhat frightened at the
conduct Of the crowd, he made full confess
SION OF the bloody tragedy to Sheriff Davis


lie claimed his brother Michael did the kill
Ing that he was present and helped drag the
bodies of and bury them; that one of them
was shot and instantly killed. and the other
badly wounded, and the axe was used to finish
the job. The bodies we're found, as stated by
him, wrapped in a sheet and buried in the
brush. The horribly mutilated remains pre-
sented a most siekening sight. This was more
than the enraged citizens could stand, and on
Saturday night the prisoner was taken from
the Ja'i by the mob, and Sundays sun shown
upon his. lifeless body hanging to tree, The
brother, Michael who had left the county.
was arrested Sunday in a German settlement
al Lake Henry, stearns county, and was TAX
en- to Long Prairie last night, where it is said,
the mob awaited him. The officer in charge
did not know the fate of John, and probably
did not learn it before reaching Long Prairie
too late perhaps to save his prisoner from
sharing the same fate They are both des-
perate characters, and their punishment will
be regretted by none.
LATTER Yesterdays Pioneer Press brought
the news that Michael Moede, brother of the
man iynched, and his supposed partner in
crime was on his way to Long Prairie in
charge OF deputy sheriff, when news was re.
celved OF the danger that awaited him there,
and he was hurried back across the country to
st. Cloud, where he was coufned in the
Stearns county Jail. He denies having had
anything to do with the murder, and says tnat
he knew nothing about it until arrested.