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The trial of Hans Thorpe has commenced in district court at Minot. the crime for which is being tried is the murder of his wife, Clara Thorpe, committed Dec. 1, 1899. Thorpe and his wife had been married less than a year, and he became jealous of her, it is thought without any reason, and on the night of Dec. 1, 1899, he followed her to the home of a neighbor, and after some conversation drew a revolver and shot his wife through the head, killing her instantly. He then fired one shot into his own head, but the bullet only glanced along his face and cut through one eye and the eyebrow. He was found on the floor unconsciousness {sp}, but soon regained senses and remarked that he was "sorry he had done so poor a job on himself." He was then taken to jail where he has since remained, and has entirely recovered from his wound. He is now trying to prove that the murder was committed while he was temporarily insane.
Bismarck Tribune, 5/4/1900
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Hans Thorpe, who is now confined in the Minot jail on the charge of wife-murder, sends us the following poetic gem, with request to publish:
Oh! Many a shaft at random sent
Finds a mark the archer little meant;
And many a word at random spoken
May soothe or wound the heart that's broken."
Williston Graphic, 2/8/1900
The poem quoted was written by Sir Walter Scott.
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THORPE TO HANG.
Wife Murderer at Minot Sentenced to Hang for the Cold Blooded Crime.
In district court at Minot Hans Thorpe has been convicted and sentenced to hang for the murder of his wife. Thorpe had been married but a short time, when in a fit of jealousy he shot and killed his wife. He then turned the revolver on himself and succeeded only in wounding himself slightly in the eye. When he was placed in jail he sobered up and attempted to plead temporary insanity as an excuse for his crime but the jury would not look favorably upon his endeavor to excuse his crime. A verdict of guilty was rendered by the jury and the death penalty fixed for the crime.
Bismarck Tribune, 5/3/1900
Judge Morgan sentenced Hans Thorpe, the wife murderer to be hanged on Sept. 14. When asked if he had anything to say, Thorpe smiled and said, "Only that you comply with my request that I made on the 28th day of April." It was upon that day that Thorpe, in open court, begged the jury to find him guilty of murder in the first degree and the judge pronounced the death penalty. After sentence was pronounced, Thorpe said: "Thank you, your honor, I am satisfied.
Bismarck Tribune, 5/10/1900
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HATES THE SHERIFF.
HANS THORPE DOESN'T MIND HANGING BUT DON'T WANT THE SHERIFF CARROLL TO DO THE JOB.
Minot, N.D., July 16. Hans Thorpe, scheduled to be hanged here on Sept. 14 for the murder of his wife, is trying to avoid the rope by self destruction. He had not taken food to amount to anything for thirteen days and is now too weak to sit up. The condemned man says he will never give Sheriff Carroll, for whom he has a profound dislike, a chance to hang him.
Bismarck Tribune, 7/16/1900
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FEELS GOOD.
HANS THORPE OF MINOT TO BE HANGED SEPT. 14, SAYS HE FEELS GOOD.
Minot Aug. 4.—"Never felt better in my life," were the first words that dropped from the lips of Hans Thorpe, the condemned murderer, in a reply to a question from a Minot Optic representative.
The doomed man was found sitting at a small table in the corridor of the jail meditatively playing a game of solitary when the reporter entered. He was in his shirt sleeves and pinned upon his unbuttoned vest just over his heart he wore a picture of Ida Thorpe, his wife, who but a few months ago, in a fit of jealous rage, cruelly he murdered by sending a bullet through her brain.
"Of course," said the condemned man, "I killed my wife. I would not do it in the way I am feeling now, but I was not drunk at the time. I was driven to desperation. I was practically insane at the time, but that, of course, makes no difference in my case and I am ready and willing to pay the penalty. My brother-in-law, Albert, is responsible for her death. He drove me to it. No, I do not want any preachers and priests. I have nothing to confess and besides I do not believe there is either a heaven or a hell. I will be dead, that is all. I have had a lifetime to adopt the hereafter theory and I am not going to "back in" now. The sheriff said I could talk two hours on the scaffold, and that will do me. How am I treated? Well I want to say that I have no complaints to make. I have been treated nicely. Just one little spat, but it's all right now. Mr. Carroll and his assistants have treated me well, if not better than I could have expected under the circumstances. I have plenty to eat and a good bed."
Bismarck Tribune, 8/4/1900
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THORPE'S EXECUTION.
Minot, N.D., Sept. 14.—Hans Thorpe suffered the death penalty here this morning for the brutal murder of his young wife. The execution was witnessed by a large crowd of people.
He blamed a number of people for his conviction and announced hatred for some whom he thought responsible for the trouble between him and his wife. He said he had a fair trial and hanging was a just penalty. He promised his enemies that he would haunt them after death.
Jamestown Weekly Alert, 9/20/1900
More on the last day of Hans Thorpe.
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