SUICIDE ATTEMPT NEAR WINDOM

Ole Jacobson, a farm hand near Windom, a small town 25 miles southwest of here, attempted to commit suicide last Friday by shooting himself. Prior to the shooting he set fire to the barn of D. A. Slentz, the building being entirely consumed together with six horses and a quantity of grain.

Jacobson had been working for Slentz but had left his employ and gone to work for Jas. Malley. He went to the Slentz house Thursday evening and asked Miss Lena Ginassen, a domestic employed in the family, to go riding with him. She had declined to receive attentions from Jacobson before this, and on her refusal to go for a ride he attempted to choke her, saying he would kill her. The girl's screams brought Slentz to the scene and he ordered Jacobson from the house. The latter then pulled a revolver on Slentz and threatened him. He went away, however, and a little later, about 11 p.m., Slentz was awakened and found his barn on fire. As he went to the door, he heard three shots from a small house across the road and upon investigation Jacobson was found in the building with two bullet holes from a 22 calibre revolver in his abdomen. He had also attempted to cut his throat with a jackknife.

Jacobson was taken to the Slentz home and at last reports was in a precarious condition with chances against recovery. The barn was gutted by the flames, as stated above.

The county authorities have been investigating and if Jacobson recovers he will doubtless either be prosecuted for arson or committed to the insane asylum.

Jacobson is dead but before he expired made a statement giving his full intentions at the time of the crime. According to his own statement Jacobson set the barn on fire and then concealed himself in a shed near the path leading from the house, where he waited for Slentz, revolver in hand, with the intentions of shooting him when the fire would cause him to make an appearance. After shooting Slentz he intended to go into the house and kill his sweetheart, who had jilted him, and then murder the entire Slentz family.

The fire failed to arouse Slentz from his slumbers and the agonizing screams of the burning horses and cattle in the barn prompted the would be murderer to put an end to his miserable existence. He fired two shots into his abdomen and then attempted to cut his throat with a jackknife. Slentz then appeared on the scene, having been aroused by the shots fired, and going into the shed, found Jacobson writing on the floor and attempting to beat out his brains with a piece of coal.

The barn burned to the ground with all its contents, including 300 bushels of corn, a large quantity of hay, eleven head of cattle and six horses. The loss is estimated at $2,500 with no insurance. The girl is prostrated over the affair. She says she was engaged to Jacobson, but was compelled to give him up on account of his bad habits. She is an intelligent and prepossessing young woman.

Hankinson News, 1/15/1906
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Knocked out End of Jail.

Two desperate characters who were drunk and begging money from people on the street were arrested Friday night by Officer Kimball and lodged in the city jail. Judge Murray Saturday morning gave them ten dollars fine each or ten days in jail. They had no money so were remanded to the jail for ten days. A short time afterwards, one of their comrades on the outside of the jail, pried open the window and threw in an axe. The prisoners knocked out the west end of the jail and went out through the room occupied by the fire department and have not been seen since. Minot needs a new jail worse than any other one thing. In the summer it is not safe to lodge a prisoner in the jail for fear he will roast to death and in the winter, the man who comes out of there without being frozen stiff, is a dandy. Let us look ahead to a new city building next summer.

Ward County Independent, 11/11/1903
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BOY VICTIM OF SHOTGUN

Otto Boldt, a 14 year old boy, was seriously injured about noon Tuesday by the accidental discharge of a shotgun on the Backhaud farm one mile south of town. The large muscles of his right arm were torn away and a ragged wound made in the armpit.

With his father, Herman Boldt, the young man had driven with a water tank to the Backhaus farm, taking with him a double-barreled shotgun. He attempted to stick the gun through the hole in the top of the tank to save carrying it, when the hammer caught on the side of the opening and the weapon was discharged with the above result. The injured boy was brought to town at once and was very weak from loss of blood by the time the hospital was reached, some of the large blood vessels having been severed. Drs. Spottswood and Young dressed the wounds and it is thought the arm will be saved if blood poisoning can be prevented. He is doing well at this writing.

This should prove a lesson in the matter of allowing children to use firearms and the only wonder is that more accidents have not occurred in the past when the laxity of parents is considered.

Symptoms of blood poisoning developed yesterday afternoon and the arm was amputated this morning at the shoulder socket. The outcome of the operation can only be conjectured at best, but the patient's condition is causing his friends grave anxiety.

The boy was unable to withstand the shock of the operation and died at 3 p.m. this afternoon.

Hankinson News, 8/17/1905
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Disgusting Actions

Two men and two women made themselves conspicuous on the train west from Minot Saturday afternoon. They had been drinking a little more than was conductive to their best manners and disgusted the rest of the passengers in the coach with them. They were from Minneapolis, they said, and we have a poorer opinion of Minneapolis now than ever.

Ward County Independent, 11/18/1903
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NEARLY KILLED

Trio of Sleepers, Victims of Coal Gas, Had Narrow Escape.

Souris, N.D., Dec. 19.—A terrible tragedy was narrowly averted when Mr. and Mr. Iver Haugen, who reside on the John Lermon farm northwest of town, and a young son of Ole Guttu, a neighbor, were overcome by coal gas. The three had retired the previous night after filling the stove with coal and shutting off the draught. Some time during the night gas began to escape and the sleepers were overcome. That they did not succumb altogether is a miracle, for their plight was not discovered until after noon the following day when a neighbor happened along and found the trio in an unconscious state. Surmising the cause he immediately phoned for Dr. Alldorson who hurried to the scene and by night fall had Mr. and Mrs. Haugen restored to consciousness and out of danger. It took longer to resuscitate the lad and he has not gotten over the affects but a few days will restore him completely.

Grand Forks Evening Times, 12/19/1911
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A Mystery.

A case of mysterious disappearance occurred in town this week before last, which no explanation or solution can be had. A young man about twenty eight years of age, put up at the Farmers' House on Monday, Nov. 18. He had a team and wagon with trunk and valise. He had breakfast Tuesday morning and left immediately afterwards, leaving behind him the horses, wagon, &c., which are still in the custody of Mr. Kemp of the Farmers' House. Diligent inquiry has been made in every direction for the missing man but, as yet, without avail. The team is of medium size, grey color. The trunk and valise contain nothing of any value. The man's conduct and appearance gave no indication of whoat his intention might be. It is possible that he may have got drowned, crossing the river. {remainder illeg.}

Pembina Pioneer Express, 12/7/1883
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