Jacob Buell 1860-1903

BUELL, PETERSEN

Posted By: Michael J. Kearney (email)
Date: 11/25/2005 at 17:11:07

The Dassel Anchor Thursday January 8, 1903 The body of Jacob Buell of Jasper, Minn., was found about a half mile west of the depot Monday morning by Bennie Lindahl of the section crew, with a frightful gash in his throat the wound extended from ear to ear. The coroner was immediately notified by Station Agent Knapp and he arrived about 11:30. He deemed no inquest necessary and the body was taken to the village hall and prepared for burial. The identity of the suicide was a mystery until the arrival of the coroner when, as a result of the investigation, a pocket book containing 11 cents on money, a couple of pipes, four or five partially filled sacks of smoking tobacco and a letter from Attorney Farnham of Delano was found. The last named stated that the writer had given the bearer money to help him to reach his home at Jasper, Minn. It stated that he was demented and imagined that he was continually fighting with the devil. A small memorandum book that was also found gave the unfortunate man's name and address. Besides the great gash in the throat that almost severeed the head from the body, there were several wounds in the breast and abdomen, all made with an ordinary two bladed jack knife. The thoroughness with which the work was done indicated great tenacity of purpose and desperation. The theory, based upon the working of the attorney's letter and extent of the wounds, might be advanced that he was engaged in a mortal combat with the devil, when he inflicted the wounds on his person. The foot prints in the snow accompanied by blood, indicated that it was some little time after he had inflicted the first wound before he finally accomplished his object.
Litchfield Saturday Review Saturday January 10, 1903 p. 1 The body of Jacob Buell, whose home is supposed to have been at Jasper, Minn., was found early Monday morning lying dead on the railroad track about three hundred feet west of the Dassel depot. The man's throat was cut from ear to ear and several knife slashes were found on the breast. A pocket knife was found near his body and it is presumed that with it he committed the deed. A letter found on the person of the dead man furnished the only clue as to his identity. It was from E.H. Farnham, village recorded at Delano, and stated that the name of the bearer was Jacob Buell, and that he was a demented man on his way to Jasper, Minn. The deceased was a man apparently 45 or 50 years of age. The remains were prepared for burial by Harlow Ames and Linzey Christian. The interment took place at 2 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon after a fruitless endeavor had been made to communicate with friends or relatives at Jasper. Coroner H.E. Cassel was called from Litchfield, but he deemed an inquest not necessary.