SWEDE, Benjamin -1895

SWEDE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/23/2010 at 17:33:42

FOUND DEAD

Probable Case of Freezing in Grundy County

ELDORA, Feb. 16.—Ben Swede, who lived on the Macy farm, just over the line in Grundy county, disappeared on the 11th. Now he has been found dead in a hay stack on the farm, with one empty alcohol bottle and another with the contents partly drained lying near the body. Deceased was about 28 years of age, of Norwegian parentage and had been in this country a number of years. It is not definitely known whether death was produced by exposure or suicide. Some are inclined to the belief that there was foul play. He was not known, however, to have had an enemy. The coroner of Grundy county was notified, and the body was taken to Grundy Center, where an inquest was held, the development of which may possibly throw light on the subject.

--The New Era (Humeston, Iowa), 20 February 1895

KILLED HIMSELF

In a Moment of Desperation Brought on by Intemperance, Ben Swede Ends his Miserable Existence.

On last Friday Dr. Burns, coroner of Grundy county, was called to Melrose township to hold an inquest on Ben Swede who was found dead at the foot of a hay stack the night before.

Swede was a single man about thirty years old and made his home with his brother-in-law, Sweetser Aalfs. The evidence developed the fact that he had been to Grundy Center Saturday, Feb. 9, and procured a quantity of alcohol which he took home with him and got most gloriously full. On Saturday in his intoxicated condition he undertook to build a fire with kerosene and was severely burned about the face. His brother-in-law reprimanded him for his intemperance and on Monday morning Swede left home, but as he was in the habit of going to the neighbors no significance was attached to his absence until about the middle of the week when a member of the family on making inquiries at the neighbors learned that he had not been seen. Mr. Aalfs then instituted a search for Swede and tracked him to a hay stack where he found him lying in a recumbent position with a bullet in his head and a 38 caliber bull dog pistol in his right hand. The coroner was notified and inquest was held with the following result:
STATE OF IOWA, -|

| SS.
Grundy County. -|

An acquisition holden in Melrose township, Grundy county, Ia., on the 15th day of February, 1895, before J. D. Burns, coroner of Grundy county, upon the dead body of Benjamin Swede by the jurors whose names are subscribed, after viewing the body and hearing the testimony, do say that the said Benjamin Swede came to his death on or about Feb. 11, 1895, from a pistol shot in the head fired by his own hand and possibly exposure after the wound contributed to the result while in a state of intoxication, and so the jury do find.

Attest
J. D. BURNS, Coroner
G. W. DESEELHORST -|
J. M. BOOTH |- Jurors
W. R. STRICKLER -|

--The Grundy County Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 21 February 1895