Brown Mikelson/Michaelson (1890-1910)

MICHAELSON, MIKELSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/30/2017 at 20:19:50

From Nevada Representative April 5, 1910 (front page)

FIRE AND SUICIDE NEAR SLATER

Boy Burn Himself and Barn

The barn of Mrs. Anna Michaelson, living about two miles east of Slater, was burned this morning with five heard of horses and considerable hay, and in the ruins was found the body of her younger son "Brownie" with a wire around his neck. The inference was that the boy had set the barn on fire and then hung himself. Also he had set fire to his bed in the house but that fire for some reason did not go. The boy was sixteen years of age and is reported as having been a nice bright boy. He was quiet, however, and the only reasonable explanation of his action is that he had gone insane. Coroner Bailey was notified about noon today, and further investigation is being made.

From Nevada Representative April 8, 1910 (front page)

County Correspondence
SLATER

The Brown Mikelson Tragedy.

The sad tragedy which occurred at the Mikelson homestead east of town last Tuesday forenoon and which ws briefly reported in these columns at the time, was of such horrible nature as to shock the whole community. While the young man has in some respects acted a little peculiar, no one seems to have suspected that his mind was seriously unbalanced or that he was not safe. On the morning of the fatal deed he had given as an excuse for not going to the field with his brother, that it was too cold and that he preferred to stay at home. As usual he was permitted to have his own way and his brother went out to plow alone. About eleven o'clock he was seen to hastily depart for the barn and when shortly afterward the building was ablaze, it was at once feared that Brown was inside and the he was doomed to perish in the flames. The awful tragedy enacted was, however, not revealed till the fire had burned out sufficiently to scatter the ashes and search for the body of the unfortunate man in the ruins. The charred remains were discovered lying in the burning hay mow his head down, showing conclusively that he had been on the hay loft and that body had dropped or slid down as the building collapsed. A carefully arranged noose made of common fence wire with a small ring in the loop to make it draw up perfectly, was fixed tightly around his neck. The conditions and position of the wire showed that it had been drawn out by the heat and the weight of the suspended body. The deed had been thoughtfully planned and precautions had been taken to prevent the possibility of rescue. Simultaneously with the breaking out of the fire at the barn it was discovered that smoke was coming out through the rood of the house. The fire had been started in the attic in a mattress which had been carried up from the young man's room in the second story. The door leading to the attic had been locked and entrance had to be gained through a window. as a further measure in his plans to hinder the fire fighters from doing effectual work, the pumprod had been broken, putting the wind mill out of commission and cutting off the water supply. The occurence was a severe shock to the family as well as to the whole community. The deed was evidently that of an insane person, and many things point to the fact that his mind had been unbalanced for some time. Brown Mikelson was past twenty years of age and was born and has grown manhood on his mother's farm, east of town. As a pupil in school he was unusually bright and he easily held his place at the head of the class. He was of a timid disposition, but not until the last two or three years had he developed the peculiar symptom which would lead one to think he was not quite right. The funeral took place at the home Wednesday afternoon, when Rev. Holman officiated. The remains were laid to rest in the Bethlehem cemetery beside those of his father, who died about fifteen years ago.