Christianson (Running), Hans died 1874 / 1875

CHRISTIANSON, RUNNING

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/17/2014 at 09:06:42

Postville Review, Wed., 6 Jan. 1875. From the Decorah Republican, undated.

Hans Christianson (Running), living near the new Norwegian Lutheran Church in Madison township, was found dead in his own house on Sunday last, clearly having committed suicide by hanging himself.

He was an old man, somewhere between 60 and 70 years of age - none of his neighbors know exactly - and was living entirely alone. Four years ago his wife and two children left him and removed to Sioux Falls to live. He remained, and although he was solitary his house was neatly kept, and he had not given any evidences of aberration of mind or a tendency to suicide.

He was last seen alive on Christmas Eve. He then visited a neighbor, and the only indication he had given of any morbid condition is now remembered in a remark he made at the time, to the effect that it seemed strange that so many young people were dying while he, an old man, could not die.

He was discovered by two children, who in passing by thought to go in and warm themselves. Not being able to get into the door they looked into a window and saw him suspended from the ceiling. They raised an alarm and the neighbors, when they came, found the door locked from the inside and the keyhole plugged up. The key was afterwards found hung carefully upon a nail on the wall. The indications were very apparent that the hanging was a deliberate act.

A hole had been cut through the ceiling, the rope passed through and carefully fastened around a stick of wood. The noose was made high enough so he could adjust it around his neck while standing in a chair, and when all preparations had been completed he kicked the chair from under his feet and launched his soul into eternity. The body was stiff and cold when found, Coroner Ferren was called and an inquest duly held, only to develop the foregoing facts.- Decorah Republican.

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NOTE: Submitter has no explanation as to the articles writers intent as to the surname Running being in parenthesis.

Submitter is not related.

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