Gilbertson, Lewis c1838 - 1898

GILBERTSON, KJERLAND

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:42

Iowa Plain Dealer December 23, 1898, FP, C6

Murder and Suicide.
Winneshiek county was the scene of a murder and suicide Dec. 15. A man named John Kjerland living about eighteen miles northeast from Decorah, was at a neighbors and borrowed a rifle, and on his way home stopped at the residence of Lewis Gilbertson who was in his barn milking, whom he stealthily approached and shot, the ball entering about the center of the back of his head death resulting instantly. Gilbertson was a bachelor about 60 years of age. From there he went home and assaulted his wife, after having informed her that he had killed Gilbertson, inflicting twenty three cuts upon her person with a large pocket knife, beside beating and choking her. He informed a neighbor that his wife was very sick and they had better send for a doctor, one being sent for and coming found the woman alive and learned the foregoing facts. Sheriff Christen was summoned and came with a posse of men and sought for Hjerland, the murderer, who was finally located at the house of one Brandvick, the Sheriff demanding his surrender the culprit declaring that he would not surrender alive, and would shoot anyone who attempted his capture. The Sheriff ordered Brandvicks family to leave the house making preparations to storm the house. Mrs. Brandviok left the house with her child and when but a short distance away the report of a gun was heard inside. Hjerland having placed the muzzle of the gun in his mouth, and discharging it and when the officers found him he was dead. At this writing Mrs. Kjerland is alive and it is thought she will recover. The Kjerlands were the parents of 6 children the oldest being but 12 years of age.

Transcriber’s Note: Name of shooter is spelled two different ways – Kjerland and Hjerland;however there is a gravestone showing the spelling was Kjerland.