Infant Boy LANGELAND

LANGELAND, MADSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:01

April 3, 1911 ---- April 3, 1911

BODY OF DEAD BABE WAS FOUND UNDER BRIDGE
Teena Langeland now under arrest—Confessed that she put the babe in blanket under bridge.

The body of a dead baby was found last Saturday under a bridge in the north part of this city. The discovery was made by Julius Wilcox. He noticed a bed blanket under the bridge, water and mud soaked, and tied up with binding twine. Upon unwrapping the bundle he found the body of a new born babe. County Coroner Sams of Clarion was summoned, and a jury of three held an inquest. All of the Eagle Grove physicians were present and each stated that they had not attended a birth case in which death had resulted. Clarion physicians were also at a loss to place the guilt.

Teena Langeland has confessed that she placed the babe there. She gave birth to a child and kept it a secret in her chamber for six days, during which time, it is said, she kept on with her housework, taking care of her sick mother and getting every meal for her several brothers, who are young men and hearty eaters.

After six days had elapsed she carried the bundle to the bridge, which is above town on north Wright street and nearly a mile from her home, and left it. Court sets next Monday and the case will come up for trial.

Times Gazette -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
May 4, 1911

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Baby Found Under Bridge
Remains of Infant Babe found Under Bridge North of Town Saturday Noon

Last Saturday noon Jule Wilcox found the remains of a baby boy under the bridge that crosses the dredge ditch on North Wright street. The only clothing about the body was the blanket in which it was wrapped. No attempt had been made to bury the remains. They were simply placed on the bank near the water. Mr. Wilcox immediately notified Marshal Fisher who brought the remains to Kubitschek Bros, undertaking parlors, and notified the coroner. Dr. Sams, the coroner was notified and he came over at once in an auto and a jury was impaneled consisting of F. B. Andrews, C. M. Spangler and Dr. Sams' chauffeur. All the doctors were served with subpoenas by Sheriff Leonard and were examined but they were unable to shed any light on the mystery. In their opinion the child had been dead from five days to two weeks. An examination of the lungs showed that the child had lived a time at least as they floated when placed in water. The body was perfectly formed and normal in every way. There were no marks of violence on it except a bruise near the forehead which may have caused its death or it might have been caused when it was dropped off the bridge.

The coroner's court also visited the place where the body was found and discovered a woman's footprints in the mud along the bank but were unable to trace them very far.

After due deliberation the jury decided that the child met its death by being smothered in the blanket in which it was found. Last Saturday afternoon the body was buried. The police kept the blanket and binding twine it was tied with in hopes of further identification.

LATER: After following up various clues the authorities arrested Miss Teena Langland charging her with the crime and she confesses to having given birth to the child on the third day of April. On Sunday April 9th she carried the body to the bridge and dropped it to the ground below, where it was found Saturday April 29th. At the preliminary hearing before Justice Williamson Wednesday morning the girl waived examination and was bound over to the grand jury without bond. Court convenes next Monday and her case will be tried at the coming term. J. W. Henneberry has been retained by the defense.

Eagle Grove Eagle -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
May 4, 1911

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Eagle Grove Girl Jailed
Claimed She Placed Body Under Bridge
Officers Allege Girl Has Confessed to Getting Rid of Remains of Her Child

Eagle Grove, Ia. May 6. Miss Teena Langeland, 19 years old, is in jail here charged with knowledge of the placing of the body of a new born baby under a bridge in this city. The body was found by a farmer last Monday. The authorities state that Miss Langeland has confessed that she placed the body there. Her trial probably will start Monday, the first day of the district court May term.

The police say Miss Langeland has said she wrapped the child tightly in a bed blanket immediately after it was born. It is alleged she has confessed having kept the dead body in her room for six days, after which she placed it under the bridge, almost a mile from her home.

Her parents state that they knew nothing of the birth of the child, although she was in hourly attendance upon her sick mother at the time the child is supposed to have been born.

The Des Moines Register -- Des Moines, Iowa
May 7, 1911

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LANGELAND CASE BEGUN. Jury Secured for Trial at Clarion, Which Promises to Be Sensational
Clarion, Iowa -- May 13.— A Jury was secured Friday afternoon in the case of the state against Miss Tena Langeland, of Eagle Grove, charged with the crime of destroying her babe which it is alleged she concealed under a bridge north of Eagle Grove. The names of the Jurors are: K. O. Johnson, of Goldfield; H. F. Davidson, Eagle Grove; T. Coltvet, Eagle Grove; E. L. Tiede, Belmond; Eli Axon, Liberty township; Dave Fletcher, Iowa township; J. H. Reese, Belmond; Claude McVicker, Eagle Grove; L. W. Worthington, Eagle Grove; L. V. Swartzendrover. Clarion; James Vokom, Wall Lake township, and W. C. Stanbery, Clarion.

After securing the jury court adjourned until 2 o'clock Monday when the opening statements will be made by the attorneys in the case. Hon. C. E. Albrook is the judge at this term of court.

Evening Times-Republican --- Marshalltown, Iowa
13 May 1911

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EAGLE GROVE GIRL GOES FREE
Teena Langeland Case Taken From Jury by Judge.

Because the prosecution could not bring out evidence corroborating the alleged confession of Teena Langeland of Eagle Grove, charged with killing her child and burying it under a bridge, Judge Albrook took the case from the jury at Clarion. The girl's father died about a year ago and since then she has been without parental protection. Robert Healy of this city [Fort Dodge] conducted the trial for the defense.

The Gazette --- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
18 May 1911

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TEENA LANGELAND GOES SCOTT FREE
According to the decision of the judge, Miss Teena Langeland is not guilty and was given her liberty. The case came up for trial at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, and at 3:00 p. m. on Tuesday the judge took the case from the jury and set her free. The state failed to establish sufficient evidence. When arraigned the defendant said that she was indicted by her right name and as a plea to the indictment said “I am not guilty of the commission of the offense charged against me in the indictment in this case. County Attorney Archerd was assisted by J. W. McGrath of Eagle Grove in the prosecution of the case. J. W. Henneberry of Eagle Grove and Healy & Healy of Fort Dodge appeared for the defense….

Times Gazette -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
May 18, 1911

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[Notes: Theodora (Thea) Marie Langeland was born May 1891 in Skjold, Rogaland, Norway; married Alfred Madson on October 5, 1912 in Clarion, Wright, Iowa and died December 28, 1931 in Omaha, Nebraska.]