Everson, P. K. (Suicide)

EVERSON HANSON

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 1/11/2008 at 11:08:20

Mitchell County Press
Sept. 11, 1901

Suicide at Mona
P. K. Everson, A Prominent
Scandinavian, Takes His Own
Life by the Hemp Route

Monday morning early, P. K. Everson, one of the most prominent citizens of the northern portion of Mitchell county, committed suicide by hanging himself. From Dr. Ralph Whitley, county coroner, who held an inquest on Monday, we learn the following particulars.

Sunday night Mr. Everson had retired as usual, about 1 o'clock his wife awakened and missed him from the bed. She got up and visited another room in the house to see something about a water tank. The light which was always left burning, was out. She relit the lamp, and noticed that his clothes were nowhere to be seen. She awoke her sons George and Phillip, who started to search for him. In going into the barn, a horrible sight met their gaze, the lifeless body of their father was suspended in the air. There was a beam about 7 feet high to which he had fastened a 1/2 inch rope, tying the rope in a noose around his neck, jumping from the hay floor above.

George hastened into the house and broke the news to Mrs. Everson, who told him to cut the rope and let the body, down, which he did. The beam over which the rope was thrown, had a dent in it where the rope had cut by the sudden and heavy weight against it, large enough for a person to lay a finger in.

The verdict of the coroner's jury was that the deceased had came to his death by hanging inflicted by himself.

The deceased was one of the old settlers of Mitchell county, his parents settling in this county in 1854. He was born in Norway, January 12, 1843, emigrating to this country with his parents when but two years of age.

He was a man of considerable means. His farm with buildings near Mona, was one of the finest in the county, consisting of fine buildings and nearly 500 acres of land. He had not been despondent, although for some time past, he had worried over his physical aliments. A year ago he had a stroke of paralysis and about the same time he was injured about the head, a team hitched to a pulverizer running away with him.

From the latter injuries he quickly recovered. A week ago he went to St. Paul and consulted a specialist. He said little concerning his interview with the pysician, as he was a man who kept his own conusel.

For the past six months of his life, he acted strangely, not like himself.

The supposition is that the St. Paul physician informed him that he was liable at any time to have another stroke of paralysis, and it had preyed upon his mind until he decided to make away with himself. A couple of days previous to the act of self-murder, he complained that one of his hands was paralyzed.

He leaves a wife and seven children, four boys and three girls.

The funeral will be held today at his late home near Mona. George Hanson of this city, a nephew of the deceased will attend the funeral.