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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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The Baraboo Republic
Thursday, 8 January, 1914

         Mondovi, Wis., Jan. 4. - His head beaten to a jelly
       and his skull broken into bits by bandits, the body of
       OLE SKJORUM, 85 year old, a miser living on a farm 
       eight miles south of here, was found by neighbors Sat-
       urday night.
         SKORUM (sic( had been brutally murdered, supposedly 
       by toughs living near Mondovi, with robbery as a mo-
       tive. The body was found lying in the snow, between 
       the house and the barn. The aged man's form was en-
       tirely nude, excepting for the shoes. His cattle, 
       starving, had torn the clothes from the body and eaten 
       them.
         The slayers had apparently waylaid SKJORUM as he
       was on his way to the stable to feed his cattle,
       which were found wandering about through the house
       and yard when searchers entered the farm.
         A blood matted stick of cord wood three feet long,
       lying near the body, bore mute evidence of the pur-
       pose it had been used for.
         
         Robbers Search in Vain
         That, however, the murderers had failed in their
       purpose of robbery was the opinion of neighbors,
       who in searching the house, found $368 in a bed
       tick. Although the furniture had been ripped to
       pieces, the floor torn up and every nook and cor-
       ner in the cabin searched for plunder, the fiends
       had forgotten to search the bedding.
         The money found, neighbors say, was probably all
       that SKJORUM had in the house, as since he had been
       shot seven years ago and badly injured by robbers,
       who took $1,000 from him, he banked most of his
       money.
         The murder was probably committed last Thursday
       night. This theory is advanced because it snowed
       on Thursday in this district and snow was found
       both under and over the bloody cordwood. Foot-
       steps of the murderer or murderers in the snow,
       which might have left clews, had been obliterated
       by the tramping of the cattle in the vicinity of
       the body in their search for food.
         Neighbors were attracted to the farm Saturday
       night when it was learned that SKJORUM had not
       been seen on Friday or Saturday, and the fact 
       that the cattle seemed to be loose during Thurs-
       day and Friday nights. Their bellowing, as they
       searched for food, was another evidence that
       something was amiss at the hermit's home.
         On the possibility that he might be ill and
       needing medical attention, several neighbors
       approached the farm with the intention of offer-
       ing help.
       
         Several are Suspected
         They were horrified to find the nude body of
       the old man. The body was removed to Mondovi,
       where an inquest was held Sunday morning. A coro-
       ner's jury brought in a verdict of death at the
       hands of persons unknown, but it is hinted that
       several arrests will be made before Monday noon.
         Several characters among the tough element of
       the community were seen going in the direction
       of the SKJORUM farm Thursday afternoon. Their
       presence in that part of the country caused sur-
       prise among people who met them and as they are
       known they will probably be arrested on suspicion
       and held for examination.
       
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