Trails to the Past

North Dakota Morton County Crimes

D. H. Parkhurst, wealthy Omaha business man, who arrived at Mandan about a month ago to live with his daughter, Mrs. J. J. Pollard, was shot through the lungs and killed and then thrown into the Missouri river sometime last week. The nude body recovered from the river thirty-five miles south of Mandan was identified as Parkhurst’s by his son-in-law. A post mortem examination showed that the wound in the chest caused death. A coroner's jury returned a verdict that Parkhurst was murdered. Albert Swenlassky, a maniac, was taken in charge near the place where Parkhurst was last seen the day after his disappearance. Swenlassky was sent to Duluth. The authorities believe he may be connected with the crime. Parkhurst who was seventy-two years old, disappeared once before and was found on the prairie entirely nude. He was returned to his daughter’s home. He disappeared again July 7. The next day he was seen north of the city. Parkhurst had no money with him and no valuables except a gold watch. The Wahpeton Times Thursday July 24, 1913

Rancher in Role of Sherlock Holmes

Mandan ND Sept 26, J.E. Tschida, a prominent farmer living between Parkin and Solen, believes that he has captured one of a gang of horse thieves who stole several valuable Percheron mares from him.  Mr Tschida came to Mandan after scouting about the country in an endeavor to locate the missing animals and while here he got into conversation with a stranger who claimed to be from Cannonball. The stranger seemed nervous when the subject of horse thieves came up and Tschida noticed it.  He accused him of having stolen the horses and when the fellow refused to reply Tschida drew his revolver and marched the suspect to the police station, where a warrant was sworn out for his arrest.  The stranger is believed to be mentally unbalanced.  Bismarck Daily Tribune Sunday September 27, 1914

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