Mrs. Nelson took her own life in the home she shared with her husband and son. She was the subject of a "Remarkable Scene in a Graveyard" the day of her burial.
Morning Oregonian, September 9, 1894:
If a wild chase after a funeral cortege, the exhumation of a body, an inquest in a cemetery and the re-interment of the remains count for aught, Coroner Cornelius is certainly bent on making a record as a wide awake and efficient official. had it not been, however, either for the ignorance or willful neglect of the physician and undertaker in the case, these extreme measures would not have been necessary. it was the presumption on the part of the physician and undertaker that the office of coroner was an unnecessary one, that caused all the trouble and the good people of Russellville, a quiet suburb of Portland, several east of mount Tabor, the scene of the disturbance, will not get through talking about it for weeks to come.
Mrs. M. J. Neilson, the 32 year old wife of N. Neilson, a hard working Danish farmer living near Russellville, was found dead on the floor of her parlor about 8:30 o-clock Monday morning. The body lay face downward ina pool of blood and a blood-stained razor and a gash across the neck,told the tale of the tragedy.
Mr. Neilson sent for Dr. O.F. Boikins too late to render the unfortunate woman any assistance, and then Undertaker Dunning was sent for to prepare the body for burial. No word was sent the coroner and yesterday afternoon, at 2 o'clock the little funeral procession left the Neilson farm to perform the last sad rites over the remains at Multnomah Cemetery, midway between the Powell's Valley and Foster Roads.
Coroner Cornelius heard nothing of the affair until yesterday noon, when word was sent him that a woman either had committed suicide or was murdered at Russellville. He at once went for his buggy, and in company with Max M. Shillock, left for the scene of the alleged tragedy.
Arriving at the post office of Russellville, where only meager details of the affair could be obtained, Coroner Cornelius learned that the funeral procession had passed bound for the cemetery about two miles distant, three-quarters of an hour before. Then followed a wild ride over rough roads in the hope of intercepting the funeral procession before the cemetery could be reached. The funeral, however, had too much of a start, for when the coroner arrived, the remains had already been laid in their last resting place and most of the relatives and mourners were on their way back. The hearse was encountered about two blocks from the cemetery.
"Hold on there!" cried the coroner, who by this time had finally satisfied himself that something was wrong, addressing the driver. "Just turn back, and you may have the opportunity for another funeral."
The driver was dumbfounded, but quietly obeyed, and then the sexton was instructed to exhume the body. After thinking the matter over, Coroner Cornelius decided to hold the inquest in the cemetery, so the hearse was released.
Coroner Cornelius immediately set out to notify the husband of the deceased and to hunt up witnesses, while Mr. Shillock superintended the digging up of the remains and then for about two hours kept a wake on the body. It was the first wake he had ever officiated at in a cemetery and the inquest that followed, when Dr. Cornelius returned was perhaps also the first in such a place in the history of Portland. The inquest did not consume much time. Half a dozen farmers were sworn in as jurors and only the bereaved husband and a few relatives and Dr. Botkins gave testimony. The cover to the rough wooden box encasing the casket was used as a writing desk and a mound of earth, perhaps marking the resting place of some other unfortunate, served as chairs for the jury.
The testimony disclosed that mrs. Neolson had taken her own life while temporarily deranged. She had always lived happily with her husgband and never had intimated that was was tired of life or contemplated her own destruction. Although she had been troubled with severe headaches for years, she was never despondent or morose to such a degreee that anyone had fears for her mental stability, and the suicide was a surprise to the entire community.
Mr. Neilson testified that Monday morning he arose at 6 o'clock as usual and on coming downstairs where his wife slept with their little daughter, he asked her how she was feeling. She replied she was not very well and had not slept more than two or three hours the entire night. After doing his chores, Mr. Nielson returned to the house, and on seeing his little boy up and reading the paper, asked him whether "mamma" was up. The boy replied in the negative. Mr. Neilson looked into her room, but not finding her, made search in the pantry, basement and outbuildings. Still meeting with no success, he went to the stable and just as he was again returning to the house, he was met by his little boy with the exclamation, "Mamma is dead!"
On entering the parlor, the only room he had not searched, Mr. Neilson was horrified to find his wife, partially dressed, lying on the floor in a pool of blood. An open razor lay near and when he touched her he found life already extinguished. He at once sent for his neighbors and then for the family physician and finally for the undertaker. Neither the physician or the undertaker said anything about the necessity of notifying the coroner.
Mr. S.D. McCauley, of Mount Tabor Villa, who examined the body after it was dug up found that death had resulted "from the wound of a sharp instrument across the neck, severing the carotid artery, jugular vein and trachea." In his opinion death was instantaneous.
The one word "suicide" chronicles the verdict of the jury. Coroner Cornelius did not find it a case of foul play, as had been to him intimated, but he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had one his duty. He felt aggrieved that the facts of the case should have been withheld from him until after by mere chance he learned of the case and was obliged to put the family to the trouble of having the body dug up. He says that if there is any law for it, he proposes to bring the responsible parties to justice.
Sexton Simmonsen, in charge of the cemetery, said he had on several occasions buried two bodies in one day, but he had never before buried the same body twice.
Morning Oregonian, September 9, 1894:
If a wild chase after a funeral cortege, the exhumation of a body, an inquest in a cemetery and the re-interment of the remains count for aught, Coroner Cornelius is certainly bent on making a record as a wide awake and efficient official. had it not been, however, either for the ignorance or willful neglect of the physician and undertaker in the case, these extreme measures would not have been necessary. it was the presumption on the part of the physician and undertaker that the office of coroner was an unnecessary one, that caused all the trouble and the good people of Russellville, a quiet suburb of Portland, several east of mount Tabor, the scene of the disturbance, will not get through talking about it for weeks to come.
Mrs. M. J. Neilson, the 32 year old wife of N. Neilson, a hard working Danish farmer living near Russellville, was found dead on the floor of her parlor about 8:30 o-clock Monday morning. The body lay face downward ina pool of blood and a blood-stained razor and a gash across the neck,told the tale of the tragedy.
Mr. Neilson sent for Dr. O.F. Boikins too late to render the unfortunate woman any assistance, and then Undertaker Dunning was sent for to prepare the body for burial. No word was sent the coroner and yesterday afternoon, at 2 o'clock the little funeral procession left the Neilson farm to perform the last sad rites over the remains at Multnomah Cemetery, midway between the Powell's Valley and Foster Roads.
Coroner Cornelius heard nothing of the affair until yesterday noon, when word was sent him that a woman either had committed suicide or was murdered at Russellville. He at once went for his buggy, and in company with Max M. Shillock, left for the scene of the alleged tragedy.
Arriving at the post office of Russellville, where only meager details of the affair could be obtained, Coroner Cornelius learned that the funeral procession had passed bound for the cemetery about two miles distant, three-quarters of an hour before. Then followed a wild ride over rough roads in the hope of intercepting the funeral procession before the cemetery could be reached. The funeral, however, had too much of a start, for when the coroner arrived, the remains had already been laid in their last resting place and most of the relatives and mourners were on their way back. The hearse was encountered about two blocks from the cemetery.
"Hold on there!" cried the coroner, who by this time had finally satisfied himself that something was wrong, addressing the driver. "Just turn back, and you may have the opportunity for another funeral."
The driver was dumbfounded, but quietly obeyed, and then the sexton was instructed to exhume the body. After thinking the matter over, Coroner Cornelius decided to hold the inquest in the cemetery, so the hearse was released.
Coroner Cornelius immediately set out to notify the husband of the deceased and to hunt up witnesses, while Mr. Shillock superintended the digging up of the remains and then for about two hours kept a wake on the body. It was the first wake he had ever officiated at in a cemetery and the inquest that followed, when Dr. Cornelius returned was perhaps also the first in such a place in the history of Portland. The inquest did not consume much time. Half a dozen farmers were sworn in as jurors and only the bereaved husband and a few relatives and Dr. Botkins gave testimony. The cover to the rough wooden box encasing the casket was used as a writing desk and a mound of earth, perhaps marking the resting place of some other unfortunate, served as chairs for the jury.
The testimony disclosed that mrs. Neolson had taken her own life while temporarily deranged. She had always lived happily with her husgband and never had intimated that was was tired of life or contemplated her own destruction. Although she had been troubled with severe headaches for years, she was never despondent or morose to such a degreee that anyone had fears for her mental stability, and the suicide was a surprise to the entire community.
Mr. Neilson testified that Monday morning he arose at 6 o'clock as usual and on coming downstairs where his wife slept with their little daughter, he asked her how she was feeling. She replied she was not very well and had not slept more than two or three hours the entire night. After doing his chores, Mr. Nielson returned to the house, and on seeing his little boy up and reading the paper, asked him whether "mamma" was up. The boy replied in the negative. Mr. Neilson looked into her room, but not finding her, made search in the pantry, basement and outbuildings. Still meeting with no success, he went to the stable and just as he was again returning to the house, he was met by his little boy with the exclamation, "Mamma is dead!"
On entering the parlor, the only room he had not searched, Mr. Neilson was horrified to find his wife, partially dressed, lying on the floor in a pool of blood. An open razor lay near and when he touched her he found life already extinguished. He at once sent for his neighbors and then for the family physician and finally for the undertaker. Neither the physician or the undertaker said anything about the necessity of notifying the coroner.
Mr. S.D. McCauley, of Mount Tabor Villa, who examined the body after it was dug up found that death had resulted "from the wound of a sharp instrument across the neck, severing the carotid artery, jugular vein and trachea." In his opinion death was instantaneous.
The one word "suicide" chronicles the verdict of the jury. Coroner Cornelius did not find it a case of foul play, as had been to him intimated, but he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had one his duty. He felt aggrieved that the facts of the case should have been withheld from him until after by mere chance he learned of the case and was obliged to put the family to the trouble of having the body dug up. He says that if there is any law for it, he proposes to bring the responsible parties to justice.
Sexton Simmonsen, in charge of the cemetery, said he had on several occasions buried two bodies in one day, but he had never before buried the same body twice.
Mrs. Nelson took her own life in the home she shared with her husband and son. She was the subject of a "Remarkable Scene in a Graveyard" the day of her burial.
Morning Oregonian, September 9, 1894:
If a wild chase after a funeral cortege, the exhumation of a body, an inquest in a cemetery and the re-interment of the remains count for aught, Coroner Cornelius is certainly bent on making a record as a wide awake and efficient official. had it not been, however, either for the ignorance or willful neglect of the physician and undertaker in the case, these extreme measures would not have been necessary. it was the presumption on the part of the physician and undertaker that the office of coroner was an unnecessary one, that caused all the trouble and the good people of Russellville, a quiet suburb of Portland, several east of mount Tabor, the scene of the disturbance, will not get through talking about it for weeks to come.
Mrs. M. J. Neilson, the 32 year old wife of N. Neilson, a hard working Danish farmer living near Russellville, was found dead on the floor of her parlor about 8:30 o-clock Monday morning. The body lay face downward ina pool of blood and a blood-stained razor and a gash across the neck,told the tale of the tragedy.
Mr. Neilson sent for Dr. O.F. Boikins too late to render the unfortunate woman any assistance, and then Undertaker Dunning was sent for to prepare the body for burial. No word was sent the coroner and yesterday afternoon, at 2 o'clock the little funeral procession left the Neilson farm to perform the last sad rites over the remains at Multnomah Cemetery, midway between the Powell's Valley and Foster Roads.
Coroner Cornelius heard nothing of the affair until yesterday noon, when word was sent him that a woman either had committed suicide or was murdered at Russellville. He at once went for his buggy, and in company with Max M. Shillock, left for the scene of the alleged tragedy.
Arriving at the post office of Russellville, where only meager details of the affair could be obtained, Coroner Cornelius learned that the funeral procession had passed bound for the cemetery about two miles distant, three-quarters of an hour before. Then followed a wild ride over rough roads in the hope of intercepting the funeral procession before the cemetery could be reached. The funeral, however, had too much of a start, for when the coroner arrived, the remains had already been laid in their last resting place and most of the relatives and mourners were on their way back. The hearse was encountered about two blocks from the cemetery.
"Hold on there!" cried the coroner, who by this time had finally satisfied himself that something was wrong, addressing the driver. "Just turn back, and you may have the opportunity for another funeral."
The driver was dumbfounded, but quietly obeyed, and then the sexton was instructed to exhume the body. After thinking the matter over, Coroner Cornelius decided to hold the inquest in the cemetery, so the hearse was released.
Coroner Cornelius immediately set out to notify the husband of the deceased and to hunt up witnesses, while Mr. Shillock superintended the digging up of the remains and then for about two hours kept a wake on the body. It was the first wake he had ever officiated at in a cemetery and the inquest that followed, when Dr. Cornelius returned was perhaps also the first in such a place in the history of Portland. The inquest did not consume much time. Half a dozen farmers were sworn in as jurors and only the bereaved husband and a few relatives and Dr. Botkins gave testimony. The cover to the rough wooden box encasing the casket was used as a writing desk and a mound of earth, perhaps marking the resting place of some other unfortunate, served as chairs for the jury.
The testimony disclosed that mrs. Neolson had taken her own life while temporarily deranged. She had always lived happily with her husgband and never had intimated that was was tired of life or contemplated her own destruction. Although she had been troubled with severe headaches for years, she was never despondent or morose to such a degreee that anyone had fears for her mental stability, and the suicide was a surprise to the entire community.
Mr. Neilson testified that Monday morning he arose at 6 o'clock as usual and on coming downstairs where his wife slept with their little daughter, he asked her how she was feeling. She replied she was not very well and had not slept more than two or three hours the entire night. After doing his chores, Mr. Nielson returned to the house, and on seeing his little boy up and reading the paper, asked him whether "mamma" was up. The boy replied in the negative. Mr. Neilson looked into her room, but not finding her, made search in the pantry, basement and outbuildings. Still meeting with no success, he went to the stable and just as he was again returning to the house, he was met by his little boy with the exclamation, "Mamma is dead!"
On entering the parlor, the only room he had not searched, Mr. Neilson was horrified to find his wife, partially dressed, lying on the floor in a pool of blood. An open razor lay near and when he touched her he found life already extinguished. He at once sent for his neighbors and then for the family physician and finally for the undertaker. Neither the physician or the undertaker said anything about the necessity of notifying the coroner.
Mr. S.D. McCauley, of Mount Tabor Villa, who examined the body after it was dug up found that death had resulted "from the wound of a sharp instrument across the neck, severing the carotid artery, jugular vein and trachea." In his opinion death was instantaneous.
The one word "suicide" chronicles the verdict of the jury. Coroner Cornelius did not find it a case of foul play, as had been to him intimated, but he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had one his duty. He felt aggrieved that the facts of the case should have been withheld from him until after by mere chance he learned of the case and was obliged to put the family to the trouble of having the body dug up. He says that if there is any law for it, he proposes to bring the responsible parties to justice.
Sexton Simmonsen, in charge of the cemetery, said he had on several occasions buried two bodies in one day, but he had never before buried the same body twice.
Morning Oregonian, September 9, 1894:
If a wild chase after a funeral cortege, the exhumation of a body, an inquest in a cemetery and the re-interment of the remains count for aught, Coroner Cornelius is certainly bent on making a record as a wide awake and efficient official. had it not been, however, either for the ignorance or willful neglect of the physician and undertaker in the case, these extreme measures would not have been necessary. it was the presumption on the part of the physician and undertaker that the office of coroner was an unnecessary one, that caused all the trouble and the good people of Russellville, a quiet suburb of Portland, several east of mount Tabor, the scene of the disturbance, will not get through talking about it for weeks to come.
Mrs. M. J. Neilson, the 32 year old wife of N. Neilson, a hard working Danish farmer living near Russellville, was found dead on the floor of her parlor about 8:30 o-clock Monday morning. The body lay face downward ina pool of blood and a blood-stained razor and a gash across the neck,told the tale of the tragedy.
Mr. Neilson sent for Dr. O.F. Boikins too late to render the unfortunate woman any assistance, and then Undertaker Dunning was sent for to prepare the body for burial. No word was sent the coroner and yesterday afternoon, at 2 o'clock the little funeral procession left the Neilson farm to perform the last sad rites over the remains at Multnomah Cemetery, midway between the Powell's Valley and Foster Roads.
Coroner Cornelius heard nothing of the affair until yesterday noon, when word was sent him that a woman either had committed suicide or was murdered at Russellville. He at once went for his buggy, and in company with Max M. Shillock, left for the scene of the alleged tragedy.
Arriving at the post office of Russellville, where only meager details of the affair could be obtained, Coroner Cornelius learned that the funeral procession had passed bound for the cemetery about two miles distant, three-quarters of an hour before. Then followed a wild ride over rough roads in the hope of intercepting the funeral procession before the cemetery could be reached. The funeral, however, had too much of a start, for when the coroner arrived, the remains had already been laid in their last resting place and most of the relatives and mourners were on their way back. The hearse was encountered about two blocks from the cemetery.
"Hold on there!" cried the coroner, who by this time had finally satisfied himself that something was wrong, addressing the driver. "Just turn back, and you may have the opportunity for another funeral."
The driver was dumbfounded, but quietly obeyed, and then the sexton was instructed to exhume the body. After thinking the matter over, Coroner Cornelius decided to hold the inquest in the cemetery, so the hearse was released.
Coroner Cornelius immediately set out to notify the husband of the deceased and to hunt up witnesses, while Mr. Shillock superintended the digging up of the remains and then for about two hours kept a wake on the body. It was the first wake he had ever officiated at in a cemetery and the inquest that followed, when Dr. Cornelius returned was perhaps also the first in such a place in the history of Portland. The inquest did not consume much time. Half a dozen farmers were sworn in as jurors and only the bereaved husband and a few relatives and Dr. Botkins gave testimony. The cover to the rough wooden box encasing the casket was used as a writing desk and a mound of earth, perhaps marking the resting place of some other unfortunate, served as chairs for the jury.
The testimony disclosed that mrs. Neolson had taken her own life while temporarily deranged. She had always lived happily with her husgband and never had intimated that was was tired of life or contemplated her own destruction. Although she had been troubled with severe headaches for years, she was never despondent or morose to such a degreee that anyone had fears for her mental stability, and the suicide was a surprise to the entire community.
Mr. Neilson testified that Monday morning he arose at 6 o'clock as usual and on coming downstairs where his wife slept with their little daughter, he asked her how she was feeling. She replied she was not very well and had not slept more than two or three hours the entire night. After doing his chores, Mr. Nielson returned to the house, and on seeing his little boy up and reading the paper, asked him whether "mamma" was up. The boy replied in the negative. Mr. Neilson looked into her room, but not finding her, made search in the pantry, basement and outbuildings. Still meeting with no success, he went to the stable and just as he was again returning to the house, he was met by his little boy with the exclamation, "Mamma is dead!"
On entering the parlor, the only room he had not searched, Mr. Neilson was horrified to find his wife, partially dressed, lying on the floor in a pool of blood. An open razor lay near and when he touched her he found life already extinguished. He at once sent for his neighbors and then for the family physician and finally for the undertaker. Neither the physician or the undertaker said anything about the necessity of notifying the coroner.
Mr. S.D. McCauley, of Mount Tabor Villa, who examined the body after it was dug up found that death had resulted "from the wound of a sharp instrument across the neck, severing the carotid artery, jugular vein and trachea." In his opinion death was instantaneous.
The one word "suicide" chronicles the verdict of the jury. Coroner Cornelius did not find it a case of foul play, as had been to him intimated, but he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had one his duty. He felt aggrieved that the facts of the case should have been withheld from him until after by mere chance he learned of the case and was obliged to put the family to the trouble of having the body dug up. He says that if there is any law for it, he proposes to bring the responsible parties to justice.
Sexton Simmonsen, in charge of the cemetery, said he had on several occasions buried two bodies in one day, but he had never before buried the same body twice.
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