Funeral of Mrs. Hedstrom.
The funeral of Mrs. Hedstrom, who was murdered by unknown parties at Slaughter Wednesday night, took place and was largely attended. The manifestations of grief clearly demonstrated the esteem and respect in which she was held by the community in which she had so long resided. The services were conducted by Rev. N. J. Thornquist, resident pastor of the Swedish Baptist church, and the interment was in the new public cemetery north of Slaughter.
Christine Elizabeth Hedstrom was born in Koping, West Malland, Sweden, in 1827 and was married to Frederick Hedstrom in 1854.
The family came to America in 1881 settling in Troy, N.Y. They came to America in 1883 where the husband died in 1891. Her surviving children are Charles and Frederick Hedstrom, residing in Illinois; Josephine, wife of W. J. Rosenberg, residing in Minnesota; John Hedstrom, a widower with six children; Axel Hedstrom, unmarried with whom she made her home, Ellen Christine, wife of John E. Ecklund and Albin Hedstom, whose wife was formerly Miss Linnie Lee Slaughter, all the latter residing at Slaughter near home. To this family of loving sons and daughters she was greatly devoted. To the six motherless grandchildren she was a mother indeed and to them her loss is irreparable. She was a devoted Christian with life consecrated by daily prayer. On the last afternoon of her life in company with her daughter-in-law she attended a meeting of the ladies church society of Slaughter, in which she was an active leader. It was her nightly custom to read her bible two hours each evening before retiring to rest, and the position of this book on the table beside her bed, with her glasses lying on it showed that the last act of her life before retiring that night had been one of devotion.
**The Bismarck Daily Tribune, Tuesday, November 8, 1898, Page 3.
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BRUTAL MURDER
Reports of a shocking tragedy were brought down from the north by John White, who came in from a trip in that direction last evening. From the accounts received, Mrs. Hedstrom, mother of Albin Hedstrom, was brutally murdered Wednesday night, robbery being the apparent motive. It appears that Mrs. Hedstrom, who is an old lady 70 years of age, and two grandchildren, aged 14 and 6 years, were alone in the house, the other members of the family having gone away somewhere for the night. The exact particulars of the affair are impossible to get, as the children are the only ones who can relate anything of what happened. One of the little ones, the boy, says he heard a struggle but covered up his head in bed and saw nothing of what happened, but the little girl says she saw a man covered with blood in the room. From appearances, Mrs. Hedstom was in the kitchen when attacked, and was preparing for bed, as she was partially undressed. It is believed she was struck on the head and knocked down, there being a gash in her cheek, and her head being smashed, apparently with a blunt instrument. There are also bloody marks on the wall as though she had struggled along with her hands on it, and the struggle was apparently continued in the bedroom. Her purse was missing from the house and robbery was apparently the motive for the crime.
It is also stated that a stranger was seen in the vicinity in the afternoon, armed with a heavy stick, who appeared to be unbalanced mentally. The neighborhood is being scoured for him, as it is believed he may have been the author of the crime.
The alarm was given by the grandson, who got up after the struggle had ceased and went to a neighbor’s. States Attorney Allen, Coroner White and County Physician Ballard left this morning for the scene of the murder, which is about thirty miles north.
**The Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Friday, November 11, 1898, Page 3 (From Friday’s Daily edition).
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The Hedstrom Murder.
States Attorney Allen, Dr. Ballard and Coroner White returned this morning from the north where they went to investigate the murder of Mrs. Hedstrom Wednesday night. The facts gleaned by them failed to throw any more light on the matter than stated yesterday and the matter is as densely shrouded in mystery as ever. An examination was made of the premises and of the body and a coroner’s jury was impaneled, consisting of J. E. Backman, Chas. Strom and Peter Engstrom. The testimony of the 14 year old grandson of Mrs. Hedstrom was taken by the coroner. This was about in effect the same as was stated yesterday. The boy stated that he had gone to bed and gone to sleep and that his grandmother had gone to bed also. He was awakened by the noise of a struggle in the kitchen, and heard his mother calling upon God I the Swedish language. He was frightened, believing his grandmother was being hurt, and covered up his head and saw nothing of what happened. After the noises had quieted, he got up and dressed partially and dressed his sister and they went over to a neighbor’s house about a mile distant and said that someone had killed his grandmother.
The testimony of the neighbors was also taken, as to the finding of the body in the house after they had been told of what happened. The body was found in the bed room, and there were evidences that the first blow had been struck in the kitchen and that Mrs. Hedstom had crawled or been carried to the bedroom and died there. The head of the unfortunate woman was badly bruised, there being a wound over the eye and two great gashes in the top of the head.
The coroner’s examination was continued to next Wednesday, when it will be resumed. The grandson was brought to the city by the officials and he will be held as a witness. The body of Mrs. Hedstrom will be buried tomorrow.
**The Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Friday, November 11, 1898, Page 3 (From Saturday’s daily edition).

*Note: The 15 year old grandson, William Hedstrom, eventually confessed and was charged with the murder.