On This Date in Minnesota History: October 7

October 7, 1913 – Mrs. Ida Leckwold was indicted today on the charge of murder in the first degree for the murder of her daughter, Viola.

Ida Leckwold¹

Meanwhile, William Norman, who took advantage of the distraught condition of the woman and encouraged her to break her marriage vows, was taken to the penitentiary at Stillwater to serve an indeterminate sentence, the maximum being three years.

Norman pleaded guilty today before Judge Molyneaux to information charging adultery. The court gave him the maximum penalty allowed by law. In the meantime, 23 men, composing the grand jury, listened to the story of witnesses weaving about Mrs. Leckwold, the chain of evidence on which to base an indictment, conviction on which means a life sentence in state prison.

Several witnesses, including patrolmen, coroner, undertakers and Dean George B. Frankforter, who made a chemical analysis of the stomach of Viola Leckwold, testified before the grand jury.

Dean Frankforter presented the report of his analysis showing that arsenic was found in the stomach. The confession made by Mrs. Leckwold to the police chief and the county attorney was made a part of the record. During all this time Mrs. Leckwold sat in her cell.

Ole Leckwold, arrested Monday on the charge of assault and battery preferred against him because of his treatment of his wife, pleaded guilty today to the charge and sentence was postponed until Oct. 10.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “One Indictment in the Leckwold Case. William Norman Sentenced to Prison After Plea of Guilty. Poison Woman Accused of Murder in the First Degree. Her Husband Awaits Sentence for Assault on His Wife.”; October 8, 1913; p. 11.

¹The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; Oct. 3, 1913; p.1.
Ida Leckwold is arrested for and confesses to murdering her 9-year-old daughter Viola; see Sept. 30, 2016 blog.

Ida Leckwold claims husband beats her; says she was mentally affected by abuse and constant motherhood; see Oct. 5, 2016 blog.

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