On This Date in Minnesota History: September 22

September 22, 1919 – Ralph LaCount and Oscar Lindgren, charged with the murder of Madeline LaCount, LaCount’s 16-year-old pregnant bride, waved examination in municipal court today, and were held to the grand jury. Charges were placed against them to thee grand jury. Charges were placed against them when attorneys for Lindgren obtained a writ of habeas corpus, requiring Sheriff Martinson and County Attorney Nash to show cause why Lindgren and his wife should not be released. The writ was dismissed after the arraignment of the two men. Mrs. Lindgren was released.

The husband: Ralph LaCount¹

 “He’s innocent and I’ll fight for him,” said Mrs. Lindgren, who had been in custody since last Thursday, when told that her husband must face a charge of murder in the first degree with LaCount for the murder of LaCount’s wife.

“So they are going to let me go,” she said as she left the county jail. “Well I knew they would and they will release my husband, too, later on.”

The gardener: Oscar Lindgren²

The LaCount murder case was brought to a head at noon today after 10 days’ investigation when Donald Hughes, one of Lindgren’s attorneys, demanded the writ of habeas corpus. There was a hurried conference between Sheriff Martinson and County Attorney Nash, who had planned to wait until the grand jury meets a week from tomorrow before placing formal charges against the men. Then William Fust, chief deputy sheriff, obtained warrants, and Lindgren and LaCount were taken into municipal court before Judge Baldwin.

Sheriff Martinson said that 20 witnesses will testify before the grand jury. He said that all evidence collected by his office and the county attorney will be given to the jurors.

Mrs. Lindgren, according to the sheriff, was released with the understanding that she would be within call. She is spending the night with friends in Minneapolis.

Mrs. LaCount was found by her husband murdered in the cottage they occupied at Northome, Lake Minnetonka, a week ago. She had been killed with a baseball bat and a kitchen knife. La Count was arrested the next day and Lindgren a day later.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Two Held for Grand Jury in La Count Case. Husband and Lindgren Bound Over—Gardener’s Wife Released.”; Sept. 23, 1919; p. 1.

¹The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “LaCount Held; Wife’s Murder Still Mystery. Husband Under Fire of Questions By County Officials. Another Man May Be Taken Into Custody Today. Knife Used Before Baseball Bat--$500 Reward for Slayer. Photograph of Man Believed Implicated Found Near Cottage.”; Sept. 14, 1919; p. 1.


²The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Oscar Lindgren Is held for Murder Investigation. Evidence Gathered in LaCount Case Goes to Grand Jury. Stained Shirt and Trousers Found—Many Clues Trailed.”; September 16, 1919; pp. 1 & 2.

Brutal murder in 1919 near Lake Minnetonka; see Sept. 12, 2018 blog.

Ralph LaCount, whose 16-yer-old bride was murdered yesterday, was taken into custody this afternoon and “held for investigation.”; see Sept. 13, 2018 blog.

Oscar Lindgren, C. J. Winton’s gardener, was taken into custody this afternoon for further questioning in the murder of Madeline LaCount; see Sept. 15, 2018 blog.

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