KinSource - Tale of the Week - Death Of Pair Laid To Fumes Of Automobile

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The Minneapolis Journal, March 14, 1913, p. 1

DEATH OF PAIR LAID TO FUMES OF AUTOMOBILE.

Bodies of Two Men, Found in Repair Shop, Puzzle Authorities.

NEPHEW OF ONE VICTIM MAKES GRUESOME FIND

Gas From Running Engine Believed to Have Suffocated Sleepers.

M. O. Hoglund and Nels Larson, living at 2426 and 2424 Eleventh avenue S, respectively, were found dead in their automobile repair shop at 720 Eleventh avenue S, at noon today. The bodies of the two men were discovered by A. W. Hoglund, a nephew of one of the deceased. Gas fumes escaping from the engine of an automobile in which the men had been riding are believed to have caused their deaths.

Hoglund and Larson went at 6 p. m. yesterday to the repair shop where they had an automobile belonging to R. J. Cagney & Co., contractors and builders at 716 Eleventh avenue S.

As nearly as could be learned, the men drove away from the shop and spent several hours on the roads in the south part of Minneapolis.

They returned to the shop about 10:30 p.m. A few minutes later they were seen in the saloon of Oscar Johnson, a half block away.

Spent Night in Shop.

Deputy Coroner B. J. Shallett, who made an investigation, is of the opinion that the men then returned to the shop and decided to remain there rather than return to their homes for the night.

The door of the shop is a tight-fitting wooden one and it is probably due to this fact that the men are dead. When A. W. Hoglund, nephew of M. O. Hoglund, went to the shop at noon he found the door closed. He received no responses to his knocking, and then kicked the door open.

Dead on Auto Seat.

He found the body of his uncle lying on the back seat of the automobile. The body of Larson was lying on the floor. Larson's hands were pressed against his nose. He had bled at the nose, ears and mouth.

An examination of the automobile [showed] that the speed had been thrown off, but that the engine had not been shut down. It had run until the supply of gasoline was exhausted. The fumes from the engine filled the shop when the bodies of the men were discovered.

Both of the men were married. Neither left any children.

B. Anderson, 14$1 [sic] Eleventh avenue S, believes he was the last man to see Hoglund and Larson alive.

"I saw them about 10:40 p.m.," said Anderson. "They were just returning to their [repair] shop."

"We are going for a little ride in the auto," Hoglund is said to have remarked.

Mr. Cagney was notified by those who found the bodies. He called the police, who at once began an investigation. The deputy coroner said he expected a verdict of [accidental] death would be returned.