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Case File: Froseth Family (1930)
[External link to the original] – Page 1, Column 2,3
Crazed Washburn Man Wipes
Out Family; Ends Own Life
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Assistant Postmaster Kills
Wife, Four Children With
Hammer: Slashes
Throat.
WASHBURN, Wis. – (AP) – A family of six was wiped out today when George Froseth, assistant postmaster here many years, killed his wife and four children with a hammer and then slashed his throat at his home here. The dead, in addition to Mr. Froseth, 60 years old, are: Mrs. Froseth, 45; Neil, 10; George and William, twins, 9, and Adelaide, 5.
“Won’t Be at School”
When Robert Thoreson, a youngster, came to school this morning he told his teacher, Mrs. E. W. Olson, he thought “the Froseth kids would not be at school.” The youngster, questioned by the teacher, said he went to the Froseth home to return a book to one of the boys, and as he entered the back door, which was open, he saw Mr. Froseth on the floor and “blood all around him.”
Officers said the father apparently went insane.
The child said he became frightened when he saw the man’s body and did not stop to see whether the Froseth boys were home. He went directly to school and did not tell anyone until he saw his teacher.
Chielf of Police James Long, investigating the boy’s story, found Froseth lying in the living room, his throat slashed by a razor. The other members of the family were found in their beds. The children’s skulls had been crushed with a hammer while Mrs. Froseth apparently was killed by a terrific blow on the back of the neck.
Chief Long said indications were that Froseth, after killing his family, slashed his throat in the bathroom and then ran down stairs where he died.
Unquestionably Insane
“Froseth unquestionably went insane,” Chief Long said. “So far as I have been able to learn, he did not have domestic troubles and he was a respected and well liked citizen.”
Coroner Edwin Bradley said he doubted whether an inquest would be held.
