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Join the History Center of Freeborn County for their first old-time radio show at 6:30 p.m. April 10. Experience the magic of the “Golden Age of radio.” Immerse yourself in the nostalgic entertainment of the 1920s to 1960s and relive the glory days of radio dramas.

They will dive into the criminal case of the State of Minnesota vs. Henry Kreigler, which was the first deliberate murder in Freeborn County. The defendant killed Nelson Boughton, of Oakdale. I. W. Perry and Gordon E. Cole appeared for the State and A. Armstrong, Perkins & Perkins and W. R. Kinyon appeared for the defendant. After a lengthy and interesting trial, a jury returned a verdict against the prisoner of “murder in the first degree,” and the court sentenced him to be hung. This was the first case of hanging in southern Minnesota, and the writer believes the only one that has occurred in the history of this part of the State under sentence of a court. Many thought then, and still believe, that the defendant in this case was insane.

Kreigler was a German and could speak little English, but his actions throughout the trial indicated plainly that he was either crazy or half-witted, or was feigning very naturally. He would dance, in his chains, all the way from the jail to the court house, and in a dozen other ways his actions were those of insanity.

HCFC members get a discounted rate of $5, and nonmembers are welcome to join at $10.

HCFC members get a discounted rate of $5, and nonmembers are welcome to join at $10.