[#46383] Per A. Nermo rømte på ski fra Trysil til Sverige ca.1860-70, em. til USA ca.1893

[Gjest Arnie P. Nermo]

Re:(#298)Thank you for the English translation, Chris. It is very much appreciated!Arnie

[Gjest Arnie Patrick Nermo]

Are there any answers to #245 yet, ChrisArnie

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

The trial against the other two was postponed to 14 December 1889, in order to call more witnesses and search for the identity papers for Lindgren. So that is entered in the protocol book later and not in the Nermo trial papers.

[Gjest Arnie P. Nermo]

Anybody with clues about Johan Jonsson later trial....coviction...sentence?Arnie Nermo

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

According to the household census book for Ramsjö parish he was sentenced to 2 years in prison and 5 years loss of citizen´s rights and confidence at Torpa Courthouse, 10 March 1890.

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

Sorry that should be Torp courthouse (Torp häradsrätt) which is Borgsjö and surrounding areas

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

I am trying to send a map of Ramsjö parish so you can see the different place names. Hedsjö is in the top right corner, as is Mellansjö with the railway station. The lake they rowed across should be visible.

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

Next installment:Given the opportunity, Nermo said that he was not willing to question the veracity of the list of stolen goods given by the complainant which was read to Nermo. He added that he thought the values reasonable and left them without any complaints.After noting this, Lindgren was taken into the court room, he told his life´s story. He was born the 4th of October 1850 in Stöde parish, Medelpad and son of torpare (crofter) Hans Lindgren and his wife Kristina Lindgren who were still alive and living in Stöde. His parents lived for 6 years in Offerdal, Jämtland County, where Lindgren had schooling. He was able to read and also write a little but had not been confirmed in church. After his parents moved back to Stöde he lived with them without any proper work. He was still registered in Stöde but since the early 1870s he had been in the border forests between Hälsingland and Medelpad, sometimes in Korpåsen in Hassela parish and sometimes in Sunnåsen in Borgsjö parish working in various forestry businesses. He was unmarried and had citizen´s rights. He had never before been accused of or punished for a crime.The prosecutor explained that he had not been able to obtain a vicar´s certificate for Lindgren even though he had written to the vicar in Stöde as well as the vicar in Hassela parishes and that Lindgren probably was registered elsewhere.To this Lindgren answered that he was still registered in Stöde and that the confusion probably was caused by him asking for a “banns” certificate (note: certificate to get married) a few years ago from the pastor in Stöde when he intended to marry a girl in Hassela. The move was never made.Then, heard about the accusation, Lindgren denied all participation in the theft at first and claimed that he who had been in Sundsvall at the time of the crime in question, had met a youth on his way home, by name of Adolf Olsson from Forssa parish and had exchanged a leather sweater for the floppy hat, a neck rosette and a starched shirt from him, the items that were found at his place at the house search. But in the end he confessed, after serious admonitions to tell the truth, and after what Nermo had told the court about the circumstances around the theft had been read to him, that he, after discussions with Nermo and Jönsson had committed the theft in question and that everything happened the way Nermo described it. Lindgren added, after questions from the prosecutor, that he had no knowledge of where Jönsson had stashed the stolen goods and that when Lindgren asked him about this Jönsson answered in an avoiding manner. Lindgren had no complaints about the complainants version of the stolen goods and its value, and that the boots and the sweater Lindgern wore when arrested and still was wearing were bought in Sundsvall.The complainant protested that the pair of boots looked exactly like a pair of boots which had disappeared from the complinant´s store even though several changes to them had been made by Lindgren, to the heels, leather bands etc., but Lindgren was adamant that he had gotten the boots as wells as the sweater in an honest way, the complainant accepted this.Given the opportunity, Nermo and Lindgren said that the idea was that that they all should share the goods later on, but that Jönsson, fearing discovery, particularly since Nermo and Lindgren had become suspects for the theft, had hidden the stolen goods. The two had not seen it since they left Jönsson on the 7th of October in the morning, Lindgren added that he after the said day, had not seen Jönsson. Nermo claimed that the iron hook used in the breaking had been thrown in the lake by him.Both Nermo and Lindgren, at the end, claimed that they had been persuaded to commit the theft by Jönsson, who had kept their courage up with brännvin (aquavit) and other imbibing. Both asked for lenience since the crime was committed under the influence of alcohol.

[Gjest Arnie P. Nermo]

Now we know why Per and Hans J. got lighter prison sentences. They gave the Court the key evidence (by confession) that was needed to convict Johan Jonsson to two years in jail. I wonder if we could we get a picture of him from the police databank, Chris.Also, did the complaintant ever get much of his goods back.And thank you for the picture and the English translation, Chris.Thank you all!Arnie

[Gjest Per Nermo]

#299 contains a direct transscription in Swedish of the final sentence of Nov 25th 1889, sent to me by Bo Wiklund at the Härnsösand Archives on March 8th. The text has (mostly) been translated by Chris already, and he steadily keeps new installments coming, so there will probably be no need to make use of the offer from Bo Wiklund to provide translation services (at SEK 250 per hour).

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

By the way, I am a 'she' (Chris for Kerstin/Christine)Next installment:After noting the plea (for lenience) and after the prosecutor had explained his view that Jönsson had instigated the plan to steal from the complainant and had also harvested almost all the profit from the crime, Jönsson was taken into the court room. He told his age and life history to start with. He was born 27 June 1852 in Stenbrohults parish, Wexiö län (ie Kronoberg County today) and the son of farm owner Jöns Jakobsson and his wife Nilla Persdotter who were still alive and lived in the said parish. He had lived with his parents until he was 21 and had Holy Communion for the first time in 1867, in Stenbrohult church. !873-1875 he was taught at Tranhult agricultural college in Ryssby parish, then he had a job as a farm steward for a year at a major farm in Osby parish, Skåne, called Deningerum (?). Then he lived in his parents home until 1878 when he went to Sundsvall where he did not have a steady job. From there he went to Stafvre in Revsund parish as a tutor for farm owner Jöns Nilsson´s children, he had this position for half a year, then he took up a position at the building works for the Main Northern Railway, for five months he was employed as an assistant supplies keeper and the for one year in charge of materials at Mellansjö railway station. Since 1883 he had his own shop in Mellansjö where he was resident since then. He was married to Margreta Hansdotter and had in the marriage one child. He was registered in church and taxregisters in Ramsjö parish and was able to read and write, had citizen´s rights and confidence and had never before been charged with a crime or punished.Mellansjö railways station from Stig Lundin´s home page about railways:

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

These facts from the accused could in part be substantiated by a certificate from the pastor in Ramsjö of the 15 this month and there it was also noted that he had considerable knowledge in Christianity.The prosecutor then explained that the accused Jönsson also was charged with illegal trading of explosives during the past two years.Heard about the charges, Jönsson denied in the beginning the breaking and entering, his knowledge of and participation in it and stated that he, during the whole night of 5th to 6th October was in his home which he could prove with witnesses. Nermo´s and Lindgrens claims were untrue from beginning to end. Even so, Nermo and Jönsson, not Lindgren as he could remember, had met in Sundsvall on the 29 or 30 September but had not been saying one word or put forward one thought about a theft. On demand from Nermo who had no money, Jönsson had redeemed the above mentioned overcoat from the pawn broker as well as a watch which Jönsson had received in exchange for the money. Jönsson had returned to Mellansjö already the 1st of October and not seen or talked with Nermo since.In accordance with the complainant´s testimony, the prosecutor suspicions were raised against Jönsson because of the frequent visits at his place by Nermo after the theft, these visits were characterized by a certain secretiveness. Also a person had noticed a pair of galoshes in Jönsson´s shop and also heard Nermo in one occasion tell Jönsson to “hide the galoshes”, eben though Jönsson, when interrogated, had claimed that any such goods had not been in his shop since autumn 1888.After Jönsson had corrected these statements, claiming that he had not during the three last months before his arrest had any galoshes for sale, the last of the six pairs he had bought in November 1888 were sold in August this year. Nermo and Lindgren were asked how they stood by their statements about Jönsson as an accomplice and they explained together that they had told the complete truth about him.However, Jönsson protested his innocence and pleaded that the, at court present, worker Jonas Åslund, should be heard to confirm Jönsson´s statement that he spent the whole night between 5th and 6th October in his house.

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

The prosecutor asked for witnesses to be heard and for this purpose, the at court present worker Johan Anders Löf in Hedsjön was called. Löf and Åslund were called to the bench and the prosecutor was asked if there were any challenges to their suitability as witnesses. He answered that Åslund was accused by him for illegal selling of malted beverages (=beer) but that he did not want to press the challenge issue and still wanted to hear Åslund for informational purposes. Challenged and unchallenged swore the oath and were warned about the consequences if they misused it, separate hearings were then made. Löf said that he and Nermo and a person by the name of Frank (note: surname of a family in the area) at one occasion, after they knew about the theft, had helped Jönsson to carry a harvesting machine from Mellansjö station. After this Nermo had stayed behind at Jönsson´s who had given him food and drink. At the expressed wish of Nermo for brännvin (aquavit) they had gone out in the yard towards the stables and Jönsson and Nermo went behind a wall. They were both somewhat drunk and had had a quarrel and wrestled with each other. On the way back to Jönsson´s house the witness had walked a bit to the side of them and heard Nermo say to Jönsson that he should “hide the galoshes”, the witness had not heard what Jönsson answered. At a visit to Jönsson´s shop just afterwards he had seen a pair of galoshes which, when asked, were said to cost 4 kronor.Åslund had worked for Jönsson a goold deal of the summer and autumn and, until the theft was known, he had his sleeping quarters in a baking shed on the yard, but after that had slept in Jönssons rooms. The night in question he had been sleeping in the baking shed and had no idea if Jönsson had been at home all night and he did not know anything about the issue at hand. Asked by Jönsson, he said that he, who used to get his meals with the family, generally used to sit until 9 or 9.30 in the evenings and it was probable that he had done so the evening in question. Sometimes Jönsson had gone to bed before the witness had left but he could not remember the circumstances the said evening.

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

Johan Jönsson is unfortunately not in the computerized register of prisoners. The northern prisons are less complete. In 1900 he is back in Hedsjö/Mellansjö and has one more child.

[Gjest Per Nermo]

Chris, this is surely a fascinating story, and when reading your rendition of the statements given, one can easily see before one eyes the circumstances and environment in which these individuals lived and struggled.Given the 'fact' that Per Arenson Nermo in September 1889 'had no money', and shortly after having spent his time in jail (until end of 1890 ?) in the spring of 1893 aquired his voyage ticket to North America, one is led to wonder how on earth he was able to muster the amount of money needed for the fare.Maybe the ticket was paid for by on or more of his children ? At the time Märta was 24 and married for five years, Per (Pete) was 22, married (?) and resident in Minnesota for two years, Lars Martin (Louis) was 20 and residing in Min. as well (not quite a year earlier) and Jonas (John) was 19 and living whith his sister Märta i Hedsjö, Ramsjö, from when Per A. emigrated.So, if Per A.'s ticket was sponsored by family members, the funds must probably have come from the eldest son Per/Pete, who would've perhaps been able to save some money 'over there' and send back for his father's ticket.Anybode else having an idea about the fare funding ?

[Gjest Per Nermo]

On afterthougt, maybe one should remember that behind the wall of Mr. Jönsson's shop by Mellansjö railway station (or somewhere else) were hidden the main part of stolen goods (worth of 1259 kronor) that shop keeper Per Broström in Ramsjö maintained that had not been returned to him. In 1889/1890 all three culprits are assumed to have entered the slammer. Maybe Per A. knew more than he was willing to admit in court about where the goods were hidden, and told his sons before he was jailed in 1889 ? If this was the case, it was certainly not Per that was framed or cheated, being able to finance the fare to America for the two eldest sons and himself. For the money all three if them could travel to America and back .... (at 200 per one way fare).

[Gjest Per Nermo]

In above outlined (highly hypothetical) circumstances, none of the family members would've ever had any urge to tell outsiders or descendants in America about the incidents back home in the autumn of 1889 ...

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

I have been to the high security reading room at the University library (old valuable books, Police Gazette and other interesting things). Per Andersson Nermo is listed in the same issue of the Police Gazette as Hans Johan Lindgren which we have seen before:Prisoners released (August 1890):Andersson Nermo Norwegian, Per, worker Born Tryssel Hammarhus amt, Norway 1843 23/6 Home parish: Ramsjö, Gefvle län (Gävle county) Charged/punished: Ditto (Hans Johan is on the line above him: Breaking and entering and theft) Sent to: Home parish Loss of citizen´s rights until 1893 11/8 Imprisoned: 2/12 1889 release: 11/8 1890 Money: 1 krona 95 öre Gävle County PrisonI have ordered the 1889 issues to see a refrence to the actual crime, and the 1892 for Johan JönssonI think the eldest son went first to get money for the others, that is how they usually did it.

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

Östavall station house where Per A walked to take the train to Sundsvall efter the theft:

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

När man ser på Per A Nermos resa i Emigranter, Trondhjem så står det att han betalt biljetten i Trondhjem, så spörsmålet är om han fått pengar tillsända från USA eller om han hade undangömda pengar:5 1893 34 16 4256 1 16.05.93 16.05.93 Per A Nermo ug Arb m 48 Sverige New York Cunard Juno Bill. bet. i Trondhjem Udfl. Bev.Även Per Persson Nermo betalade biljetten i Trondhjem:5 1891 678 25 1974 1 03.06.1891 03.06.1891 Per Person Nermo ug Arb m 20 Sverige Stillwater Minn Guion Domino Bill. bet. i Trondhjem Udfl. Bev.

[Gjest Per Helge Seglsten]

Finner dere skipslisten hans i New York (eller hvilken havn han ankom) er det trolig ført opp hvor mye pengr han har med seg (selv om det sikkert gikk an å holde tilbake opplysninger om akkurat det).

[Gjest Chris Bingefors]

Jag har försökt hitta honom på Ellis Island och i Ancestry men inte lyckats. Tyvärr är det inte alltid i början på Ellis Island perioden som man skriver upp hur mycket pengar immigranten har med sig.

[Gjest Per Helge Seglsten]

Se om han kan dukke opp i de britiske skipslistene på www.findmypast.com Jeg fant ingenting på Nermo, men søker dere på ham og barna kan det jo være dere klarer å finne dem under Andersen. Finner dere Per der, er det jo mulig det viser seg at han har tatt en annen rute enn via New York. Canada, Boston og Baltimore er jo også mulige destinasjoner.

[Gjest Arnie Patrick Nermo]

(Re:#315) According to what I know about Pete, He was a real entreprenure. He had a very outgoing personality, and was always looking for business opportunities. He hauled freight into the Northern Saskatchewan in the winter....dangerous and lucritive, and in the summers he had a custom threshing maching and team of men working for him. I am sure that he had similar ideas for ''getting rich'' in the earlier days in Minnesota. I think he sent the money to his father for a ticket. I will check sources here .Of course Per could have stashed some of the loot and sold it after he got out of jail....but based on his testimony about Jonsson, it seems rather unlikely.Thank You All!Arnie Nermo

[Gjest Per Nermo]

I've yesterday made an update of the Web-issue of my genealogical data base, and thus some 'highlights' of the eventful life (in Trysil, Sweden, U.S. and Canada) of Mr. Per Arneson Nermo (born 1843) as well as of his closest ascendants and descendants can be found by clicking on this link: [url="http://nermo.org/slekt/d0018/g0000010.html#I20478>http://nermo.org/slekt/d0018/g0000010.html#I20478, and subsequently on the links corresponding to his parents and children, and so forth. Additional Notes for each individual are sometimes found immedaiately below the person's name. In some cases a Source reference is included for the data.A Surname Index is available at