Ernest Alfred Hesner ^9059,9118

The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington
Thursday, April 4, 1907
p. 1 & 12

ASSASSIN CONFESSES THE MURDER OF YOUNG ALFRED EVERMAN AT LOON LAKE

Mrs. Hesner's Husband Hid in the Bushes and Heard the Youth Talking With Her

"I committed the murder and I think I did what any other man would have done under the circumstances. I was down there and heard all that was said. It will all come out at the trial."

These are the words said to have been uttered by Ernest Hesner to Sheriff Ferguson and Prosecuting Attorney Fitzpatrick of Stevens County concerning the murder of Alfred Everman, which took place at Loon Lake about midnight on Tuesday.

It was stated there were no other excuses. It was supposed that he was down at the lake, that he heard the conversation between Everman and his wife, then went back, got his gun, returned to the lake and shot the young man as the couple approached him, arm in arm.

The Confession

The confession of Hesner said to be pratically as follows, according to the story given out at Loon Lake this morning:

"I committed the murder, and I think I did what any other man would have done under like circumstances. I was down there and heard all that was said, and that was what prompted me to do the deed. It will all come out at the trial."

Not Yet Arrested

The confessed murderer has not yet been arrested, but he is at the present time under surveillance at Loon Lake. He is not expected to make any effort to leave the town and will be arrested during the course of the day.

The murder which Hesner now confesses is that of Alfred Everman, 19 years of age, who was shot while sitting near the bank of Loon Lake in company with Mrs. Hesner on Tuesday night.

Mr. and Mrs. Hesner have been separated since last fall, and this separation is attributed to the dead boy by many of the residents of Loon Lake, where all of the parties in the tragedy are well known.

About 10:30 o'clock Tuesday night, Mrs. Hesner and young Everman left for a walk down along the bank of the lake. The husband is believed to have followed them, rifle in hand, though in his confession, he did not state whether he had the rifle with him at first or whether he came back to town and secured it.

The couple were sitting on the bank of the lake talking, the jealous husband being concealed in the nearby brush, close enough so that he could hear all that was said.

In his confession, Hesner state that he heard young Everman make an improper proposal to his wife, and this so angered him that he immediately shot the youth. The bullet passed through the lower part of the boy's heart, killing him instantly. The bullet entered the side, carried away the lower part of the heart, and came out through the breast of the murdered man.

He Hid And Listened

The Draper bloodhounds from this city were brought to the scene of the killing as soon as possible, and they succeeded in tracking the murderer to the barn behind the residence of his mother. It is said that when confronted with this evidence of his guilt, Hesner broke down and confessed to the officers.

Hesner is said to be well thought of by the entire population of Loon Lake, where he has for some time been recognized as sober and steady, being ranked as one of the best citizens of the town.

The trouble which resulted in the killing of Tuesday night is said to have started last September, when Hesner and his wife separated on account of attentions he thought she was receiving from other men. The separation occurred a month ago, when Mr. Hesner took the four children and Mrs. Hesner was allowed to go her own way.

At first Hesner stated that he was in bed at the time of the killing, but the bloodhounds traced the murderer to the front gate of his home, and then back to the barn in the rear of the residence. On the strength of this fact suspicion was directed towards Hesner and when questioned closely he is said to have broken down and admitted to the murder.

*****
The Montana Plaindealer
Helena, Montana
Friday, June 7, 1907
p. 2

The jury in the case of Ernest Hesner, accused of murder for the slaying of Alfred Everman, a young man who was in company with Mrs. Hesner on the shore of Loon Lake, disagreed and was discharged.

  Events

• He appeared on the census in 1900 in Loon Lake, Stevens County, Washington. He was head of household and rented.

• He appeared on the census in 1930 in OroFino, Clearwater County, Idaho. He was a patient at the Northern Idaho Sanitarium (insane asylum).

• He had a residence in Belmont, Kootenai County, Idaho.

Ernest married Chestina Mary Rambo, daughter of Thomas Hartford Rambo and Catherine Russell, 26 February 1898 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington.⁹⁰⁵⁹ The marriage ended in divorce. (Chestina Mary Rambo was born about August 1879 in Knoxville, Knox County, Illinois, died 5 March 1965 in Chewelah, Stevens County, Washington ^9061,9062 and was buried after 5 March 1965 in Chewelah, Stevens County, Washington at Saint Mary of the Rosary Cemetery ^9061,9062.)