- Charles Landa disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1900 and about 1914 it was determined that he had been murdered. Charles Landa was a well known farmer from a little town named Wiley in Red Lake County Minnesota and he disappeared in the summer of 1900. There has been little evidence as to his whereabouts. Not until 1914 were 3 young men, Joseph LaCounte, Fred LaCounte and George Provest arrested in connection with the disappearance and probable murder of Charles Landa.
On a warm summer afternoon, he left his home, the date being July 18 1900, planning to catch the train for the 45 mile ride to Crookston where he was scheduled to change trains to travel on to the state of Nebraska to purchase farmland. Not a single member of his large family has heard from him since that time. Most likely, Mr. Landa had a substantial amount of cash in which to complete his land transactions.
The delayed arrests came about due to rumors heard by his eldest son Albert, while visiting a local tavern.
The three accused men were for a time in the Polk County jail. They all had criminal records, ranging form 3rd degree burglary to 1st degree burglary and Grand Larceny. Two of them have spent time in different correctional facilities.
Charles Landa left a wife, Annie and 14 children, the youngest just a baby a few weeks old.
It is not believed that his remains were ever found. He may have been the only murder victim in this area in several decades,
Two of his sons, Andrew and Thomas, died in WWI. Three others were burned to death : Albert, August and William Landa, bachelor farmers who were burned to death Sunday evening when the shack in which they were living on their farm near Dorothy was destroyed by fire.
The house was in a grove and the tragedy was not discovered until a brother living on an adjoining farm went over Monday to visit them It is believed that the fire was started by an overheated stove. August had returned home about one o’clock Monday morning after spending the evening at the home of Louis Boutain, a neighbor.
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