{"id":13570,"date":"2022-07-13T07:23:35","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T07:23:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booksofall.com\/tw\/?post_type=product&p=13570"},"modified":"2022-07-13T07:23:35","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T07:23:35","slug":"creators-collectors-communities-martin","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.booksofall.com\/tw\/creators-collectors-communities-martin\/","title":{"rendered":"Creators, Collectors & Communities (Martin)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This little snuff box is part of an unusual story of immigration; one which involves a murder, two kings, and the aid of one of Norway\u2019s greatest authors. The immigrant at the center of the story is Arne Kulterstad. He was born to a freeholding family in the mountainous region of Valdres<\/a> in central Norway in 1825. He was, by all accounts, a rough man. Tall and broad-shouldered, he possessed a nasty temper and was prone to violence, especially when drunk. Kulterstad served for some time in the Norwegian military, achieving the rank of sergeant, before he was dishonorably discharged for insubordination<\/a> and disorderly conduct.<\/p>\n

Beginning around 1844, Kulterstad became involved in a feud with a man named Ole Olsen H\u00f8iland. H\u00f8iland, possibly through suspect methods, acquired the Kulterstad family farm from Arne\u2019s brother at an extraordinarily low price. Arne challenged the sale in court, but the case was denied. Under Norwegian law at the time, when a freeholding farmer retired, they passed on ownership of the land, but continued to live on it under the care of its new owner. In buy the Kulterstad farm, H\u00f8iland took on the legal obligation to supply Arne\u2019s parents with an allowance and shelter. H\u00f8iland, who was himself regarded as a cruel man, left the elder Kulterstads in poverty and when Arne\u2019s father died, Arne believed H\u00f8iland\u2019s neglectfulness had hastened it. Under these circumstances, the animosity between Ole H\u00f8iland and Arne Kulterstad grew.<\/p>\n

These tensions came to a head in 1858. At a public event, a squabble between the two men erupted into a brawl. H\u00f8iland, in the presence of the local magistrate, drew a knife on Kulterstad and stuck it through his right hand, permanently injuring it. Kulterstad sought compensation by bringing a lawsuit, but the case lingered in the courts. On November 17th, 1858 Kulterstad was out hunting when he spied H\u00f8iland driving his cart to the mill. Perhaps impatient with the lawsuit, Kulterstad fired his rifle at H\u00f8iland, striking him in the chest. He had not seen Kulterstad shoot at him, but their well-known feud led everyone to suspect Kulterstad immediately. Nine days after H\u00f8iland died from the gunshot wound.<\/p>\n

Arne Kulterstadt was convicted of murdering Ole H\u00f8iland and was sentenced to be executed. The case was appealed to the Norwegian Supreme Court, but the verdict was upheld. At this point, Kulterstad, who had hitherto been silent at the recommendation of his lawyer admitted to shooting H\u00f8iland, but asserted he was only attempting to maim the man in retaliation for the injury to his own hand. Kulterstad had been recognized in the military for his marksmanship and was noted for his skill at bird hunting and was thus capable of such precise shooting. However, he contended, a sudden movement by H\u00f8iland resulted in the shot hitting H\u00f8iland in the back, mortally wounding him. Kulterstad\u2019s confession did not elicit clemency from the courts, as he had hoped, but it did attract the attention of the author Bj\u00f8rnstjerne Bj\u00f8rnson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"