Throughout Carver County’s long history, there have been many tales and people of fame and infamy. However, perhaps one of the most infamous is that of Rosa Mixa, victim, and Andrew Tapper, murderer. This case was the first and last public execution for murder in Carver County. Presented below are the facts of this tale as noted in the newspapers and records of that time.
Andrew Tapper was born in Carver County to Otto and Johanna Tapper. He remained working the farm with his parents until his father’s death in 1882 and his mother selling the farm soon after. He then spent his time working as a carpenter, bartender, and hostler. When his mother died in 1896 and Tapper began suffering chest and back pain, for which he received no treatment, accounts say Tapper turned to drinking.
Tapper and Rosa Mixa met while both were employed for the Basler House Hotel in Carver. Tapper served as hostler and part-time bartender, Mixa as cook and housekeeper. Rosa Mixa only worked at the Basler for part of the year, spending the rest of her time helping on the family farm in Montgomery, Le Sueur County, with parents Leopold and Catherine. Rosa Mixa was 19 at the time of this event. Eyewitnesses and Tapper himself recalled Tapper’s infatuation with Mixa, an affection she did not return. While walking through Carver Park one Sunday, Tapper insulted Mixa. The following Monday, he attempted to seek reconciliation, which is where our story starts.
On Monday, June 3, 1901, Rosa Mixa rose early and went about her kitchen and laundry duties. Tapper also rose early, planning to finish his chores quickly and ask to assist Mixa in order to apologize. When he sought her out, Mixa refused his assistance and apologies. Here, accounts vary. Some claim it was the refusal of his apology that sent Tapper into a rage, some claim his drinking, and others, Mixa’s refusal of his advances. Whatever the reason, Tapper, in a rage, pulled out his pocketknife and stabbed Mixa. Her screams attracted hotel owners John and Tilda Leonard, who rushed to the kitchen to find Tapper standing over Mixa with a knife.
Tapper fled to the nearby Minnesota River, and attempted to drown himself. However, the cold water instead brought him back to his senses. He returned to the hotel, saw what he had done, and was convinced by Mr. Leonard to turn himself in to the local sheriff.
The trial of Andrew Tapper began on October 18, 1901, and lasted four days. Tapper’s lawyer, W.C. O’Dell sought life in prison. However, Minnesota at this time (1860-1906) practiced capital punishment. The jury came back with a guilty verdict and Judge Francis Caldwell sentenced Tapper to be hung.
After a six-month waiting period, Andrew Tapper’s execution was scheduled for February 18, 1902. Despite an appeal filed with the Minnesota Board of Pardons by his sister Anna Benson, the execution was carried out between 12-12:30 am, attended by 150 deputies and sheriffs from around the state.
While in prison, Tapper gave one or two interviews about the incident. In them, he claimed he was not in his right mind due to drink, though he never sought an insanity plea. He said in one interview, “I do not care so much for death as the disgrace which will always be connected with my name [. . .] I do not wish to say that the verdict is an unjust one, all I wish to say is that I was not responsible at the time I committed the crime. I do not recollect anything that happened on the morning Rosa was killed.”
Whatever the truth behind why Tapper killed Rosa Mixa and how in control of his actions he was, the story remains one of the most violent in Carver County’s history. Many articles have been written over the years about the only public execution in Carver County history. The State of Minnesota repealed capital punishment in 1911, making this one of few such penalties in our history.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Andrew Tapper Pays the penalty for His Crimes.” Minneapolis Times, January 18, 1902.
Barac, Lavonne. Chaska: A Minnesota River City, Volume 1 and 2. St. Paul, MN: Carver County Public Library, 1989.
Faber, Jim. “In Times of Eye-for-Eye Justice.” Chaska Herald, December 12, 1991.
“Girl Murdered at Carver.” Weekly Valley Herald, June 6, 1901.
Minnesota State Legislature. “Death Penalty”. From Session Weekly, 1992. Accessed July 19, 2014. http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/swkly/1995-96/select/death.txt
Olson, Mark W. “Killer Hanged: County’s Only Execution Retold.” Chaska Herald, October 29, 1998.
“Rosa Mixa is Avenged.” Weekly Valley Herald, February 20, 1902.
“Shocking Tragedy.” The Montgomery Messenger, June 7, 1901.
“Tapper Feels His Disgrace.” Weekly Valley Herald, October 31, 1901.
“Tapper Must Hang.” Weekly Valley Herald, January 23, 1902.
“Tapper Pays the Penalty.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 18, 1902.
“Tapper to Hang.” Norwood Times, October 25, 1901.
