St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-07
IS AGAIN ACQUITTED.
Patrolman Shelley Is Now
Purged of the Charge Of
Murder.
There Was No Criminal Intent
in the Shooting Of Eriek-
son.
Assessments Continue to
Climb Under the EqualiZ-
ing Process.
Mrs. Dobbin Will Branch Out
as a Pedagogue in Cali
fopnia.
AGAIN ACQUITTED.
PatroIman Shelley Justified in
Shooting Erickson,

Patrolman Shelley Justified in
Shooting Erickson.
AS the cOroner's jury at the inquest in
the case of Ole Erickson, after careful
examination of the evidence, acquitted
Patrolman Shelley of any criminality
for firing the fatal shot the night
of June IA, it is not surprising that the
officer was acquitted in the municipal
court yesterday upon the charge of
murder in the second degree. The evil
dence was practically the same as given
at the inquest, but little testimony
of Importance that was new
being introduced. County Attor-
ney Davis conducted the prosecution,
while Attorney Knittle and City Attor-
ney Smith appeared for the defense.
The story of the shooting was gone over
Erickson, detailed how they had been
arrested by Patrolman Sivering for
stealing plank from a lumber yard,
and broke away from him, running in
opposite directions. He heard the
shots, but no cries of "Stop him."
Jacob Jacobson, barber, who was
near the scene of the shooting testified
to hearing three shots. Erickson cried
out: "You have shot me in the BELLY"
and Shelley replied: "You id fool,
why didn't you stop running?" Patrol
man Siverling testified that Erickson
and Henson had taken two planks from
a lumber yard on Twentieth avenue
south. Henson first attempted to get
away but he managed to hold on to his
prisoners for block or so, when they
threw him down and Erickson got
away. He yelled "Stop that mani"
when Henson kicked witness and es-
capped. Witness blew his whistle three
times, and Patrolman Courtney re-
sponded. They both looked for Hen
son, but failed to find him.
Patrolman Shelley gave the following
account of the shooting:
ION the morning of June Is, was
standing on the corner of Washington
and Cedar avenues. heard some one
cry help; stop that man, and then saw
a man running toward me on Washing
ton avenue. l then heard the distress
signal from some policeman; The man
ran up Cedar avenue. l ran after
him and called halt four times.
He paid no attention and 1 fired
in the air twice to scare him,
but he didn't stop, or pay any attention
to me. Then | fired the third shot and
hit him. He stumbled forward and l
caught up to him. He then said he was
shot, and l asked him why he didn't
stop when l gave him so many chances.
He was standing up and tried to get
away again, saying he was not hurt. l
did not use any profanity in talking to
him. He asked Anderson to help him,
but told him not to do it, and he
didn't. When l shot the man he was
gaining on me. aimed to shoot him
below the knee"
The remainder of the evidence was of
little interest and the arguments were
brief. Judge Mahoney remarked that
he considered that the defendant was
justifed,in shooting to stop an escap-
ing prisoner who had committed a
felony and ordered his discharge.
Shelley was congratulated by numerous
friends upon his acquittal, as it had
been the general opinion that he was
justified in shooting and did not mean
that it should result fatally.