St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-05
shot DOWN BY THUGS
Justice Robert Woods Is MUIR
dered at East Grand
Forks, Mimi.
While Fatally Wounded, He
Is Robbed Of His Watch
and Money.
The AssasSinS Take to Their
Heels and Are Still at
Large.
A Washington State Nan
Shoots His Wife, Mother
in-Law and Himself.
Special to the Globe

Special to the Globe
GRAND FORKS, N. D., Oct. 4.-Robert
Woods, justice of the peace of East
Grand Forks, was found at 2:45 this
morning lying in the street crossing
Demers avenue near the office of the
East Grand Forks Courier with bullet
in his head, entering just below the
right eye. Woods had left his room to
procure doctor for a sick roommate
at 2:30 a. m. An officer standing
at the east end of Demers avenue
bridge heard shot, summoned assist
ance, and the dying man was taken to
the city hall. DR.. Erwin, of this city,
was summoned. Woods was uncon-
scious, remaining so until death oc-
Cured at o'clock this forenoon. A
new revolver belonging to Woods was
found lying by his side with every
chamber undischarged. Woods had
evidently drawn the revolver in self
defense, but it was dropped before he
had time to shoot. His watch was gone
and two twenty-dollar gold pieces taken
from his right pantaIoons' pocket A
roll of bills, city orders and other valu-
able papers were found in his vest
pocket undisturbed. Tracks of two
men on the frosty sidewalk showed the
direction the assassins had taken, but
nothing else is known of them. Coroner
Shepard, of Crookston, was sum
moned and will hold an inquest Mon
day morning at East Grand Forks.
TOughs Probably Responsible.
For several days the town has been
troubled with a gang of toughs and
thugs. -Four Iobberies beside that of
Woods have been committed in the last
twenty-four hours, one in broad day
light, near the Demers avenue bridge
Investigation to form theory of
the murder revealed the fact
that Lobsenger's saloon, opposite
Demers avenue from the place
where Woods was found, had
been broken into and robbed. While it
was first thought Woods must have
fallen instantly when shot, blood stains
on the crossing of the sidewalk leading
around Lobsenger's saloon building lead
to the belief that Woods, in passing the
saloon, heard the robbers, and, drawing
his revolver, entered a side door and
put his head through a window, from
which whole pane Of glass had been
cut, and there received the fatal shot
in the eye. No blood appeared on the
window sill. Woods probably staggered
an instant, then recovered himself and
found his way around the saloon, sup
porting himself by placing his hands on
the wall. Then. bewildered, crossed
Demers street. going in direction OPP
posite that where his room was located.
Powder Marks
on his face show that he was shot at
close range. The robbers were evil
IDENTIFY thoroughly acquainted with the
premises, for, after entering the win
dow, they cut hole through the inner
door at exactly the point to reach and
remove an inclined bar of wood
resting against the inside door,
by which the door was secured.
Woods pockets must have been
rifled after the fatal shot was fired.
Woods had resided in East Grand Forks
seven years. He was formerly man
ager of lumber yard, and since then
contractor and builder He had held
the office of justice of the peace two
years. He was thirty-fve years of age.
unmarried and highly respected. Woods
parents live at Moulinette, Ont. They
were promptly notified, but have not
yet been heard from. The streets of
East Grand Forks have been thrOnged
all day, hundreds visiting the scene of
the tragedy marked by pool of blood.
The murder has created great sensa-
ton and aroused deep Indignation
against the presence of thugs and gam
blprS in fine citv