Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-03-07
Belief I'm n Mythical Michigan Alli-
gator Nearly Cost Il Man His Life.


gator Nearly Cost Il Man His Life.
Schenk Thomas, the justice of the
peace at Hurts Gre k. Allagan county,
disposed Of a peculiar cas-. Tuesday.
says the Grand Rapids Press. The
story seems improbable. ard is vet said
to be true in every detail. The parties
to the suit were Frank StatS:c, Il
Caledonian man of Swedish extrac-
ton, and Carl Johnson. another Swede
Stats:c has lived in Caledonia fron,
early youth. When he was boy he
was fond of swimming. but was afraid
to battle in the lakes and streams in
the vicinity Of his village because he
had been told that there was an al
ligator in them-tllat is the alligator
spent its time in one place and then
| another. 1t WAS Il joke, but he believed
| 1T. Every ln&n. woman ard Chi Il was
| aware CT his credualitv in tn s respect.
but 10 one eyer to1k the trouble to SIT
him right, The years passed by and
St::tsc grew to manhood with explicit
faith in the alligator story
Last June he was in the vicinity OF
| Duncan Laic. which spreads it's
waters over tho corners of Kent.
Barry and Allegan countess where the
lines; intarSsct. and happened to lie out
after n.shtfall. While just over the
line i'll Allegan county he had to cross
small bridge. There was just enough
light for him to distinguish the dim
outline OF objects. When he reached
the edge of the bridge he saw form
stretched upon it. The first thought
thst came into his head was about the
alligator. He concluded that at last
he had come in contact with it and was
afraid to cross, but eoull not turn
back. He shouted hoping to scare the
supposed reptile into the water, but
it did not stir. Then he hunted around
until ne found fence rail about fifteen
feet long and armed with that he crept
toward the object on the bridge.
He raised the weapon. but. before
striking, made a noise with his feet.
| There was 10 sign Of a movement. and
| his frightened eyes pictured a tail, big
| jaws. tangs. four feet. scaly back and
all. Then he struck with all his might.
The imaginary alligator tumbled from
the bridge. and. us it fell. he struck
again. There was Il splash below. and
Statsic looked over the edge of the
bridge. AS he did so he was mortified
to see Il mans head protruding out
of the water. In an Instant he plunged
in and rescued the fellow and carried
him to !: nearby houss, where he was
identified as Carl Johnson.
| A physician was summoned, and an
examination disclosed that Johnson'S
head was badly fractured. He had
been fishing for bullheads and fell
asleep Gil tbs. bridge. Statsic said he
| thought Jci:cspn was the alligator and
struck hard enough to xii him and
he was very near to deaths door, but
finally recovered. Statsic was arrested
on a charge OF assault With intent to
kill. and Il man named MungerSOn tr.el
to make him compensate Johnson for
the injuries he sustained, but he stood
examination and was acquitted. Then
| Johnson sued StatSic for damages. and
it was this civil suit that was tried
| Tuesday. Charles Il. Ward appeared
Tor Statsic and convinced the jury that
his client WIS not liable. and that what
was started as a joke nearly cost i
man his life