Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-04-29
Death OF Jerry ROOT
Murderer Placed in Crooks
ton Jail for Safe
-..>.< Keeping.

! ing Of last week, Mrs. Root received
the news az Park Rapids while on
the way to Bemidji.
The following is an account OF the
murder:
Minneapolis Times (23): IA brutal
murder took place at Bemidji this
morning at o'clock. Jerry Root,
night marshal Of the village, was
stabbed to death in cold blood by
his teamster, Tom Burns.
| 1t is said that Jerry, the evening
before, had given the teamster
money for expenses on trip to
Park Rapids for freight, but later in
the evening he discovered that Burns
was blowing it in at the saloons, and
took the remainder away from him.
Burns, however. kept up his "toot''
until midnight. and then laid down
in a saloon and went TO sleep. At 4
O'Clock Jerry went off his beat and
went home to bed. His family are
still at Ft. Ripley and he lived for the
time being in a log cabin former y
occupied asa hotel on 1he south
shore OF Lake Bemidji at what is
known ss the In,lian village. At 5
O'Clock he was aroused by Burns
coming in, but was not thoroughly
awake when Burns stabbed him with
a long dirk Or butcher knife. Jerry
called s'murder," and the family liv-
ing in another part Of the house
rushed in to find Burns still holding
the bloody knife in his hands. He
made no resistance nor effort to es-
cape, and was disarmed. The neigh
bors were aroused and thesheriff and
marshal sent for as also the physi-
clans. Burns was at once jailed by
the sheriff, but Root was found 10 be
| fatally wounded. He bled none ex-
ternally, but himself said that he
was slowly bleeding to death in
ternaliy, and after lingering until
afternoon, expired from the effects
Of the wound.
Since coming to Bemidji in No.
vember last Root has made many
friends, being OF quiet and peace
able disposition, and he was expect
ing his family from Morrison county
some time this week. The murderer's
real name is not Burns, and he is
said to have been sentenced to the
penitentiary at one time for murder,
but was pardoned out. A ]ynching
bee is freely threatened on the streets,
but it is not believed the sheriff can
be taken by surprise or frightened
into letting 20 OF the man.
Kinney went by the name OF Burns
in Bemidii. The murderer has been
placed in jail at Crookston, as it
would hardly be safe to leave him at
Bemidii.
Robert Kinney is man OF about
fifty years OF age, e,and OF quarrelsome
disposition. He served a six years
term for the mu,d der of his brother
twenty-seven years ago. The two
brothers and two friends were indulg.
ing in a drunken orgy, and during 8
quarrel Kinney fatally stabbed his
brother. He claimed that it was
done in self defense, and so escaped a
life term. James Martin, in whose
house the affray took place, and who
was one OF the tour, became crazy
thinking over the crime and killed
himself.
Jerry Root was a jovial, generous
man, with a host of friends. He had
lived in this section for thirty years
and his cruel taking off brought deeE
sorrow to his friends. He lea yes 8
kwife and two children, besides numer.
GUS relatives. His aged father and
mother live at Fort Ripley. Mr.,
Root was born in New York about
As years ago, and moved to this
county with his parents thirty years
i ago. +. ...
i The deceased was charter mem.
i her and the first treasurer Of the Lit.
). tie Falls Masonic lodge. The lodge
took charge Of the funeral, which
/ took place at Fort Ripley Sunday
afternoon. A large number were
J, present from Little Falls. Rev. f
], A. Sumner made 9 brief address
1, The procession which followed th,
1 remains to the grave contained Owe
j 500 people.