The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-12-15
A Charivari Tragedy.

oI young men OF the locality concluded |
20 charivari Guujon Bjornson who had
ust married Mrs. Houle. There were
eight in the party and they carried the
usual accessories for noise-making in
cluding shot guns, and it is reported had
fortified themselves with whiskey obtain
ed from neigh5oring blind pig. On
at the house which is about half
a mile frem the Rosa Lake school house
and about eight miles northwesterly from
Cavalier, they marched about the house
several times, making noise and calling
for the groom to appear. Then they
forced open the door of the shed or sum-
mer kitchen adjoining the house, and
went to the door opening into the house.
They knocked and at the second knock
the door was opened. Whether by
the outside parties or those inside is not
certain as the evidence is conflicting. In
the house were the groom, who with his
wife and little girl. were sleeping in an
inner room. In the room into which the
outside door opened was one John Chris
tianson sleeping, whom rumor says was
there at the groom's request to protect
the house from the charivari party.
Three of the young men stood in front
of the open door, two in advance, one
Slightly in the rear. The one in the rear
lighted match and all peered into the
room but saw no one. The bed seemed
smooth and level. Just as the match
went out two reports almost together
came from a shot gun; Carl Hjalmarsson,
boy about nineteen, who was one of
those in front, gave cry and fell. His
companions fled, but missing Carl came
Immediately back and carried him in the
field. Then went about a mile to a
neighbor's house got team and took
the wounded man there. DR.. Farrow
was sent for, and found large wound
on the side of the hip about three inches
below the joint. The bone is badly
shattered and it is as yet doubtful if the
young man can live.
OF course question has arisen as to
who fired the shot and as yet this is un-
settled. The men within the house,
Gujon Bjornson and John Christiansson,
were arrested and an examination was
held, before Justice Pearson of Cavalier.
The defendants claimed that during the
time the charivari party was there that
they were both in bed and remained
there, the former until morning and the
latter until half or tlree.quarters of an
hour after they had gone away, though
the evidence showed that the door had
been left open. The defendants also
stated they didn't know anyone was hurt
until late next day.
The charivari party testified that though
the two men at the door, one of whom
was shot, each had shot gun, that
neither of them fired, but that the shot
came from within. A further difficulty
in solving the question is the fact that as
yet the physician is unable to find out if
there are any shot in the wound or
it is the effect of a blank cart
ridge. The results and appearance Of
the clothing seem to SHOW a shot at
very close range. Sheriff Farrow in ex-
the clothing discovered wad
and one battered shot in the blood. The
justice finding the evidence so slight,
bound the two men over to the district
court on their own recognizance and re-
leased them.
Following this. all the charivarl parry
were arrested ON charge Of malicious
mischief and tried before Justice Conmee.
However as only the boy that was shot
and Fred Rekjalin were identified b, the
witnesses the balance were
discharged and Rekjalin brought to Penn.
bina in default Of $500 bonds and COM
mitted to Jail to await trial at the district
court.
No matter whether the shot was fired
intentionally or by accident, the parties
to blame Tor tine whole affair are easily
known. Even if the shooting was done