The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-08
CAUSEDIWO DEATHS
Fake Hold-up Story Told by a
Drunken Italian Started a
Tragedy on the Range.
Marshal of Mountain Iron Shot to
Death and Another Mortally
Wounded.

Duluth, Mimi, June S.--The slayer Of
M. j. Mclaughlin, the village 1narshal OF
Mountain Iron, was a laborer named sam
Berg, and he lies mortaly wounded IN
ST. Luke's hospital in Duluth. He gave
himself up early yesterday.
The tragedy was occasioned by what Is
believed to have been falsehood told by
an intoxicated Italian. 1t was he who
complained to Marshal Mclaughlin at
Mountain Iron that he had been held up
and robbed of 500 near the entrance; to
the Mountain Iron mine, and this story
is disbelieved by the authorities.
AS near as can be learned the Italian,
who recently went to Mountain Iron from
Ashland, while somewhat intoxicated.
started into the mine, which is IAN open
pit, and was ordered out. He made some
sharp retorts and a fight ensued in which
he was beaten, and it is believed that he
faxed the story of the hold-up to explain
away his battered countenance. But
Marshal Mclaughlin believed the story
and went in search of the alleged holdup
men. The result was that he was killed
by a man who had never seen or heard
of the Italian, and his slayer Is believed
to be dying. ~
Story Told by Berg.
Public feeling has abated some Wha
since Berg, with a bullet thru his breast
crept to Mountain Iron, a distance of halt
a-mile from the town, and told his story
The Italian was brought forward to iden-
tify Berg as one of the hold-up men,, II
possible but he declared that he had new
er seen the prisoner before. Sam BERG
and Frank Emerson, both laborers, were
walking over to Mountain Iron from Bull
Berg recently had gone to Hibbing from
Duluth and had worked here on the docks
While walking. on the Great Northern
track half a mile from Mountain Iron they
were accosted by Mclaughlin. who, they
learned from his questions, was seeking
robbers.
: Mclaughlin seized Berg by the. collar
and began asking him questions as tt
where he had come from. He demanded
the stolen money, if Berg had it. H<
was searching the latter's pocketbool
when Emerson started to run. McLaugh
lin ordered him to halt. but the man KEEP
on running and the marshall began firms
In the direction of the fleeing man. On,
shot was fired past Berg's head, which
he says alarmed him and caused him t,
fear the marshal would also shoot him.
Berg then drew his revolver and fired
shot at the marshal at distance of onl
two or three. feet. Mclaughlin instantl
turned his weapon on Berg and shot hin
thru the breast. Berg fired once more
The first bullet from Berg's revolver EN-
tered McLaughlin's breast and the secon
one struck him In the forehead and h
died instantly. Emerson Is still at large
Coal Discoveries Near Duluth.
Coal has been found near Duluth in sui
ficient quantities to warrant business me
to form a company to mine 1T, and &C
cordingy the Willow River Coal com
pany filed articles of Incorporation, Wit
a capital stock of $780, O0O ~.
The promoters are reticent about tn
,company's affairs. but it has. been learne
THAT git has five :drills at: work and tina
good coal, not unlike the Hooking Vale
in quality, has been found. s=:
- The company owns 5000 acres of Ian
In the vicinity Of the Willow river, i
the northern part of Aitkin: county an
the southern part of Itasca county.