The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-09
WARRANT OUT ON
A MURDER CHARGE
NELSON'S DEATH AT CROOKSTON
MAY BE AVENGED.
Body Lay All Winter Frozen in the
Ice of the River-Suspicious Acts of
Foreigner Who Took an Unnatural
Interest in the Reports of the Crime
Will Lead to Arrests.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Crookston, Mimi, April 9.-Some
interesting facts have developed in re-
gard to the murder case brought to
light this week. The body of the
man frozen in the ice has been identi-
fled, and now it is thought that some
clue to his murderers has been un-
earthed.
The first lead came thru a foreigner
who seemed to take an unnatural in
terest in the case. He asked that the
story published in one of the papers
be read to him and became much ex-
cited over it. He bought paper and
asked that it be addressed for him, as
he wished to send it to a friend who
lived at distance.
His manner was very peculiar and
the fact that he thought his friend
would be interested when living at so
great a distance, seemed strange and
he was closely. questioned. There was
something so evidently back of what
he told that the persons who heard
him decided to turn the matter over to
the police. They did and a warrant
was Immediately sworn out for his ar
rest.
Mrs. Nelson, wife of the murdered
man. has been notified Of her hus-
bands death and will arrive this even
Ing.
Mind Unsettled by Drink.
John w. Schafer, ex-mayor Of
Stephen, made an unsuccessful at
tempt on his life this morning by
shooting himself in the head with q
32-caliber revolver. The bullets did
not penetrate his skull and the wounds
are not considered serious unless blood
poisoning sets In. He fired four shots,
only three of which took effect. Heavy
drinking Of late is supposed to have
unsettled his mind.
Hopkins Run Down and Captured.
The nerviest man who ever came
under the notice Of the officers of the
upper country is G. It. Hopkins a
horse thief who was captured near
Euclid, fifteen miles north of Crook
ston, to-day.
AS reported to r h e J 20 u a at
the time Hopkins hired a team and
cutter of a local liveryman early in
March, representing that he wished to
drive to the residence Of farmer near
Crookston and close a land deal. Fail
ing to return in twenty-four hours the
authorities were notified. and printed
descriptions Of the man and team were
sent broadcast. By means of these he
was traced to the White Earth reser-
walton, and it was believed that he
was one of an organized band of
thieves>that has been operating in that
This proves to have been a mis-
take. Yesterday Sheriff Mcmillan of
Eau Claire, Wis, reached Crookston
and reported that a man had hired a
team over in Wisconsin, and had
headed this way. A comparison Of
notes led to the belief that the man,
who had been traced as far as Staples,
Mimi, was the one who had stolen the
team here. 1t was learned that his
father was living in Roseau county,
and for that place, it was decided, he
was heading. The officers in all the
surrounding villages were notified,
and Hopkins was caught by Constable
Teal of Euclid.
He told the officers that he drove
with the team secured in Crookston,
as long as there was any sleighing.
and then traded one Of the horses and
the cutter for buggy to which he
hitched the other horse, and continued
to Thorpe, Wis, where he disposed Of
the animal. After brief visit in Eau
Claire he hired another team, and
started on the return trip, on which
he was captured. ..