The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-10-22
ALASKA MURDERER
MAKES HIS ESCAPE
ON A ROUGH OCEAN
Gets Away From Dakota Man
While on Trip From Seattle
to Frozen North.

Sioux Falls. S. H.. Oct. 15.-Inforrna-
ton to the effect that Lee II. Johnson
a famous Alaskan murderer, who re-
Gently was captured in the United
States Attorney George Grisby. of
Alaska, who formerly lived in Sioux
Falls, has made his escape is the in
formation which has been received by
Colonel Melvin Grigsby, Of this CITY,
father of tho federal attorney for the
district of Alaska. h escape was
made while Johnson was being taken
back to Alaska for trial.
Upon being placed upon q ship for
transport back to Alaska Johnson was
placed under guard. One day it was
discovered that as the result of GLIDING
his guards for q moment he disap-
peared. An instant search was made
of every nook and Granny in the boat,
in the belief that he had secreted him
self Somewhere until the boa SHOULD
reach port, so he could watch his OPP
p%ortunity and make his way to shore
unobserved.
Ocean Swallowed Him.
But not q trace of him could be found.
and ii then was realized that he had
jumped overheard. At one point on the
route from Seattle to Alaska boats pass
within two or three miles of some of
the Aleutian islands, and it is thought
n entered the water at that point
and endeayored to swim ashore. But
the sea was very rough, while the boat
was in proximity to the islands. Inc
1t is believed Johnson was unable to-
reach shore and was drowned in the
effort to make his escape.
Johnson was charged with having
murdered his wife in Alaska last win
ter. To those who noticed he disap-
pearance of the woman he claimed she,
had returned to the states on the
last boat out of Alaskan ports last Win
ter. The body, it afterward developed.
had been buried undo the cabin where
Johnson lived, and he occupied the
his wife secreted under it.
DEApWooD COURT CONNECTS
ANOTHER MURDERER
Deadwood. S. D., Oct. Is. - Man
slaughter in the first degree, with a
Recommendation for leniency, was the
verdict Of the jury in the trial of Eli
Raich. charged with the murder of
Mitchell Augusta at Lead last May
The jury was out for over IS hours
and it was thought would be unable.
to reach a decision. The defendant
has decided to accept the verdict and.
will lot appeal his case higher. He
will be sentenced to the penitentiary
on October II, the day on which SEN
tence of death viii be pronounced on
NlllldIH OuIlIl, tlS olllGI CbtlN .SlGtIs
slayer.
Raich. during g. quarrel in his sa-
loon in which he tried to eject Augusta.
lost his temper when tainted over his
gambling losses and shot and killed
Augusta. Tho conviction OF Raich con-
tinues the remarkable record, for dur
ing the pas. two years not n single,
defendant in a criminal case here has.
been acquitted.
~ r.
HEAVY FIRE LOSS.
Pierre, S. D.. Oct. 15.-In his annual
report Deputy Fire Marshal Frank
Graf gives the following
of fire losses in the first year Of the
operation of the fire marshal law. 1.-The,
number OF fires reported to this depart
ment for the year just ended is 446.
The largest number are shown to have
been from unknown origin, amounting.
to ssss,s27.71. The next largest amount
is %chargeable to defective hues.
responsible for s57,S21 loss, and gaso-
line responsible for $37,641. Prairie
fro loss, s19,1S9.50; sparks from en-
gines, S17,1S7.5e, and matches, S10,774..
while $10.245 loss is charged to incen-
diarisn."
The marshal calls attention to the,
fact that many insurance agents are.
looking more for tha size OF the pre-
MUM than amy other point in the
business. which leads to over insur-
that more care should be used, thus
minimizing the causes of friction be-
tween companies and those who are,
insured in case a settlement is re-
Quired through a loss.
FRANK BAsFoRD DIES
BY HIS OWN HAND
Hu:cn, S. D, Oct. 15.--Frank Bias
ford, aged about 30, a printer, com
mftted suicide yesterday by shooting
MI. Basford wcs a confirmed inebriate-
and cigaret fiend and for three years.
was employed in the Morning Herald
office here.
Because of Incorporate habits he lost
his position some weeks since, and
from that time has been out of en-
ployment. Having q wife and child de-
pendent upon him for support, ands
knowing his inability to break away
from his habits, his mind became shat
tered and about 5 O'Clock Monday
morning he left his bed and. taking a
shotgun went into an adjoining room.
laid upon the floor on his left side.
placed the muZzle of the gun over his,
heart and pulled the trigger with his
foot. Death was instantaneous.
When not under the influence Of
liquor, Mr.. Basford attended strictly
to business, and was q good workman.
He was a son of Hon. O.. S. Basford.
commissioner of ii--urance, and a welE
known South Dakota newspaper man.
A coroner's Jury was held this morning.,
and Il verdict rendered IN accordance
with the above facts.
-
FARMER ill BY TRAIN
TAKES A BAD FLYER
Armour, S. D.. Oct. Is Herman
Chitsky, q farmer residing near this.
city. met with an accident tina might
easily a terminated fatally Saturday
afternoon. while driving home.
When crossing the track near the
mill his wagon was struck by the local.
freight, the wagon mashed to pieces
aud the horses thrown several yards.
The team was not injured. but the
driver did not get off SO easily. he re-