The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-03-08

DeVllS Lake, ~. H.. March o.-lNlS
city was the scene Of all awful
| tradgedy at o'clock this morning
when f. NJ. Bryant, cashier Of the
Great Northern freight depot, shot o.
E. Hooper through the head and then
committed suicide by turning the re-
volver to his own head and shooting.
Hooper died twenty minutes after the
shooting and Bryant lived until 1880
o'clock, when he died. as result of
the severe wound which he inflicted.
The affair was the result of revenge
and a supposed shortage of accounts.
Yesterday Keeper discharged Bryant
because, as he stated. Of incompe-
tency in handling the money of the
Office. Auditor w. w. Howard of st.
Paul was sent for and arrived at
Devils Lake this morning to
straighten the accounts and check
Bryant out. leaving everything in a
condition SO another cashier. who
was to be hired would have clear
sailing.
When Bryant arrived at the office
shortly before 9 o'clock this morning
he realized that the statement made
by Hooper of his discharge was no
joke for he found Auditor Howard
waiting to commence the check work
Bryant spoke to Howard with good
morning greeting and then went over
to the drawer of his desk and Sc
cured the revolver. going to the Office
of Hooper.
Hot Words Passed.
/ A few hot words. passed between
the two in Hoeper's office which
/; showed that Bryant's claim that he
had been discharged because Of
knocking Hooper, was the main rea-
son for his rash deed. This, coupled
with the fact that he was not pre-
pared to meet the check Of Auditor
Howard, being somewhat short in his
accounts. is also given as the reason
for the shooting.
Not being able to square matters
| with Hooper. Bryant reached to his
hip pocket, drawing his revolver and
! aiming directly at Hoeper's head, the
first shot knocking the agent to the
floor. Bryant then turned the re-
vlver to his own head and fired, fall
ing over as result of the shot.
Crowds at the depot hearing the
two shots. came quickly and medical
aid was at once summoned. both men
being taken to the Mercy hospital.
At the hospital Hoepers bullet wound
was found to be the most serious and
all attention was directed to him, but
the aim of Bryant had met its mark.
, and Hooper passed away twenty min
utes after the shooting, at $3.50
o'clock this morning.
Bryant hung to life for a longer
period. but was unconscious from the
time of the shot until death finally
claimed him at 1880 o'clock this
morning. Coroner Gilbertson of
Ramsey county arrived soon after
| the shooting and the inquest is in
progress this afternoon.
Shortage Story Tppermost.
AS result of the shooting the
theory of a shortage in Bryant's ac-
counts was uppermost in the mind of
Auditor Howard, who proceeded at
once to prepare for the checking Of
the accounts. He found the safe
where the money and books were kept
that related to the affairs Of the Of
flee locked. and not knowing the COM
bination of the safe was compelled to
wire the Great Northern offices at st.
Paul for the combination. This aft
ernoon Mr.. Howard had not received
the combination to the safe. so was
unable to give out anything as to
just how much. If any, Bryant was
short, although 1t Is generally be-
lieved that 1t was for this reason he
was prompted to take Hoeper's and
his own life.
Lived at Mimic.
o. E. Hooper was formerly a resi-
dent of Mimic. N. D., where he was
station agent. He was 27 years old
and had been married for three years.
His wifes maiden name was Myrtle
Grout. and she resided before her
marriage at St. Charles. MINI. Mr..
Hoeper's home was at Neenah. Wis,
but for the past several years he has