The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-21
FEAR FOUL PLAY
IN HUUS DEATH
MAN WHO WAS THOUGHT TO
HAVE BEEN DROWNED MAY
HAVE BEEN FouLLY
MURDERED.

dawson Leader: Yesterday no little
agitation was caused at Steele by the
result of investigation in an unofficial
manner into the death of Peter Huus,
who was supposed to have been drown
ed three weeks ago while in swimming
at Williams lake near one of the grad
Ing camps. 1t seems that in some way
Paymaster DieIher of the contractors
firm learned that there was a wound
on the mans head and that blood had
clotted in his hair. He went UP Satur-
day and made inquiries and found that
the man who pulled the body from the
water verified the statement. 1t also
developed that the mans money and
other personal articles were gone, In
Guiding his watch. Huus was known
to carry from 500 to $3.50 on his per-
son, it is said.
1t is further found that all Of the
men in bathing with Huus have left
the region. Four got into buggy after
dressing, and are said to have never
resumed work.
It is regarded as strange that none OF
these facts leaked out at the time, for
Huus was dead three days before his
body was recovered, and yet there seem
to have been no suspicious as to ths
circumstances of his disappearance or
the part of those who reported the
matter. He was buried without any
suspicion, apparently, having beer
aroused.
A report is current in the vicinity Of
the event that the coroner, DR.. Pryse
refused to come up to view the body
But We are informed by those who
ought to know that he was reached
with phone message, and after asking
number of questions, said that he
would come If necessary, but that he
thought it was not if there seemed nc
doubt as to the cause of death. AT that
time no one intimated to him that foul
play was suspected. Still it would
have been better TO be on the ground
as later developments show. At this
writing we cannot see DR.. Pryse to get
his version.
John DeKray states that he saw three
men who were present at the recovery
of the body, and that one of them said
two marks on one side, one on theEthigh
and one about the waist line, showed,
and q mark or cut near the left eye,
and that someone remarked as TO how
those marks came there. These men
were from Stutsman county, who had
driven over after hearing of the drown
ing of man.
Since the above was in type we learn
from DR.. Pryse that on hearing by
phone from J. N. Williams of the sup
posed drowning of a man he asked II
there was any doubt in the matter ana
was told it was clear case of drown
ing. He then communicated with
States Attorney Walker, who advised
that If 1t was certain the death oc-
CURED as stated an inquest on the
body was not required, but that burial
should be attended TO and the effects
left by the victim taken charge of by
a responsible person. Accordingly DIR
Pryse notified Mr.. Williams to take
charge of the clothing and any valu-
ables found Mr.. Williams reported not
finding any
Public Administrator Engemoen and
Undertaken John Wehlitz went up to
look after the remains, but 1t is evil
dent their suspicious were not stirred,
at least nothing was said of any vio-
Ience at the time.
The only thing that would settle the
doubt as to the alleged cut on the
head. provided the undertaken is not
positive. would be disinterment. An
inquiry as to the statements made to
Mr.. Diether seems called for. At Tap
pen the day before his death Huns
wished to get $40 bill changed to paw
a small bill, but could not and finally
paid it out of coin. and drove directly
to the camp. Neither the bill nor his
watch was found.
# he died by foul play his body was
placed in the water afterward. and the
man whom Mr.. Williams saw at dis
tanca from the others, and later con-
cluded must have been the man
drowned, was another man.