The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-12-14

Mad Race for Thirty Miles, Near
White Rock, 8. o.
Sheriff Moody of Wahpeton, Rich
land county, was shot and Instantly
killed by a desperate who gave his
name az John Weldemetr, Friday
afternoon. The murderer was shot to
death by members of Co. I, Of Wah-
peton, thirty miles south of Wahpeton
the next afternoon, when across the
South Dakota line and not far from
White Rock. It is believed that
the sheriff's slayer is Bert Hudson,
who had spent more or less time about
Wahpeton. A man answering the
description Of the dead man regis
tered at a Wahpeton hotel as Bert
Hudson two years ago: At first 1t
was believed that Weldemetr was
none other than Charles Moline Of
Pierce county, who was sent to the
penitentiary with his mother two
years ago, for poisoning his father.
later being sent to the insane asylum
from which place he escaped. War
den Hellstrom of the penitentiary,
has been summoned to aid in the
Identification of the body of the mur-
derer.
The murder of Sheriff Moody was
one of the most cold-blooded in the
history of the state. Weldemeir had
taken possession of house on the
farm owned by U. S. Marshal Jim
Shea seven miles from Wahpeton,
and the sheriff was sent to evlct the
man. He drove out accompanied BY
three deputies and knocking on tho
door. the man inside answered: Il
know who you are. You are Sheriff
Moody and I'm John Weldemeir.' At
that the murderer came around the
corner of the house armed with SS
calibre rife and shot over the sher-
iff's head. The sheriff pulled his
gun and shot twice to cripple the
man, striking him in the hand both
times. Weldemefr then shot the
sheriff thru the side, shot one of l.e
deputies in the back, knocking him
over and making a flesh wound, then
covering the men in the rig with his
rife, made them get out, while he
jumped In and drove away with Tho
sherir's gray team, to the southwest.
One Of the deputies secured horse
and rode to Wahpeton where the
alarm was given. The MAYOR Of the
city ordered Co. I out and told the
boys to bring back the murderer
dead or alive Several rigs left for
the south and all night there was
wild ride with the murderer lash
ing the horse on the backs, just
few miles ahead. People who saw
him drive by in the moonlight say
that he carried his rife across his
knees. The telephones assisted ma
terially in keeping tab on the mur-
derer. The next day officers from
White Rock, 8. D., intercepted the
murderer who swung his team In a
circle and when one Of the sherih's
horses was shot, he left the rig and
started for some buildings. The pur-
suers we're upon him and shots were
exchanged. Darkness was coming on
and 1t was feared that the murderer
would escape, so the boys shot to
kill. An army bullet finally brot the
desperate to the ground, passing thru
the head. It is said that the killing
was done by a citizen Of Hankinson,
who carried an army rife. At any
rate the murder Of the popular sher-
If Of Rfchland county was avenged.
Slept at Farm House.
The trail led to the farm house of
Isaac Crooks, a farmer who lives
ten miles south Of Hank1nson, and
here It was learned that Weldemeir
had driven into the Crooks place
about o'clock Sunday morning. had
put up his team there and spent the
night, getting breakfast the next
morning.
Trail Easily Followed.
From there on the trail was easily
followed. Late Sunday afternoon a
mixed posse from Wahpeton and
Hankinson overlook the murderer
near White Rock, 8. D. There we're
three or four rigs Of armed mon
composing the pursuing party and
when Weldemeir saw them he OPEN
ed fre. The fre was returned and
anally one of Weldemeir's horses was