The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-10-13
FISHER CONFESSES TO
MURDER OF RROWn
Killing of Forest Ranger Cleared
Up by Confession Of Indian
Mail Carrier, After Con-
viction Would Have Been
Impossible.

A climax to the series of
charges, suspicious and ar
rests following the finding
of the body of William
A. Brown, government forest
ranger, on the Boise Fort reser-
walton on August 18th, was reach
ed on Sunday evening when Tom
Fisher, Indian mail carrier, con-
cion, made a clean breast of the
murder but alleges it was commit
ted in self-defense.
Browns body when found was
cut to pieces, a dozen gashes be-
ing found either of which would
have caused death, and Fisher
admits hitting him over the head
with his gun butt and slashing
him after knocking him senseless.
The confession was made to
Sheriff Meining, who while walk
ing through the Jail Sunday even
ing heard someone calling him.
Going to the cell he found Fisher.
my conscience has been
troubling me- he said in an agi-
tated voice. "This trouble has
been bothering me for a long time,
and it is getting worse. l want to
tell the whole thing and get. it
cleared up With which expla-
nation he related to Sheriff Mem
ing the complete details of the
reservation killing. Monday morn
ing he repeated his confession to
County Attorney John Norton,
Indian agent, A. B. Reagan and
the sheriff. 1t was transcribed ly
a stenographer and signed b.
Fisher, who waived examination
when he was brought before
Judge Cutting in police court lat
er. He was bound over to await
the action of the next grand jury
for murder in the first degree.
The case is one of the most COM
plicated with which the authori-
ties have had to deal in long
time. No one saw the killing. Al
ter several days Fisher was sus-
pected and placed under arrest.
Later he was released, and made
a purported confession in which
he accused seven Austrians VIII,
were working on nearby farm,
of the murder. He claimed that
he and Brown had stolen their
whisky and that the Austrians
had killed Brown for revenge. The
Austrians were arrested but later
released, largely through the ef-
forts Of Agent Reagan, who dur
ing the entire time felt that Fish.
er was the guilty man. Fisher
was again arrested and brought
to Duluth. The case seemed most
difficult Fisher had always
borne an excellent reputation and
there was no conclusive evidenc,
against him.
AS told by Agent Reagan the
substance Of Fishers confession is
that the two got drunk Oh alcohol
which Brown had std / from a
case of drugs sent to n. resc:va-
ton by the government and be-
gan fighting on their way bacl;
to the reservation witt. cros>l1.
a corduroy road lea Ing through;
a swamp.
For days Fisher went about
with a stolid demeanor, making
inquiries for the dead man, as
though he were ignorant of his
fate. From his appearance one
would never have thought that
he had Browns blood on his
hands.
Fisher said that the govern
ment had shipped a box of drugs
to the reservation containing two
bottles Of ALCOHOL" explained Mr..
Reagan. Brown found the box
at Farmer Johns landing and
discovered the alcohol. He pour
ed out about half Of one of the
bottles and got drunk on it, Fish
er joining him later and also i'm
bibing. After he had his supply
on hand Brown replaced the bot
tie in the box
Late in the afternoon or ear
ly In the evening the two started
home together. When they reach
ed the swamp road and had gone
but a little distance they
had a tussle. Fisher says that he
got Brown down, but let him up
when he begged. They continu-
ed to the middle Of the swamp and
drank more alcohol.
Then the second and fatal
fight started. Fisher claims that
Brown hit him across the head
with the butt of his gun, aod that
he still has mark on his head
from the blow. l do not know as
to that as l did not look to see.
Fisher claims that Brown then
made threats and said that he
would cut his sack open. The