The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-02
MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR
IS PUzzL|NG
POLICE
Victim Hit by Bullet Intended
for Man Who Was
Robbed.


Mistaken for a principal in a holdup
affair that occurred about 1880 O'Clock
this morning. Henry Wavra, AGED 20,
a helper in the Northern Pacific round
house in this city. was today sent to
the railroad hospital at Brainerd sut-
fering from a bullet wound in the left
side. The exact manner In which he
shot or who fired the shot that
struck him is q matter than has the
railroad men and the authorities
baffled. Several theories have been
advanced but M definite conclusion
has been reached.
The occurrence started with the
hold up of Ole Peterson. who is em-
ployed as a wiper in the round house.
He had been we on DeMers avenue
getting something to eat and while re-
turning and while near the coal dock,
a man stepped from behind a car and
held him up at the point Of q gun.
Peterson acknowledged the exigencies
of the occasion and thrust his hands
The holdup artist went
through his trousers pockets and took
possession of about SIS in cash and q
bunch Of keys. He failed however to
go through PetersoE's jacket, in which
the latter was carrying a revolver.
According to Peterson's story, he
only saw n man while he was being
"frisked" but. when he was released
he saw three or four more in the
shadows alongside Of the coal dock
and underneath the cars. When he
permitted to stop reaching for
the stars and was told to beat It,"
Peterson stepped around the corner
Of the coal dock away from the robber
and his associates. who had started
over town. Something caused the
holdup artists to look back and they
saw Peterson standing there watching
them. One Of them pulled q gun and
let fly at him. but Peterson was equal
to the occasion and took his revolver
out Of his Jacket pocket and retaliated.
Mistaken for Peterson.
Just about that time, Henry Wavrn
and l. L. Martin. who had been down
to the railroad pump house lee the
river to look over the machinery, were
returning along the railroad tracks.
As soon as they saw the shooting,
they started to run towards the round
house. It wss then that Wayra was
shot.
From the various stories that have
been related by the injured man, the
victim of the holdup and L. L. Martin.
the robbers evidently thought that the
two running men, Warra and Martin,
were Peterson and some other man,
probably the two that had been shoot
ing at them. At any rate Wavra re-
ceived a bullet IN the hip and the
highwaymen started for the city at q
top speed.
When shot Wavra half fell and
clutched hold of Martins arm. e1-
claiming "I'm shot" He was assisted
to the round house and was later taken
to his home on Washington avenue, to
which a physician was called who at
tended to his injuries. 1t was found
that the bullet had struck Wavra
above the left hip and below the kid
ney, the bullet imbedding itself in the
hard muscles Of the back. He was
made as comfortable as possible and
today was sent to the railroad hospital
at Brainerd where his injuries will be
attended to.
Several Heard Shots.
A number of people heard the shots
and it is said that five were fired al
together. One report which is being
investigated is that three young men
of the city, who are known, were near
the corner of the Hamm Brewing COM
pany building about midnight and that
they had displayed guns. Whether
they had anything to do with the hold
up and the shooting Is not known. but
the matter IL being investigated.
Heard Men Planning.
William Hagestad, who resides ct
the corner Of Bruce . and Soutl
Fourth street has also volunteered
some Information that may lead to a
solution of the matter. He states that
at about midnight or shortly after.
three men were standing on the corner
near his residence and that talk about
shooting and guns and good Jobs"
was INDUCED in BY them. Ono Of the
three is said to have been wearing q
light colored overcoat and he seemed
anxious to start something. Just what
it was Mr.. Hagestad could not hear.
Mr.. Hagestad spoke about the oc-
currence to a number Of people but he
did not hear anything about the shoot
ing Of Wavra until about noon. when
he was approached by q Times repre-
sentative in regard to the story he
had reported. When told of the shoot
ing he at nee connected the two mat
tiers and stated that he gathered from
the talk Of the three men, that ono Of
them was proposing some criminal
deed. and that tho three were planning
something. 4
Elected President
Michael Zipoy was Thursday even
ing elected as president Of the Chris
tan Enteavor Of the Presbyterian
church.
Reported % III.
Mrs. T. J. McAdam 10 reported as
being quite Ill at her home on North
Second street.