The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-15

.
. THE LAW. .
Homicide by. officers. when =
.w sSSs1i'i co,am,t Ms% sy eu Is s!s of,cers I: :
" m those acting by their CONF =
= mand in their aid and assistance, =
y either: =
. 1. In obedience to any judg- =
= Mcnt or q competent court; OF, .
. 2. When necessarily cOlnmit- =
= ted in overcoming actual resist =
" ance to the execution Of some :
H legal process OF to the discharge =
= Of any other legal duty; or, .
= 3. When necessarily commits =
= ted in rctakdng fclons who have =
- been rescued Or who have es- =
= capped, or when necessarily CONF :
e mitted in arrestins felons fleeing :
= from justice.
.
Counting danger and perhaps death
rather than shirk the responsibility of
his position, Patrolman j. H. Bliven,
more familiary known as big Joe,"
took up a chase after a supposed bad
man last night through black alleys
hat a few minutes later resulted in
the killing Of the chased-an unidenti-
fled Finlander, perhaps so years old.
The shooting occurred shortly after
midnight. the scene of the tragedy be-
ing the yards Of the Robertson Lum-
Der company on lower DeMers avenue.
only a short way off Third street and
in the business district.
Bliven was performing his duty In
response to a request OF strangers IN
the city when he brought the man
down and brought upon himself the
most unfortunate experience of his
career as a member Of the Grand
Forks police force.
The shot intended by the policeman
to brighten the running Ftnlander
slapped the life of the victim instantly.
When the officer picked up his man
near the back gates Of the lumber
yard he was dead.
started after him, was accompanied by
a pal, who disappeared during the
chase and has not been a~prehended.
Call for Policeman.
Patrolman Bliven's assistance was
summoned by Charley Mitchell of
Wisconsin. and Albin and Oscar Swan
son Of Paramount, Mimi. just before
midnight. The men said that the Fin
lander had threatened to kill them on
the East Side and that he had brand
ished a knife in their faces as they
crossed the river to this side. They
said they were afraid of the man and
asked the policeman to protect them.
They Believed the Finlander was hid
ing in the lumber yard. as they had
just been threatened by him as they
crossed the bridge.
With Mitchell and the Swanson boys
guarding the several gates to the lum-
her yard on DeMers avenue. Bliven
entered the yard alone and without a
light. After searching about the piles
of lumber for ten minutes he returned
to the front of the yard and asked
one Of the men to go for Patrolman
Duggan, as he had a fiashlight that
would aid in the search.
Bliven Shoots.
Early in the search Bliven fired two
shots into the air thinking to frighten
the alleged bad man from his hiding
place.
blackness Of the lumber piles after
he had sent for his brother policeman
and was entering an alley between the
piles when a man ran by him.
Bliven called to the runner to stop
and shouted that he woul shoot II
the man did not halt.
A second later the policeman drew
his revolver and fired, running after
the fleeing man as he pulled the Gig-
ger.
The Finlander was lying face down
when his pursuer reached him ana
was dead.
Bliven believes he was about 100
feet from the victim when he shot.
Patrolman Duggan had arrived by
this time and was taking part in the
search when 1t was SO suddenly term
mated by the killing.
The officers Immediately got into
communication with the coroner at