The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-07-25
IMMIGRATION
OFFICER SLAIN
ON FERRY BOAT !
H. G. Hebert, Ottawa, Shot
Down by Man Refused Adj \
mittance to Canada -
SLAYER PULLS GUN
WITHOUT WARNING
Tragedy Occurs just as Boat is
Making Dock at Wood
ward-ave.

II. G. Hebert, aged AZ years, OF OF
tawa, Ont, Canadian travelling Inn
migration officer, was shot and in
stantly killed by a one-legged man
who gave his name as James Fergu-
son, at o'clock Thursday afternoon.
aboard the ferry-boat, Excelsior, as
the boat was about TO dock at the foot
OF Woodward-ave.
Forty passengers, many OF them wo-
men, were aboard the ferry boat
which had just come from Windsor,
and there was panic as the three
| revolver shots rang out and Hebert
fell TO the deck, with three bullet
holes In the right side OF his head.
Women and girls screamed as deck
hands made rush for Ferguson and
pinioned him to the deck before he
could attempt TO leave the spot where
he shot Hebert He was caught and
held. with the smoking weapon still
In his hands. He talked incoherently
about being deprived Of his rights to
enter Canada.
The shooting marked the culmina-
tion Of three attempts on the naTf OF
Ferguson to enter Canada 4 ayl
morning. Each time he was aad
to the foot OF Woodward-ave., as an
undesirable person.
Ferguson's appearance indicated
4 that he was tramp, although he
claimed to be street fakir. selling
souvenirs in Detroit during the Cad
illaqua celebration. According to the
American immigration officers at the
foot of Woodward-ave., Ferguson went
to Windsor at 8 o'clock Thursday
morning aboard train, but he was
: Immediately ordered to return and he
did so unwillingly. He then boarded
Windsor ferry boat and went to
/ Windsor only to be refused admit
tance again.
Ferguson protested that he was q
citizen of Canada and that he could
prove 1t. His protest was unavailing
and he was ordered back. Again he
crossed over TO Windsor by ferry boat
and this time had an argument with
the Windsor immigration officers.
Hebert was In the Office at the time
and Ferguson protested to him, stat
ing that IL Hebert accompanied him
to this side OF the river he could prove
1t by the American officers that he
was a resident OF Canada.
! Hebert accompanied him across the
river to investigate the mans story,
/ according TO one report, and according
to another story was crossing the
river to take the Bois Blanc boat.
Shoots Without Warning.
Women who were eye-witnesses OF
the affair say that the boat was five
feet from the dock and deckhands
were proceeding to get out the moor
ing roops when, without any word or
warning the one-legged man drew
from his hip pocket a big revolver
and blazed away at Hebert who stood
across the deck from him.
The action was SO quick that He
bert could not dodge before the man
had pulled the trigger thrice and the
officer fell TO the deck, dead. The
witnesses say there was absolutely
nothing about the actions Of the
man that they had noticed which
would indicate that he was insane or
! had designs on the life of Hebert.
] In the central station, the slayer
gave his name as James Ferguson
but letters were found on his person
which indicated that his real name Is
( William Aud Ferguson.
/ Hebert's body was removed to the
| Wayne county morgue.
Cotter Nabs Slayer.
| Detective James Cotter was on
I the dock when the shooting occurred.
/ and he leaped aboard the boat.
amidst screams OF women. and hoarse
cries OF men. and overpowered Fer,
| CONTINUED on Page Eight