The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-12-07
DEATH or MAN STABBED CLAIMED
: TO BE DUE TO PNEUMONIA
AFFAIR WAS KEPT VERY QUIET
The Fight Started in One Of The Three
Saloons Recently Licensed Old
Offender Accused.


with two of his countrymen in front of
Erick Erickson's saloon week ago
last Wednesday or did he die of pneu-
monial That il the question that is
agitating great many OF our citizens
just at fine present moment.
John West young Finn from the
Falls Location. got into row with
two Of his countrymen. Oscar Silvia
and Erick Hautula in the saloon OF
Erick Erickson a week ago last We'd
nesday night Erickson put the men
ont of doors and they continued their
quarrel on the walk in front OF the
saloon. West received "A bad knife cut
in the breast and was taken to DR..
Larsons hospital where bad case of
pneumonia followed and West died
Wednesday night. one week from the
day OF the fight.
DR.. Larson stated TO a Diamond Drill
reporter that the man died of pneu
monia Asked II he would have died
Of pneumonia had the knife wonnd not
been inflicted. he said that he couldn {
say but was certain that the knife
wound contributed 10 the disease and
helped along his death The wound
was about three inches in depth over
the breast bone and slightly below the
heart.
All sorts of stories are afioat about
the affair aud the only facts I'M
disputed are those stated above One
statement is that West had pneumonia
symptoms before he went TO the saloon
on the fatal night He called it cold
and tried to cure it by getting drunk.
Another story is that he was lighting
in the same place the previous night
and that his pugilistic spirit WAS great
iy appiauded by those in charge Of the
saloon.
These stories may be taken for what
they are worth on their tace the fact
Is that the man is dead and that the
knife wound FASTENED his death at
least.
West was a member of the $ +. S.
+. and the members of that organiza-
ton are insistent that something be
done 10 determine the guilt of the man
who aid the cutting Coroner Dawson
when seen said that he went to Iron
River and laid the matter before Pro-
scouting Attorney McDonough and
that Mr. McDonough stated that il the
doctor declares the cause OF death 10
he pneumonia there ~ no cause for an
inquest nor for the holding of the two
men on murder charge. Others are
insisting on an inquest SO that the
coroner IL between the Devil and the
deep sea not knowing which way 10
Jump.
Ericksons saloon. where the fight
started. Is one OF the three new saloons
granted license two weeks ago and
that tact has brought out lot OF cen
sure upon the city authorities for en-
larging the number of saloons of the
city, IA since the recent reduction.
Crystal Falls has been "A model city ia
so FAR a. SALOONS and their conduct IL
concerned
Another fact that contributes TO the
general interest in the affair is tho
fact that Silvia IL one of the men im.
plicated in the cutting up of police
man N0yes few years ago and later
let go 10y jury in the circuit court.
The disfguring Of Noyes undoubtedly
led the man TO take his own life about
year aftetw wards.
Hautpla il an Iron River character
VINO WAS in Jail during the SINNER and
is quite well Known 20 the police au-
thorities
The two men we're not arrested until
Tuesday OF this week The serious
condition OF West caused complaint
70 be made and City Marshal Aeschli
man reported the affair to Sheriff
Holmes who went Immediately TO the
-Febin location and got three men
When they were taken before West one
of them was exonemted and let go
but the other two were held.
News OF the affair was kept so quiet
that II was not until Vests closeness
TO death was apparent that the officers
knew anything Of u and the general
public didn't know Of il until the
death Of the man caused talk upon tho
streets.
There seems 10 he n general opinion
about the streets OF the city that the
offenders are going 20 get on without