The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-15
PATR0LMAN blVEN SHOT
AND KILLED AN UNKNOWN
F|NLANDER LAST NIGHT
SHOOTING OCCURRED IN ROBERTSON COM
PANY YARDs-PoLICEMAN ORDERED MAN
TO STOP, BUT HE D1DN'T-PULLED A GUN
N FIRED TO BRIGHTEN HIM, BUT Bull
LET STRUCK VICTIM INSTEAD OF GOING
INTO hi AIR.

Larimore and informed him of the
shooting. He instructed them to call
a Justice and have the body removed
to the morgue until he could come to
this city today to conduct the inquest.
Judge Phil Mclaughlin was sum-
moned and saw that the body was inn
mediately removed to the Norman un-
dertaking rooms.
Coroncr's Inquest.
The coroner's jury, consisting of
George Salisbury, Edward Richter
and N. b. Black took charge of the
case at 2 o'clock this afternoon. After
body of the Finlander at the Norman
undertaking rooms. In the dead mans
trousers pockets We're found an open
Jack knife, some small change and
matches. A post card picture Of him
self was also found.
1t was impossible to determine just
where the bullet entered the body, but
1t Is thought hat 1t was through the
back of the head.
DIR. Ruediger Of the university is
making a post mortem examination
Of the body this afternoon. In view
ing the remains, 1t was found that the
1IIdu lldu U6Su. TupIureO.
When the inquest was resumed in
police court chambers at the city hall.
]. w. Burke, a Great Northern
brakeman, was the first witness call
ed. He testified to having seen the
dead man On his train several times.
He declared the man invariably car
ried a bottle of liquor, and that he
had made trouble on a number of
occasions.
George Brown; Of East Grand Forks
was the next witness. He told Of see-
ing the dead Finn in his place last
night. and of the trouble that led up
to his election. He declared that the
two Swansons We're in his place of
business last night, and that they had
some trouble with the Finn. He then
ordered the bartender, he said, to put
the Finn out. That was the only time
he had seen the man, he declared.
Alvin Swanson was the third wit
ness called by Coroner Hetherington,
and his testimony was practically the
same as the story he related about
his short acquaintance with the Fin
lander. ,o.
There r a number Of witnesses to
be examined, and the inquest will take
the remainder Of the afternoon.
Bliven Talks. ID
Patrolman Bliven appeared at the
u~ndertaker's at 1880 o'clock this
was to be held at that hour. He
looked h~eartbroken and said that he
felt that way.
This is the toughest experience of
my life." said the big policemen"
His voice was husky and his eyes
were moist; as he related his trying
experience.
Il had a time with one of these Fin
landers once before and. didn't pro-
pose to take any chances with. this
1.-THE men who called ON me to nro.
tect them and chase the Finlander
SAID that he carried a drawn knife ana
was threatening their lives. 1 realized
that would have a hard fight on my
hands If 1 didn't frighten the runner
INTO coming with me. When 1 fired
my revolver I did not intend to hit
the man. l thought 1 had the gun
pointed where intended to have it
toward the ground.
when l discovered the fellow was dead
and that l had killed him. It was aw-
Iui. l can never get over this fright
full experience"
Wife Frustrated.
me policeman's wife is nearly pros-
trated with grief v the unfortunate
case. She heard the first story of the
shooting from her husband and has
oeen IN a near state of collapse since.
Big Joe" Bliven has numerous
friends In Grand Forks and the CITY
across the river whose sympathies ara
with MIN In this-the toughest experi-
ence of his career. ,7
What the Chief Said.
S1!1el OF PoIlce Lowe was obviously
nue. stirred this morning over Iasi
nights unfortunate occurrence. n
was at his desk early today. soine
over the particulars of the shootine
ana making IN effort to obtain furth-
er Facts that might.le ad to identifying
me Victim OF the tragedy or lead ia
''h11ng relatives of the dead man.
ms Is a most unfortunate case
and we are all very sorry for ohicer
Bliven." said the chief. I do moi
blame Bliven. He is one Of the mos
etncient officers on the force and.
believe, uses good judgment at ali
times. He feels deeply grieved oyer
his AFFAIR. as almost any man would,
Bliven was performing his duty as he
thought right when he took up the
chase after the Finlander. He went
In where more than one man would
have dared to venture. Shooting
is bad business and in this case a shot
resulted In another's death.
Il was a patrolman. for two wears
and I think I know what the boys are
up against in times like this. re-
member on two or three occasions
that l had to shoot in the air to stop
a prisoner from getting away and I
shot just as high as I could. When
a man is chasing another and fires
1t IL impossible to take any kind of
aim and the higher he shoots the bet
ter unless 1t be a chase where It ia
necessary to bring down the chased
In order to protect your W life or
the life Of someone else.
II have looked into last nights
shooting as thoroughly as possible for
me to do at this time and I am con-
vinced that the killing was purely ac-
cidental."
Blfvcn's Revolver.
The weapon which Officer Bliyen
fired last night was as pretty a gun
as any man would want to carry. Any
man interested in a fine revolver
would take IL fancy to this in a jiffy
and when Bliven exhibited 1t to MEM
beers Of the police force and newspa-
nor man thto morp}nr <ho,r -. -