The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-15
GRAND FORKS
POLICEMAN SHOT
A THUG DEAD

Grand Forks, N. D. Oct. 15.-0ffi-
Ger }. II. Bliven of the Grand Forks
police department shot and killed a
Finnish thug few minutes after mid
night shooting the man as the latter
was attempting to escape by running
through the Robertson Lumber Co.'s
yards on DeMers avenue.
The bullet, intended by the police
ofticer to frighten the man or for his
legs, went high, hitting the flying Finn
In the middle of the back of the head.
Dead When Officer Reached Him.
Bliven, was only thirty, feet behind
the man when he fired; the Finn fell
forward. on his face, and when the
OFFICER reached his side he was dead.
A companion of the man who was
killed made his escape; he was not
seen after running from DeMers ave-
nue., where the two had pulled knives
on three laboring men with threats
TO kill. -
"He Threatened Me Three Times"
That man threatened three times
in the last week to kill me-" said Char
ley Mitchell, a land owner of Wiscon-
SIN and White Bear, Mimi, as he stood
beside the body of the dead man at
the Norman undertaking room q half
hour after the shooting.
Just week ago he pulled a knife
on me, but l got away; then again two
nights ago he did the same thing, and
tonight was the third time that he
had pulled his knife to carve me llp.
He told me tonight that he was going
to get me one way or the other be-
fore morning."
Met on Bridge.
Charley Mitchell and two brothers,
Albin and Oscar Swanson of Fair
mount, Minn1 were crossing the De-
Mers avenue bridge from East Grand
Forks to Grand Forks when they
We're accosted by the Finn and his
Suddenly the Finn shouted. There's
the man we are after" and he fol-
lowed the declaration by pulling his
knife, all the time advancing menac-
ingly toward the trio.
Avoids Finn and Notifies Officer.
Albin Swanson asked Mitchell. as
they faced the Finn and his knife, TO
avoid fight. Mitchell, however, said
he would stand his ground, and at
that point Albin says he ran to the
other side of the bridge, at the same
time shouting that he would get a
policeman.
This frightened the Finn and he and
his companion turned back to the west
side of the bridge, running to the end
and then into the yards Of the Rob
ertson Lumber Co.
Officer Makes Search.
Officer Bliven was first informed by
Swanson Of the attempted stabbing,
and he went into the yards In search
of the men, leaving the three intended
victims of the Finn and his companion
guarding the several exits to DeMers
avenue Officer Duggan also arrived
on the scene a few minutes later
Albin Swanson says he haG been
when he suddenly saw a man running
toward him and recognized the thug
who had accosted him and his com
panions. He jumped out OF the
shadow and caught the man about
the legs, but he shook him off and
turned down one of the dark passage
ways. with Swanson in pursuit, shout
Ing TO thea man to stop.
BIiven Followed the Calls.
officer Bliyen was in another pass
ageWaY between the lumber piles
when he heard Swanson's shouts. and
immediately made for the direction
from which they came. Coming into
that alley, he saw the Finn some dis
tance down the alley. running at top
speed, and he gave chase calling to
the fellow to stop.
Then the Fatal Shet.
II called 10 him to stop. said Off
| Ger Bliyen, explaining the affair.
Then ! shot, aiming, supposed, to-
wards his legs but I'M running over
the uneven ground at the speed was
going. 4 fired high and he fell had
no intention Of shooting to seriously
injure him; / only thought to frighten
| him.