Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1913-04-10

X and children. How is Sheriff y
X Courtney? l hope he did not X
+ get killed. X
X X X X X X X X X X X
The above were the last words ut
tered by Deputy Sheriff Richard Burg
meister, of Sheridan county, Montana,
two minutes before he died in local
hospital last Friday night as a result
of the terrible wounds received at the
hands Of colored man whom he had
been assisting in capturing.
Friday afternoon Sheriff Thomas
Courtney, and Burgmeister went to
the Union Bridge Co., three miles
west of Mondak with warrant for
the arrest of J. c. Collins, colored
man charged with causing trouble in
the vicinity. After reaching the con-
struction camp Deputy Wilson, OF
Mondal:, who had been sworn in tenn
porarily, entered the Office Of the COM
pany and inquired if the negro was
there. Hardly had he uttered the
words when Collins sprang from be-
hind the door and disarmed the dep
uty.
Leavi, Wilson in the Office he hur-
ried into the open meeting the sher-
if. He fired at Courtney twice, both
shots t; king effect and the sheriff
dropped dead in his tracks. Then COL
Inns turned the weapon upon Burg
meister, firing five shots into his body.
The shots struck the deputy in the
shoulder, through the stomach, arm
and two through the knees.
After the double shooting Collins
took the weapons of both men and
sough. hiding in the brush. A posse
Of Mondak citizens armed themselves
and started in pursuit, surrounding
the place of hiding. Thus surrounded
the negro was forced to give himsel;
up.
When brought to Mondak, lynching
was threatened, but cooler heads sue
ceeded in getting the negro to jail.
After news had reached Mondak
about 9 o'clock that night that Dep
uty Burgmeister had died in the hos
pital at Williston. mob of angry men
broke into the jail and obtained pns-
session of the prisoner. Taking him
to telephone pole nearby they hang
ed him, and then set fire to his cloth
ing. The body was left hanging until
early in the morning, when it was re-
moved and taken to the city Jail. A
short time afterward the body dis
appeared, and no trace Of it has been
found. It is alleged that some Of the
persons taking part in the lynching
made way with the remains to de-
stroy evidence by throwing the body
in the river.
All kinds of reports Of the shooting
were in circulation here Friday even
ing and Saturday. One was to the
effect that about 100 other negros in
the camp had started for Mondak to
protect the murder, and that the local
militia was wanted there. Had this
been the case the local company could
have done nothing, as they could not
20 out of the state.
Collins, who was about 81 years
old, is reported to have been a bad
man wanted in Kansas on charge OF
murder. He had been causing trouble
among the negros at the railway
camp. He came to the camp OF the
construction company, which is erect
ing a bridge over the Missouri for
the Great Northern, about two months
ago. The negro was staying with
another colored man, who recently
sold his shack to a third negro named
Patterson. When Patterson came to
the camp to claim his property, Col
Inns struck Patterson's wife with his
fists. Patterson returned to Mondak
and swore out a warrant for Collins.
Sheriff Courtney, who was killed
outright, was just. recently elected
sheriff of the new Sheridan county
and had only been in Office few days.
After Burmeister was severely wound
ed, special train was procured
which brought him to Williston to the
Hospital. An operation was imme-
diately performed but his wounds
were so serious that he lived only a
fe whours. He was not told that
Sheriff Courtney had been killed out
right. His remains were taken back
home Saturday accompanied by Sher-
if Erickson, of Williams County.
Anwrv DAT NfEp TIT