Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1913-09-26
lAKOIA FARMER SHOT
BY A FORMER EMP[0Y['
SECOND KILLING IN TEN DAYS
THERE-JOhN DAVIS
ARRESTED.

Lakota, N. D., Sept. 22-1ncensed,
he says, at abuse heaped upon his
wife, John Davis aged 36, tonight
shot and instantly killed Tony Poll.
man, aged Al, the shooting occurring
in the front yard Of the Davis home
in this city, following brief quarrel +
between the men.
Davis remained at his home till
Marshall Hullett arrived, and he was
later taken to the Grand Forks jail !
by Sheriff Smart.
Pollman was bachelor farmer ana
formerly resided at Wilimott, Mimi,
where his remains will be taken,
while Davis came to Lakota less than
two years ago from Duluth. MINI.
Last spring Davis and his wife were
employed on the Poilman farm, 3
half miles from the city, and trouble
resulted at that time.
This trouble was renewed within
the past week or ten days, and it
came to head when Pollman called
at the Devils residence shortly before
10 O'Clock today.
Earlier in the week Davis claims
that Polman visited his home, whtc
he (navis) was absent, and abused
his wife, calling her names. Tonight
Davis was home and he called Pollmaa
to task for the earlier tro!,nle.
Pollman and Davis were standing
iust outside the door Of Davis homo
WHOM the sioo ing oc .i.rtd. Davis'
revolver tulie; hitting pollman in the
eye, death l'eipg instantaneous. STEP
ping by his victims body, Davis en-
tered lis tcme, closed the door and
waited the arrival Of the officers.
Davis reputation, according to ae-
quaintances, has always been good, he
being man of quiet temperament. He
has two children, the eldest being 8
years old and the other an infant.
l The inquest will be held Monday,
(, States Attorney Skulason reaching
the city late tonight from Grand
Forks.
Tonight's shooting is the second
murder in the city within ten days, a
!; fatal shooting occurring in pot gang
ssysrai Sheriff pays 4. e. &. Smart, arrived in
!, Davis in custody, having taken the
train at Michigan City, where they
hurried by auto soon after the shoot,
!, ing. He was placed in the county jaif
> pending hearing later. Prosecuting
Attorney Skulason who was in the city
last night, was wired of the shooting
) and left hurriedly for Lakota at $3.50.
Calmly Tells Story.
j. D. Bacon, who was at Lakota
last night at the time Of the tragedy,
was a passenger on the same train
and being personal acquaintance OF
Sheriff Smart, talked with the officer
and the author of Pollman's death, the
latter volunteering the story Of his
side of the tragedy and discussing it
calmly and, according to Mr.. Bacon,
with apparent candor.
No Intent to XIII.
! According to Davis, who is a quiet
unassuming young farmer he fired
his revolver in the air in an effort to
drive Pollman away from his premises,
and this after he had borne insults and
been twitted of cowardice when he re-
fused to come out Of his home.
He stated that his wife yesterday
came to the farm near Lakota where he,
: Davis, was engaged in threshing and
related q story Of alleged insults at the
; hands Of Pollman, who, she said, had
! been to the house and while in liquor,
talked in an abusive manner to her.
; Sought Warrant.
Davis walked home with her and
: went to the Office Of the justice to
swear out a warrant for Pollman Is ar
rest. The justice. he states, directed
him to the states attorney, and he
went there, to be advised by the lady
who answered his knock at the door,
that Mr.. Skulason would not be home
until later in the night. He returned
to the office of the justice, who told
him to come at O'Clock.
Pollman Arrives.
, He then returned to his home and,
according to his story, few moments
later Pollman arrived and came to the
. door. He claims he was called a
= coward when he told Pollman that he
:. did not want any trouble, and was
q threatened by the latter, who said he
!, i'' would kill him if he had him arrest.
d ed.'' The taunts of Pollman continued
g he stated, and he finally secured hts
/. revolver and went out into the front
d yard with the idea Of frightening his
$ tormentor away by exhibiting the gun
Fired Over Head.
h He stated that he fred the revolver
: as he intended, over the head Of Poll.
man, saw him drop, and then, Mortified
- at what happened went into the house
= to await the arrival of the officers. He
2 states that several neighbors saw the
n tragedy and heard the alteration be-
tween himself and Pollman, and knew
of the indignities his wife had suffered
= in the day in the nature Of vile cpl.
d thets and abuse. When the officers ar.
a rived Davis bade his wife, weeping and
S hysterical. goodbye and himself in tears
{ accompanied the officers to the auto
}. ombile which conveyed them to Miehi.
/ gan City.
Employed by Po1lman.
/. Davis, with his wife and two chil
q dren came from Georgetown, ILL.,, and
= last spring hired out to Pollman on his
~ farm near Lakota. He states that Po]l
= = man made his home with them and that
u he liked him personally only when the
, t'at+nr was in 1inuor. on those occasions
e he being abusive and hard to get alone
with. Another brother of Pollman board