The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-11-14
Johnson alive
/. THIS AFTERNOON
Would be Suicide Believed
to Have Fighting Chance
to Recover.
SLASHED THROAT
WITH BIG RAZOR
Rash Act Committed in the
Grand Forks Police Sta
ton Last Night.

Ihorvald Johnson Of Deer River,
MIMI. who II his throat with a
razor while confined at the police
station Thursday night, is still alive
at st. Michael's hospital this after.
noon. and DIR. +. f. Murphy who is
attending him, believes that he has
: lighting chance for cover
Efforts are being made to locate
Mrs. Andrew Stark of Harris. Mimi.
n Charles johnson. 2s2S Twenty
nrst avenue south, Minneapolis, sister
and brother of the would-be suicide.
~ long distance call to Harris this
morning brought the news that Mrs.
stark had zone to Minneapolis. Eff.
forts are being made to locate her
there.
ION His Way"
When taken to st. Michael's hospi-
tai Thursday night johnson was un.
conscious. He became dellrious short
~ after reaching the hospital. how
ever, and raved wildly. declaring that
he was on the way to hades. It was
feared for a time that he would start
his wound to bleeding again.
This morning. however. the unror-
;unate man was more quiet. and some
Of his remarks to DR.. Murphy were
entirely rational.
johnson vas brought 10 the police
station it appears, shortly before noon
THURSDAY. He had arrived on a Great
Northern train from C%rookston.
The conductor OF the train had
found that Johnson wished to go to
Grand Rapids. Mimi. instead Of
Grand Forks. and had asked the .po-
Ice TO take charge of him until the
east hound train pulled out at 10
O'Clock in the evening.
On arriving at the police station
Johnson was searched. Some money.
Two Fnives and several papers were
taken from him. He was then locked
in a cell.
Asks for Clothing.
Shortly after noon johnson asked
that the bag of clothes which he had
with him when arrested be given to
him, as he wished to change some of
mis- clothes.
The bag apparently contained moth
ing but clothing and the request was
complied with: It is supposed that
ihe razor. with which he later cut
his throat. was concealed within the
bundle of clothes.
Johnson changed his clothes and
then lay down on the bunk in his
cell; using the clothes bag as a. pill
low. He held brief conversations
with various members of the police
force during the afternoon. and while
It was evident that his mind was not
entirely normal. he showed no signs
Of becoming violent.
At about $3.50 O'clock PatrolmRn
r.. Mcmahon looked into Johnson's
cell to make sure that he was all
right. Johnson was apparently lying
quietly or the bunk.
The officer spoke to him, asking if
he wished to go to Grand Rapids.
Johnson's reply was i%ncoherent and
P%atroi,nan Mahon. fearing that somc-
tain John Sullivan to come. and open
the door of the cell.
Was Bleeding to Death.
On entering the TWO policemen
'unnd Johnson bleeding profusel:'
rom a deep cut extending almost en-
.:irely across his throat. A large old
fashioned razor lying on the cell
t.oor. showed how the act had been
committed.
The unfortunate mar had already
lost a large quantity OF blood which
had collected in a pool on the bunk
and floor.
DIR. +. l.. Murphy was at once sum
ia"nsd. He administered first aid
treatment INC johnson was then
ushed Immediately to $: Michael's
hospital.
johnson told the police Thursday
that he was III his way to his home
at Deer River. Mimi. but wished to
stop at Grand Rapids enroute. He
said that he owned a claim near Deer
River and was IL lumberman by trade.
This IVES borne out by a receipt for
the final proof fee on a homestead
which WAS found in his pocket, along
with a tax receipt for the same
~"rn~nr!r..
A slip Of paper inscribed as fol-
owe Il also found: MY name is
Tira-.aM johnson. address. Deer
River. MINI. In case of accident
notify nv sister. Mrs.. Andrew Stark.
Harris, Mimi"