The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-11-11
MUNS0N SHOT
TO DEATH At
White EARTH
MAN CLAIMING TO BE MINOT DE-
TECTIVE KILLED IN FIGHT ON
NO. 4 BY STRANGER WHO ES-
CAPED-LEVI GILROY SAW THE
TRAGEDY.

morning, just as the train was enter
ing White Earth by stranger, who
jumped from the train and escaped.
Munson claimed Minot as his home
and said that he had a brother who
worked in harness shop in this. city,
but a search of the city fails to re-
veal any man by that name.
Levi Gilroy of this city, who got on
the train at Williston, was wit
ness to the shooting.
Munson had gotten on the train at
Mondak, Mont, while the murderer
bearded the train at Williston. When
Mr.. Gilroy entered the smoking car,
nearly every seat was taken. Munson
was sitting alone and recognizing the
Minot man, asked him to sit beside
him. The man called Mr.. Gilroy by
name, but refused to give his own
name. He declared that he was de-
tective, that he knew R. A. Nestos,
Ed Kelley, Frank Davis and others
we'll. He had been drinking.
Gilroy stepped into the toilet room
and found the stranger who later kill
ed Munson, lurking behind the door.
The stranger held a black revolver
close to Gilroy's face and ordered him
to come in, but the Minot man declined
the invitation. He walked back to his
seat. A young man stepped to the
door and the stranger held the gun
close to his head and said: II could
kill you and take all your money, but
I'm not going to-" The young fellow
ducked. Gilroy believes that he was
trying to get out of paying his fare.
He came out into the car, took another
fellows seat check and sat down with
his overcoat pulled up around his face.
The stranger picked up heavy
grip, evidently filled with bottles of
whiskey, as they could be heard clink-
ing together, and walked to the back
of the coach. Munson got up and
followed, ordering the stranger, who
was evidently bootlegger, to jump off
the train. The men fought, Munson,
who was the larger, striking the
stranger in the face. The stranger re-
taliated, pulling his gun, striking
Munson in the face with the butt. He
pointed it at Munson and ordered him
back, saying he'd shoot. Munson did
not seem to fear him and kept right
on going towards him. The stranger
backed out onto the steps and shot.
Munson fell backwards into the aisle
of the car. The bullet had entered his
brain, the blood and brains oozing out
making sickening sight. Mr.. Gilroy
was within ten feet of the men when
this occurred. The stranger jumped
off about 100 yards west of White
Earth as the train was slowing down,
and from tracks seen in the snow, it is
evident that he got out on freight
train that was just ready to pull out.
Munson's body was taken to Stanley
and placed in the norgue. An inquest
will be held. A man answering the de-
scription of the stranger was arrested
at Williston. Gilroy gave an excellent
description Of the man who did the
shooting. He is about 30 years old,
with black hair, very dark complexion,
very thin lips and thin nose, rather
broad STOPPING shoulders and spindl-
ing legs. He has sharp, black, beady
eyes. He wore mackinaw and wore
his hair bushy.
The man who was killed was about
As years old, weight 1870 pounds. He
had long mustache. In his pockets
were found two dollars and two pint
bottles of whiskey.
Slayer Captured.
The slayer of Munson, has without
doubt been captured and he is being
held at Williston. His description tai
lies with that given by Levi Gilroy
very closely Mr.. Gilroy will go to
Williston on No. to identify the man.
Mo-