Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-07
CANTON Girl KILLED
IN PECULIAR MANNER
Selma Knutson smothers When
Auto Slides Into Ditch, Pin
ming Head In Soft Ground.

Canton. s.. D., Dec. 2.-Selma knut-
son Is years old. at $3.50 O'Clock last
night. lost her life in a peculiar auto
mobile accident, which occurred on tha
government road about one mile from
Canton. The young wolna was smoth7
ered to death when an automobile
overturned and pinned her in some soft
ground. She was dead when friends
went to her rescue.
with +. Sand, of Doom, Ia, and Aga
nes Henry, OF Canton, the young wom-
an started on an automobile ride to tina
insane asylum a few miles west Of
mere. The road along the point where
the accident occurred is very narrow,
there not being enough space for two
to pass. The road is also
grade to a high level at this point.
All tnree were sitting in the front
seat. Sand guided the machine off the
Ioao INTO q farm yard to permit an
coming from the opposite
ulrection to pass. He started to back
out, nut the new ground gave way and
the machine slid into q ditch. All
three OF the occupants, We're thrown
OUT: Miss Henry n Sand succeeded
~ f} Jumping to safety, but Miss Knutson
ialled to escape N was crushed UNI
ger the machine. A portion of the ma
chlne rested on the back OF her head
INC buried her face in the soft ground.
MISS knutson is an orphan and was
employed as a clerk in one Of the dry
GOODS establishments here. She has a
DFother and sister living in CentervilIe,
:. %: They have been notified of her
death. Miss Henry is a b%ookkeeper in
the same establishment. Sand is visit
ing friends here.
GREGORY COUNTY SEAT
FIGHT TO HIGH COURT
Winner, S. D.. Dec. 2.-Fairfax lost
IN the first round Of what evidently will
OF FAIRFAX to retain the county seat Of
Gregory county.
Al the recent election the town of
burke secured a sufficient number of
votes to capture the county seat from
fairfax, but the residents Of Fairfax
nave raised the question as to whether
or not Fairfax was the temporary or
permanent county seat, an early court
declson having been to the effect that
1T was the permanent county seat.
In a hearing just held the attorneys
representing Burke argued that a de-
cision rendered by the state supreme
court in 1908, to the effect that Fair
settied the present matter and entitled
burke to the county seat, in accordance
WltE the vote cast. at the election on
November Z.
After nearing the arguments and ex-
am1ntng the evidence and court deci-
sions, Judge Williamson, of the state
circuit court. who presided at the hear
ms. rendered a decision holding tina
Fairfax at the time of the election in
November was the temporary, and not
the permanent. county seat.
The residents of Fairfax Immediately
served notice of an appeal and applied
for a restraining order preventing the
county commissioners or the county
officers. from moving the county rec
ords from Fairfax to Burke, pending
a decision by the state supreme court
on the appeal they nave announced
they will take from the decision Of
Judge Williamson.
The attorneys for Burke will endeav-
or to have the supreme court advance
the case on Its calendar so an early
decision can be rendered.