The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-06-23
SHOT WHILE TRYING
TO SEEK SHELTER.

JOnn HICKS, VINO was kfileQ frluay
night by Peter Lawson. a watchman
employed at lumber camp owned by
John Blixt, of Iron Mountain, near
Crystal Falls. was brother of Mrs.
Verne Dishnow of Pequaming. and his
tragic ending has been great shock
to all who were acquainted with the
victim of the murder.
Hicks came to his tragic end when
Lawson, without warning, opened fire
on a party consisting of James D. Sher-
man, of Marquette, Albin Delaney, of
Sagola, and the deceased, when they
sought shelter at the camp for the
night. Delaney was slightly wounded
during the fusilade, while Mr.. Sherman
regards his escape as miraculous, as
the shot that brought down Hicks was
evidently meant for him.
According to Mr.. Sherman, Lawson
at no time during the shooting uttered
a word. He refused to parley with
Sherman when he sought to explain
the party's presence in the camp, an
swering his statements with bullets,
one of which brought Hicks down.
The three men were on their way too
Watersmeet by automobile and had
passed through Crystal Falls late Fri
day night. At 1890 they decided to
stop at the Blixt camp for the night,
and turned their machine off the road
and into the camp clearing. After
shouting several times and receiving
no response, they concluded that the
camp was deserted ard Mr.. Sherman
had been told by Mr.. Blixt that he
could use the camp at any time, they
pulled the staple off the lock on the
Office door, entered the building and
prepared to retire. Delaney was stand
ing near one of the windows, when a
rifle shot rang out and bullet crashed
through, grazing his cheek. The three
men threw themselves on the floor,
while Mr.. Sherman called out to the
unknown assailant to withhold his fire
until they could explain their presence.
Receiving no answer the three men
got to their feet and walked out to the
car and turned on the lamps, seeking
to learn where the shots were fired
from. Thsy found that the assailant
was in the cook shanty, and with Mr..
Sherman in the lead walked towards
that building, calling on the man not
to fire. All three were in the full glare
of the headlights and, according to Mr..
Sherman, the man opened fire again
while he was explaining that they had
permission from Blixt to use the camp.
One of the shots struck Hicks in the
heart and he fell back into Delaney's
arms, the latter carrying him off to
the road, where he called out to Mr..
Sherman that Hicks was dead. Leav-
ing the body beside the road they ran
to the Erickson farm where they tele-
phoned for doctor and the sheriff at
Crystal Falls. The doctor, sheriff and
deputies arrived within few minutes
and the cook shanty was watched until
morning. One of the deputies crawled
up to the window and called on Lawson
to surrender. Lawson was sitting in q
chair with his rife across his knee.
He first swung it in the direction of the
speaker, but, changing his mind, put it
down and came out into the clearing,
where his only remark was that he was
not afraid of anyone.
Lawson was taken to Crystal Falls.
where he was bound over to the Iron
county circuit court for trial. Some
pigs had been stolen from the camp
recently, and Lawson had been sent
out to guard the place.
The funeral was held at Marquette
Tuesday, Mr.. and Mrs. Dishnow being
among those present.