The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-26
SOLDIERS BLOW
HALTS FUGITIVE,
TWICE WOUNDED
Sergeant Murphy Breaks
Cane Over Head Of
/ Alleged Robber
CROWD THRILLED
BY STREET FIGHT
Walter Luna, Transient,
Fired Upon By Plain
/ clothes Officer

Robbery in the first degree will be
the charge against Walter Luna,
transient, now in the Cass county
jail, where he was taken Sunday
morning, following treatment at a
Fargo hospital for minor wounds,
received in the back Of the neck and
hip. when fired upon by Officer w.
J. Hooks, after a thrilling chase
shortly after midnight, Saturday.
His clothes padded with bills after
a summer and fall seasons work
near Chaffee, Matt Butcher, another
stranger, came to Fargo with Luna
Saturday and took lodging with him
in a hotel on Front street. Ab Iut
midnight, according to the police,
luna robbed the sleeping Butcher Of
S163, nearly all in currency, put on a
suit OF clothes .,wned by BuChsr, and
with two suitcases made for the
Great Northern station in Moorhead.
Clerk Becomes Suspicious.
Luma's actions in passing out OF
the hotel aroused the clerk, who,
suspecting robbery, went to Buchers
room, awoke him and not only learn
ed that the money was missing, but
that Luna took all the clothing own
ed by Butcher so that IL was impossi-
BILE for the victim to dress and aid in
the chase. While Butcher waited in
his room, police secured both cities
for Luna.
Plainciothesman Hooks arrested
Luna as he was about to leave Moor
head on the early morning train
With Patrolmen Witcik and Belgard,
LUNA was taken TO the Fargo police
station by auto.
Makes Dash For Liberty.
As the officers were about to
transfer the prisoner from the car
TO the station, Luna made a dash
for liberty, running east down n. +.
avenue with the officers, and citizens
in autos in pursuit. The fugitive
was caught in the alley near the
Farga Union Light, Heat & Pow
er Co.'S building, and felled by blows
by Plainclothesmen Hooks and
Sweetland.
With the victim asleep, Sweetland
left the man in the custody of Plain
clothesman Hooks.
Plays Postum Act.
No sooner had Sweetland left Tor
the station to get the police car than
Luna, who had played the possum
act, made another break. He dashed
around the corner OF the Edwards
block, N. p. avenue and Broadway,
and turned south on Broadway.
Hooks, f.tigued by the experience
with the fug1LlNe several IAAAubSS DS-
fore, followed slowly. Luna was
fully a block ahead and gaining.
Leans Against Post-Fires.
With the streets crowded with
passing automobiles and citizens,
Plainclothesman Hooks leaned
against one Of the poles in front of
the Edwards block, and took
aim. Two shots were fired, one strik-
ing the victim in the back Of the
neck, and the second hitting him in
the hip.
Luna continued his flight until he
ran afouI OF Sergeant b. Murphy of
Winnipeg, member of the British
recruiting mission. Murphy's cane
descended on Luma's head, laying
him out.
Luna was taken to a hospital by
the officers, and II was quickly ascer-
tanned that his wounds were not
serious.
Officer Hooks was not equipped
with handouts at the time Of MAX
ing the arrest, or he would have
been in position to avoid the subse-
quent experiences.
Luna had 1855 on his person when
arrested, and Bucher's money and
clothes were returned to him.