Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
JELVEK MET HIS
DEATH EARLY IN
MORNING, NOVA
Shooting of Minneapolis Carpenter
Was One of Most Cold BIO0ded
Deeds On Record
KILLED AS HE SAT UP In BED
Negro Intruder, Later Identified As
Carter, Pulled Gun and Tired
Without a Word.

The murder Of Peter Jelvek, for
which Carter was executed today.
took place in the Eberhart apart
ments, 1924 Fourth avenue, ut 4:30
In the mornlng of Nov 4, 1917 II
was one OF the most cold bfooded
murders in the history OF the
county.
Jelvek, Minneapolis carpenter,
who had been engaged in construc-
ton work at the Rock Island ar
senal, occupied a room in the south
east corner OF the second floor Of
the apartments His roommate
was HelIyard Bangstod, who was
also employed at the arsenal
According TO the story told by
Bangstod, JeIvek arose at { o'clock
in the morning and went TO the
bathroom, returning again to bed
About q half hour later both heard
noise in the hall and on looking
up saw a Negro enter the door OF
the room This Negro was later
identified by BangstOd as VIII Car
ter. Both men sat up in bed and
Jelvek shouted:
Get out of heret"
Disdaining to answer the IN
truder backed up a step, then pull
ed a revolver and Ieveled Il at JeI-
vek- There was a report and a
flash and Jelvek 1urched forward
without a word Still holding the
gun in his hand the Negro backed
out Of the room and disappeared
Bauggtod spoke to Jefvek but re-
cefved no answer He then rushed
out into the hall and told the other
occupants of the house that IeIvek
had been shot and killed About
that time a Negro was seen running
from the apartments by Dave De-
Smet, a taxi driver, who was stand
ing across the street The police
were notified of the shooting by E
c. Eberhart, owner Of the apart
ments. Two officers, Durham and
KeIl, were detailed to guard the
approach to the viaduct at Twenty
fourth street. Ke1 and Durham
boarded a Bridge line car and
started east on Third avenue
At Twenty-second street a Negro
ran out to hail the car. As the
Negro placed his foot on the step
of the car he saw the two officers.
Insted OF entering he turned about
with the remark, 20, I forgot my
change" and hurried into the VII
liams restaurant on Third avenue,
between Twenty-second and Twen-
ty-third streets. The officers fol-
lowed the Negro and placed him
under arrest He gave the name of
Will Carter.
Carter had previously entered the
restaurant a little after 1880. He
informed the waiter that he was
too busy 10 look over the bill OF
fare proffered him and ordered
bowl of chilli Hearing a street car
approaching he ran ont leaving the
bowl of chilli only half eaten When
Carter came running back in, after
changing his mind about boarding
the car, he also made the remark
to the waiter that he had forgot n
some change.
The officers tTlmediateIy search
ed Carter and found a revolver,
fiashlight and five loose cartridges
Six cartridges were found in the
cylinder of the gun. 1t is believed
Carter eTnptied the revolver after
the shooting, throwing away the
discharged cartridge, retaining the
others and then refilled his gun. In
his room in Davenport was found
box Of cartridges OF the same
calibre. with IL cartridges missing.
These were accounted FOR on his
person, with the exception OF the
discharged cartridge.
When confronted with the facts
the police already had in hand, Car
ter confessed to the shooting to De-
tective Thomas Cox the same dav
OF the murder. Later he signed a
written confession from a steno-
graphic report in the states at
torney's office. Coroner John G.
KILLER issued the warrant on which
Carter was held for murder. c.
B. Kaufman and r. Y. Western OF
Davenport, were made attorn eys OF
record when he was served with
the indictment in circuit court. Mr..
Western and Z. c. willis. both %
the office OF Kaufman, defended
Carter In court
Tried in Record Time.
Carriers trial, which opened the
afternoon of Dec. S. was one of the
shortest on record, the jury re-
, turning verdict OF guilty and fix
/ ing the death punishment at 9 D.
m, Dec. 3. Carter repudiated his
confession during the trial. claim
ing that II had been forced from
him under the threat or being hung
by a mob. lie told a hazy story OF
being out on two proving Jobs In
the vicinity OF Sixteenth street ana
Second avenue. at the time JelveS
was shot
! Carter stated that Julius Wellons.
a Moline Negro. was with him at
+ the time. lie insisted that after
leaving Wellous az O'Clock. re
! walked east on Third avenue. past
Hthe police station until ne reached
| Williams restaurant. The state,
however. picked his story 70 pieces.
( Wellons also contradicted Carriers
story. stating that Carter left hlm
! at 1880 IN the morning in Moline.
Wellons having met Carter on an
east bound Fourth avenue car. At
I that time Wellons stated. Carter
showed him gun ana = hashligh&
WAR GUSHING CABOIEg.
( Chicago. March 1.-THE cues
: tiop Of elimination OF caddies on
golf links as war measure for
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