Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-03-25
Ringer Declines to Make
Statement on Wounding
Of Youth by Detective
Head of Department Says He "Must Have All the Facts
Before Him Before He Can Express Himself on Sub
ject;" Plain Clothes Man Tries to Get Woman to
Change Statement, She Charges.

w HllC SldIlCS AOlCiIldl, thC SUI
der boy who was attacked and shot
down last Wedn csday at Twentieth
street and Capitol avenue, is lying at
the point of death in hospital, G.
Knudtson, the detective, who fired
the bullet into the body of the de-
fenseless boy, still is carrying the
same weapon with which he shot
Coleman and working for the city.
Il must have all the facts before
me before / can express myself on
the subject" said Dean Ringer, po-
lice commissioner yesterday when
asked if he had taken any official
action in the case.
Then He'll Talk.
when / go over the report which
Police Chief Eberstein has made"
ne continued, Il will have something
20 say"
Detective L. O. Toland has been
working on the case.
A plain clothes policeman visited
Miss Martha Scheer 1lo North
Twentieth street, who witnessed
the shooting Saturday, and at
tempted to prevail on her to make
a statement TO the effect that
Knudtson was justified in the attack
on young Coleman, Miss Scheer de-
clared .
Miss Scheer previously stated
that the attack was unwarranted
and cowardly.
Tells of Visit.
THE detective came to my house
and presented what he claimed to
be record of Coleman's misdeed's,"
she said "He told ME that the boy
was no good and had been arrested
number of times. He said he was
investigating the matter for Police
Commissioner Ringer and Chief
Eberstin and that, Knudtson was
justified in shooting the soldier.
Il told him / did not care any
thing about Coleman's record; that
all l knew was what I saw. I wit
messed the little difficulty which
happened between the two men be-
fore the officer drew his pistol and
fired at the boy, who positively was
making no attempt to elude the de-
tective. The detective left my house
seemingly very much disappointed
because / would not say that Knudt-
son fired in self-defense, or while
the soldier was attempting to es-
cape. l could make no such state
ment truthfully, and ! desire to re-
peat, and will emphasize it on the
witness. stand, if | am called on to
testify, that the shooting was un-
called for, cruel and cowardly."
Will Demand Probe.
If Police Commissioner Ringer
does not suspend Knudtson from
the police force pending proper in
vestigation by the city commission,
F. R. Finn, Coleman's uncle. de-
clared he would make formal de-
mand through his attorney, Herman
Aye, that the city council immedi-
ately institute an investigation and
that the detective be suspended un-
til the commission has determined
whether or not the shooting was
justihable.
County Attorney A. " Shotwell
declared yesterday that he was
obtaining the facts in the case.
While he would not say positively
that he would ask for an indictment
against Knudtson, Mr.. S}otwell as
serted that the outcome of Cole
mans condition at the hospital
would determine a great deal with
reference to the nature of the GRIM
inal charge to be filed against the
detective.
Shotwell Awaits Developments.
This was taken to mean that Mr..
Shotwell was waiting to determine
if the boys wounds would result in
death before a charge was filed. IF
a charge were filed now and later
the patient should die, it would be
necessary to change it." said Mr..
Shotwell. "For this reason I think
it the better plan to await the devel-
opments at the hospital"
81 think Mr.. Ringer and Mr.. Eber-
stein are making a serious mistake
in this case" said Attorney Aye.
Their inactivity is indeed unfor-
tunate, to say the least. 1t is en-
tirely wrong to let Knudtson con-
tinue to work on the police force
with a charge OF this kind hanging
over him.
"Mr. Ringer seems to forget that
he owes a duty to the public and
that the purpose of police force is
to furnish protection to the public.
Seemingly he is devoting his entire
time and energy to protecting
member of his department. against