Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-21
SOLDIER
SHOT BY OFFICER
LIES near DEATH
Uncle of Private Coleman Says
He Will File Charges
Against Detective
KnudtS0n.

| NIluulSUlts
SO close was Detective G.. knudt-
son standing Wednesday night to
Private Charles Coleman OF Camp
Dodge, Iowa, when he sent bullet
through the soldiers body at Twen-
tieth and Dodge streets, that the
army uniform coat was powder
! burned, declared F. r. Finn of
Council Bluffs, Coleman's uncle.
II have talked to a number of
eye-witnesses to the affair" said
Mr.. Finn, who is federal govern
ment agent, "and the statement of
each person | have interviewed was
to the effect that the shooting was
uncalled for"
Finn Retains Lawyer.
Mr. Finn retained an attorney in
| Omaha yesterday AFTERNOON. He
declared charges will be filed against
the detective.
Coleman is in a serious condition
at the Lord Lister hospital. Ac-
cording to DR.. E. c. Henry, the at
tending physician, the crisis in the
condition of the patient will not be
reached until day or two.
The bullet entered the right side
and came out near the pit of the
stomach.
Coleman, who was % years old,
was married to Miss Edith Menoz,
an Omaha, girl, Tuesday He has
| laa, (-,,,,o naIro {or
| the past six months. He was visit
ing his aunt, Mrs. Grace Coleman,
| 1919 Dodge street, and two soldiers
, arrived in the city Wednesday from
the army camp to take Coleman
back. They reported to the police
that Coleman had over stayed his
time limit, but would not have be-
come a deserter until March II.
Paroled to Uncle.
Coleman was arrested Sunday and
paroled to his uncle, Mr.. Finn, who
declared his nephew had made ar
engagements to return Tuesday, but
was delayed by his wedding arrange
ments.
+ Detectives Knudtson and Jensen
were detailed to the case and called
at the Dodge street address at $50
o'clock Wedne sday night. They were
told by Mrs. Coleman that her
nephew was not i'll, but she expected
him in short while. The officers left
the house and met the soldier at
Twentieth and Dodge. According
to witnesses, Knudtson and Coleman
engaged in an argument. The detec-
tive drew his revolver and fired
shot and his victim sank to the side
walk.
81 have talked to persons who told
me they witnessed the shooting"
said Mr.. Finn. 'and | have been I'M
able to find anyone to say that the
boy was making an effort to elude
the officers. | do not believe he was.
Perhaps he had an argument with
the detective. | am not certain as to
that. I already have consulted the
best attorneys in Council Bluffs and
am advised by them that even if the
boy did argue with the detective that
was not sufficient reason for the
shooting.
"My best information is that the
shooting was cowardly taking adj
vantage of my nephew because he
said something which displeased the
officer. am convinced it was done
in fit of temper. If it should de-
vebp that the boy struck the detec-
tive, I am told even then the shoot
ing would not have been justified.
The boy was not a deserter. l
know he was going to return to
camp. He still was wearing his uni
form and had been absent without
leave only few days. He missed
his train Tuesday, or he would have
been in the army camp now"
Mr.. Finn denied that his nephew
was attempting to escape when he
was shot II have been told by sew
eral persons who saw the army coat
he wore at the time of the shooting
that it was powder burned, showing
there could not have beer more
than few feet between the men
when the shooting took place. Mrs.
Coleman and the boys wife are
among those who viewed the coat
and declared it was powder burned.
Chief Eberstein is investigating
the circumstances of the shooting of
Coleman
From the facts l have obtained
thus far it is evident that Coleman
was arrested last Sunday by Officer
Lloyd Toland and was released at
that time on the promise of the
soldier that he would go to the first
train withsa friend and return to
Camp Dodge. He was shown ev-
cry consideration on that occasion.
Then telegram was received from
Camp Dodge and the shooting re-
suited from an attempt of'Coleman
to get away. / have not yet talked
to Knudtson on the subject, but l
know that he has a good record
and that he is careful man"
Superintendent Ringer, before
leaving his Office early yesterday
morning to attend to a private mat
ter, stated that he had read the ac-
counts of the shooting, but had
not received any official information
and did mott care to discuss the
merits of the case until Chief Eber-
stein shall have made a complete