The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-06-14
MGWORTH ERICKSON BARELY ESCAPES DEATH AT
HANDS OF BRUTAL OFFICER.
Machnists Union Takes Prompt Action Man Had
Committed No Offense- Monetary Demand Made on
Proctor's Village Trustees Made Poor Record
in Oliver and Duluth Booze Has Hard Hold of Big
Bruiser-Story Of Crazy Treatment Given Jtney Owner
Drinks "Chub" Brennan's Booze.

the walk and told him to 60 home.
The chief then roughly grabbed me
by the arm and exclaimed, Go homel'
"'Beg your pardon, chief said,
but I am not implicated in this
alteration. have just finished play
ing in the orchestra
"'Orchestra helll' Palmer roared. ~
"Chief Palmer promptly followed
that remark by smashing me over the
head with his club. The blow struck
me on the forehead, over the left brow.
I tumbled into the gutter from the
force Of the. blow which half stunned
me. I was helped up and I was con-
scious enough to ask Herman Footland
and Mrs. Engle to explain to the chief
that was a member Of the orchestra
and that I had not been outside when
some boys had been quarrelling.
"Palmer told both Footland and
Mrs. Engle to mind their own business
and he would attend to his. ...s.s
"Palmer again grabbed me by the
arm and demanded that I 60 home or
he would run me in. Friends helped
me home. My head got worse very
rapidly and was in great pain and
agony. I was just about insensible, in
fact, when the boys got me home.
cdr. Guilmette, a member Of DR..
Webber's staff at the Missabe Hos
pital, was called and he found my con-
| dition so serious that he gave me q
narcotic hypodermically.
'I still was out Of my head Sun
day morning. There was lump on
my forehead as big as your hand. I
was in bed three days and away from
my work for an entire week. The
doctors inform me that they cannot
yet tell whether or not there will be
permanent bad effects from the blew
The Rip-saw inspector could feel
that ridge on Erickson g head, due to
the smashing, cruel blow. He looked
wan and not at all like a well man.
The skin yet was discolored from the
effects of the smash given him. That
was ten days after the brutal assault
had been committed. " =.
When DR.. Guilmette was dressing
Erickson's hurts and trying to ease
the terrible distress his patient was
in, a brother Of the injured man went
to Palmer's residence and called him
out Of bed. ~ ~.
"What do you want'" was the
gruff inquiry. nc.
"The doctor is over at our house
now and want you to come over. III
"What for3o was the surly query.
$50 as to see what you have done
to my brother" was the response.
"That does not concern me-" coldly
replied the big bully. r@e
Young Erickson told the Rip-saw in
spector that Palmer 3 .. house smelled
like, q saloon. The thirsty chief pre-
sumably had tanked up heavily, on
Illicit booze before going to Slumber-
| land and the fumes his breath gave
off, strongly scented up the Palmer
mansion. ......:- .s. ...,Ft
Many of those, who were present
after Palmer smashed Erickson with
his club are alleged to have stated to
! different ones, at different times, that
Palmer had every indication Of being
under the influence of liquor when he
hit the young machinist. ...,. ,r,.- -,
Some. of those who saw the treat
| ment handed out to Erickson were 80
incensed that they proposed to deal
with Palmer right then and there but,
brakeman counsel1ed moderation and
his voice carried the night, so to speak.
As stated, the complaint of the. Ma,
chinists' union has been referred to the
committee on police, trustees Thomas
and Mckenzie. The entire village
council embraces the following, viz:7
President, W. ). Greene; recorder,
Il. sIG. 5Wombacher; trustees, Sam
Thomas, Dan Mckenzie and, Ed. Erick-
SON., Final decision will rest in the
hands OF, the, entire board Of trustees.
Now comes John F. Mcneil with a
startling story Of adventure with
Bruce "A. Palmer and alleged abuse at
his hands in his official capacity of
chief Of police. ca s.3 ., s.as.rgA fs
Mcneil runs a jitney between West
Duluth and Proctor. On or about May
20 he took his aunt, Mrs. Atkins, to
her Proctor home, after which he came
down town and talked to some friends.
Going up to the Y. M. C. A., O'NeiI
started inside to telephone. &.
Just then chief Palmer swelled up,
to the machine.
p "Are you going out with these fell
lowss" he demanded.