Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-28
OFFICER " H 0
SHOT SOLDIER
UNDER arrest

Detective L. o. Toland, who repre-
scented the police department in the
investigation instituted by Superin-
tendent Ringer and Chief Eberstein
a number of days after the shoot
ing, the army officer asserted it was
possible he would seek to obtain
some of the facts, which Mr.. Ringer
is said to possess.
The police department did not Of
fer either the county attorneys Of
fee or Lieutenant Weeks assistance
in procuring the facts in the case.
Mr.. Ringer declared that he sus-
pended the detective from the force,
pending the hearing set for Mon
day night before the city commits
sion, on information submitted to
him by Detective Toland, who made
his report last Monday night, nearly
week after the shooting.
The police commissioner also gave
out statement with his announce
ment of Knudtson's suspension that
his detective should not have shot
Coleman. However," he added,
"Knudtson says he shot at Cole
mans legs"
Chief Eberstein announced the
day following the shooting that
Knudtson was justified in the at
tack. The police chief assumed
from the beginning an attitude of
justifying the deed for which the de-
tective has been arrested pursuant
to an exhaustive investigation con-
Quoted by Assistant County Attor-
ney Ready. Mr.. Ready declared that
he failed to obtain a single state
ment of witnesses justifying the at
tack on the defenseleSs soldier. The
witnesses are unanimous and en-
phatic in their condemnation of the
shooting.
|, Says Fit of Anger.
"There was nothing else that
could be DONE" said the assistant
county attorney. There was no
other charge upon which the man
can be held at this time. In the
light of the testimony of eye wit
nesses the attack was committed
wilfully, unlawfully, maliciously
and with intent to murder. | be-
lieve Knudtson, in a fit of anger,
sent the bullet crashing through the
body of the soldier"
Coleman yesterday was still in
a critical condition, it was announc-
ed at the hospital. In the event
the soldier dies, Mr.. Ready declar-
ed a charge of murder would be
placed against the detective.
Coleman was shot at 6 o'clock on
the evening of March 19 by Detec-
tive Knudtson after the boy was
arrested for being absent without
leave from ths army. When he~saw
the detectives approaching him in
the vicinity of Twentieth and Dodge
streets he attempted to elude the
officer. A shot was fired in the air
and Coleman surrendered. Knudt-
son and the prisoner were walking
on Twentieth street, between Capt.
toll avenue and Dodge street, when,
according to witnesses, the prisoner
protested against the detectives
dragging him along the street, de-
claring he was willing to walk with
the detective. Knudtson is alleged
to have hurled the taunt of desert
er" at his prisoner and the two men
stopped and engaged in an excited
conversation.
Married Day Before.
The soldier, who was married the
day before, begged to be allowed
to walk to the corner and explain
the situation to his wife and mother.
This was refused, according to wit
nesses, and the men engaged in a
sparring match. The soldier struck
the detective a singing blow in the
neck, and jumped back about six
or eight feet from the officer. He
was facing the detective when a shot
was fired by Knudtson. The bullet
entered just above the right hip
and emerged in the pit of the
stomach.
Knudtson claimed he fired in self