davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29
WARD C0UNTY'S FIRST SCHOOL SUPT
MAY Have NET With foul Play

rest of Mountrail county man, on
the charge Of sending her an objec-
tionable letter. This man has been
away during the winter, but recently
returned.
Miss Webber's body was discovered
Friday afternoon by neighbor, Otto
Engen, who passed her house in search
OF some stock. Finding the door
locked, he looked thru the open win
dow and saw the remains. Sheriff
Rice and the coroner, DR.. Flath were
notified The coroner and deputy
made trip to the farm.
Miss Weber had kept a diary for
years. On April IA, she made her
last record, stating that she had been
removing the banking from around
the house.
On April Is, she wrote a letter to
her nephew, Donald Beers, of Spooner
Wis.,, and this is the last word from
her. In the letter she wrote that the
winter had been long and that was to
be her last winter in North Dakota.
Miss Weber, who was faultless
housekeeper, had placed her home in
perfect order that day, the floors be-
ing snow white.
The remains were inferred at Tagus
Sunday, funeral services being held
from the church. Miss Weber had
requested that on her death, her body
to be laid to rest in western soil.
Miss Weber came to Ward county
in 1885 and was the first superintend-
ent of schools of this county. She
taught in the Minot schools in the
early days. She was born in Oil City
Pa, and came west with her brother,
Fred Weber, who now resides at La
Glaca, Alta, Can. Two sisters live in
and one in West Vir-
ginia.
Miss Weber taught school in Penn
sylvania before coming west. She
was graduate of the Pennsylvania
Normal school and was highly re-
garded as an educator. She was a
woman of the very highest type. For
years she resided in this city, her
home being on the present site of the
Bethany Lutheran church.
Miss Weber had taught school for
over twenty-five years and was draw
ing a teachers pension. She was
well-to-do-, building up fine farm
near. Blaisdell.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29
Litchfeld, MINI.
April Fl, 1920.

Editor Independent:
The north half of the 3rd Con-
grcssional district has never had
representative in congress since its
first formation and it seems to me
that it is nothing but fair that this
office should swing to the worth half.
The present holder is a Democrat
elected by the League so that does not
count. Before that our only congress
man was from the extreme south
western part Of the state and was
rarely seen or known in Minot or the
northwestern part of the state.
1t seems to me that the northwest
ern part of the state should he EMIT
led to the congressman at this time.
Further, am somewhat out of pa
tience with all office seekers rushing
around North Dakota trying to jock
ev themselves into favorable posi-
ton to secure any nomination. This
is all wrong. Every North Dakota
candidate who is on the square should
be in Minnesota doing his utmost to
beat the League here. The primary
election here is ten days ahead of
North Dakota and if this state goes
League all the candidates for office
from H. to B. won't save North Da-
kota from going under as the interest
Of the two states are so closely al.
lied that North Dakota will follow
Minnesota.
The battle is therefore in this state
and all those sincere in their procla-
nation to defeat Townley should be
in this state heading off the common
enemy
The battle has ceased to be in North
Dakota.
The Red River has become the
Marine and the battle has passed the
Marine and now stands before the
gates of Paris being Minnesota's
capital, and all the fighting done in
North Dakota between now and June
81 is but useless effort. The only
thing that can be done is to perfect
an organization and do battle royal
after the Minnesota election for as
goes Minnesota so goes North Da-
kota.
The situation in this state is bad
The bulk of the people are either dor
mant or scared to death and Townley
is marching to an easier victory here
than his first one in North Dakota
There is but go days left before the
primaries and that is not very much
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29

Turtle Lake, N. D., April 26.-Of-
ficials who have Investigated since late
Saturday details surrounding the muir.
der of Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Wolf, their
five daughters and hired hand, were
today at loss to fix tn" blame for
what probably is the mo voting
and fendish crime in the history of
the state.
In the cellar of the Wolf farm home
three miles from Turtle Lake, were
found the bodies of Mrs. Wolf and
three daughters, and that CT Jake
Hofer, the farm hand, while the bodies
of Mr.. Wolf and two other daughters
were found partially concealed under
a pile of hay in cowshed few rods
from thc residence.
The terrible crimes were commit
ted probably on Thursday afternoon
last. ard they were discovered Sat-
urday afternoon by John Kraft, a
neigAbor.
Only baby, eight months old, cry
ing from exposure and hunger, lying
in crib in q room only q few feet
removed from the kitchen, in which
at least five of the victims of the aw-
full crime met their fate, survives.
Whether the murders are the work
Of 6Hatic, or were the result Of q
carefully laid plot, officials cannot
say.
To date they have discovered only
TIVE clues. They have found shot
gun, 1rown into . slough mile north
Of The Wolf home, and they have also
recovered pair of blood-soaked over
alls, PARTLY concealed in the cellar,
where five of the victims were thrown,
one ON top Of the other.
Slain With Shotgun
All but one Of the eight persons
were shot to death with shotgun,
fired from behind, while the other
was killed with a smashing blow on
the side of the head with the broad
part of Ratchet blade.
Jacob Wolfe, Al, father of the UNI
fortunate family, was shot through
the right side from behind, which shot
away three ribs, and he was also
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29
Body of Miss Sadie E. Weber
Found Beside Bed at Her
Blaisdell Farm.

Miss Sadie E. Webber, aged So
years, the first superintendent OF
schools for Ward county, was found
dead in her farm residence, where
she had been living alone for several
years, nine miles southwest of Blais-
dell, N. D., by neighbors on the even
ing of April %. Death had occurred
fully week before the body was
found, it is believed.
Death was due to strangulation and
at first it was reported that Miss
Weber had committed suicide by
strangling herself with q sash cord.
The body was found in half re-
clining position by the side of the
suicide, she had sat on the floor be-
side the bed, then made moose OF
the sash cord, and tying the other end
to the foot Of the bed, leaned back
ward and slowly choked herself to
death. The cord had made deep
mark in the neck.
The body was found fully dressed,
Miss Weber evidently having just
returned from the rural mail box.
She wore her coat, high overshoes,
and had on her hittens, the key to
the mail box being found in one, OF
the mittens. The door was locked
from the inside but one Of the win
dows was open about foot.
Guy 0. Frank of this city, was mott
fed of the death of Miss Weber,
who is distant relative, and he left
at once for Blaisdell, going to the
farm. Mr.. Frank is OF the opinion
that Miss Weber, met with foul play.
A brother-in-law, w: T. Beers, OF Oli
the deceased, arrived in Minot this
morning and will go to Stanley to
take up the matter with the author
tiles. Miss Weber was in comfort
able circumstances and Mr.. Frank
says that there is no reason why she
should have wished to take her own
life.
Some time ago, she caused the ar
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29
IS MARCHING TO
EASY VICTORY IN MINNESOTA

will take a miracle of some sort or
d bolt. of lightning to save this state.
Therefore North Dakota candidates.
for office hohld bury both their
gr UGH and their ambitions and come
to H;n sota and to their duty here,
and quit running around up there,
dancing in the spotlight.
We have too much vaudeville and
slack wire dancers in our public life
and this surely disgusts the common
everyday voter.
Yours truly,
E. =. McCutchenn
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29
WOMAN GETS $4,000; ..,
NOW ASKS $1OO, OOG

Fargo, n. D., April 28.--ln an am
ended complaint, Miss Amanda Lar
son, victim Of an accident for which a
district court jury awarded her $685.
900 damages, asks that she be given
100000 damages. In the original
trial of the case in which Mrs. l..
Smith Russell is the defendant, Miss
Larson asked $4,000 damages. Miss
Larson asserts she has been perma-
nently disabled by the accident and
that she has been bedfast ever since it
occurred, which was three years ago.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29

| wounded IN the back at long range
The former shot caused deep wouni
and tore away most of the side OF
Mrs. Wolf, s5, was shot in the bacl
at close range, the gunshot tearing
hole two inches in diameter This
was the only mark on her body.
Bertha, Is, was shot in the nose al
close range, the charge blowing away
almost the entire front of her face
The assassin then smashed the hatch.
ct across the mangled face, nearly
severing the head.
Maria, 10, was shot in the back OF
the head behind the left ear, the skin
and hair being badly burned from
the powder charge.
Edna, 8, was shot in the back of
the head at close range, the shot tear
ing huge cash across the tiny head
Lydia, 6, was shot back of the left
ear and the base of the skull was
deeply cut by blow from the Ratchet.
Martha, 3, frontal bone of head
smashed in by blow from the broad
side of the hatchet.
Jake Hofer, 10, hired hand, was
shot through the back of the neck,
u,
juglar vein shot away.
The eight months old baby, Emma
the only survivor of one of the worst
crimes recorded in North Dakota, is
today the owner of the we'll equipped
farm, free from membranes and
valued at over 100000. For at least
two days, the murders having been
committed shortly after noon Thurs
day and the bodies not discovered
until Saturday afternoon, the baby
scantily attired in a heatless room
was slowly starving to death.
Her rescue by neighbors is all that
prevented the entire Wolf family of
eight from being destroyed.
A number of Investigations and
searches were conducted by the au-
thorities all day Sunday in an at
tempt to apprehend the person or
persons who committed one of the
most heinous crimes ever perpetrat-
ed but without success.
The finding of double barrel shot
gun in a slough one mile from the
Wolf farm Sunday afternoon is still
considered the most important clue
on which the authorities have to work.
The ownership of the shotgun which
had only been in the water, day or
two is still undiscovered.
The authorities announced last
night after an all day investigation
of the farm home, barn and farm
yard that Mrs. Wolf, Bertha. Lydia,
Martha and Jake Hofer were prob
ably murdered in the kitchen Of the
home and their bodies then thrown
down the cellar under the kitchen.
Mr.. Wolf was probably killed in
the barnyard as he was rushing to
the defense Of his wife and children,
having evidently been out to the cor
raj to attend to the stock after eat.
ing his dinner Thursday noon.
Maria and Edna, the two daughters
found under the pile Of hay in the
with their fathers partly
body, probably were shot
while running into the cowshed to
escape the murderer or murderers.
Mr.. VOLTS body probably fell in
the farmyard where he was shot and
then was dragged into the cowshed
and hidden under the same pile of hay
where the fiends had placed the dead
bodies of his young daughters.
-(Ccntinued on Page 81
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29

Fargo, N. D.-The North Dakota
Minimum Wage conference fixed the
scale of wages to be paid by hospitals
to nurses in training, by providing
that the first year they shall be paid
"a q month, S. q month the second
year and SO a month the third year,
in addition to their maintenance. The
maximum hours permitted is So a
week.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29
FAMILY Of Eight
FOUND MURDERED
At TURTLE Lake
Jacob Wolf, Wife, Five Shildren
and Chore Boy Murdered
Mursday-Axe Was Used.

Wild rumOrs are current that
the slurderers of the Wolf family
have been arrested. This il not
correct. Late this Thursday
afternoon, the Independent learns
that The authorities have not yet
apprehended the murderers; tho
they are hopeful that the identity
Of de owner of the gun found in
tho slough will lead to the arrests
Of de guilty culprits.
HDodhounds from the state
peniteatiary were bret to the farm
and used but so many people had
visited the farm that the murder
crs could not be tracked.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29
OGDEN MAN DIES.

Dogden, N. D., April 27.-Christ W.
johnson, 4S, died at his farm home
near here of heart trouble. Mr.. John
son located on a homestead in the Cot
tonwood Lake district 20 years ago.
Surviving are the widow, 10 children
and one sister.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29
Rev. X. A. MacMullen Accepts
Chicago Charge

Rev. r. A. MacMullen, who was
pastor of the Baptist church in Minot
ten years ago, has been called to the
Temple Baptist church in Chicago,
with big increase in salary. For
five years he has been in charge of
the Baptist church at Rochester,
MINI.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29
Cadillac Car Backs Thru Second Story
Wall

A Cadillac automobile, which was
being overhauled by Grover Filar,
electrician at the Automart, backed
thru the side of the building on the
second floor and very nearly fell to
the ground below. 1t hung on bal.
ance until workmen could fasten it
with ropes and was later pulled back
into the building. One window and
section Of the brick wall We're torn
out. The car was not badly damag-
ed.
The car had just been put into
ship-shape and Mr.. Filar had put the
battery in it. The car was left in
gear and as soon as Mr.. Filar attach
ed the wires, it started the motor.
Mr.. Filar was at work in front of
the car and before he could get
around to turn it off, the car had
backed thru the wall.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-29

Dick HalvorsOn's Car Smashed
r. D. Halvorson's car was badly
damaged Wednesday evening at the
corner of Third Street and East Cen
trail avenue when a big Buick car
driven by ICY" Gallagher ran into
it. Halvorson's car was being driv-
en- by a brother of the owner, bud"
Halvorson. r. D. Halvorson is tran
sacting business in the east.
Evening star., 1920-03-03
PROMOTION FROM RANKS.
Police Association Takes Stand on
Selection of Superintendent.

Appointment of a successor to the
late Maj. Raymond w. Pullman as
superintendent of the Metropolitan
police department from the ranks of
the service was favored in resolutions
adopted last night at a meeting OF the
National Association of Policemen of
Washington. The resolution was in
troduced by Milton D. Smith of the
traffic squad.
A protest was entered against the
probationary system that requires a
newly appointed member of the force
to stand second physical examina-
tion at the expiration OF one year be-
fore permanent appointment is made.
1t was pointed out that member of
the force is required to purchase an
outfit costing approximately 5000. d
If he fails to pass the final physical
examination he is forced to give up
his position and the equipment is
practically a total loss to him.
Strong effort is being made by the
association for the retention of the
$40 bonus. A special committee has
presented the matter to the members
OF the Senate and House District of
Columbia committees.
Evening star., 1920-03-03

When Mrs. Camilla Lowell walked
into the home of her sister, Mrs. Ce-
iestia \. Ferris. at 131 \ street north
east. on the occasion of Mrs. Low
eus ninetieth birthday Monday night.
she found congregated at the house
thirty members of her. family ready
TO give her a surprise birthday party.
Four Generations Represented.
Four generations of her family
were represented. A shower of gold.
a dollar for each year of her age. was
presented by relatives and her friends
of the Metropolitan Baptist Church,
9th and \ streets northeast.
kilograms of congratulations were
read from relatives out of the city,
and a general old fashioned surprise
party resolved itself into a celebra-
tion for the nonagenarian.
Mrs. Lowell was born at Northamp-
ton. y. y, on March l, 1880. Her par
ents were Amos and Anna Hunt. She
came to Washington with her family
in 1S49 and settled in the northeast
section of the city, which since then
has been her home. In 1853 she mar
ried Thurston Lowell of Maine, who
died in 1897. She is charter mem
Der OF the Metropolitan Baptist
Church. which she helped organize
tortytwo years ago
List OF Guests Present.
Among those present at the cele-
bration were her children. Emma y.
Boynton. Charles T. Lowell and wife,
and Hattie Lowell: her grandchildren,
Lewis T. Boynton and wife. Henry D.
Boynton and wife, Helen P. Lowell
and Olga Lowell; her great-grand-
children, Mildred Boynton, Maud
Boynton. Frances Boynton. Charles
w. Boynton, c. Hills Boynton and
Lewis T Boynton, jr.: her sisters,
Celestia A. Ferris and Emily E. Hunt;
her nieces and nephews, Anna l..
Ferris. Amos Z. Hunt. wife and
daughter, Eleanor: George Sholes,
wife and children. Mary r. and
Stephen H; Edward Collision and
wife; Edwin Hunt. wife and daughter
Alice. and cousin. Mrs. J. ]. Horton
and son, Col. William E. Horton. and
c. William Gwynne.
Evening star., 1920-03-03
Marriage Licenses.

Marriage licenses have been issued to ths
following:
Thomas J. Gallagher and Alfredo P. Bruno
both OF New Castle, Pa.
Gus Gray and Marcelia Dodson, both OF. L.
Plata, Nd.
Alphonzo G. Mack of this city and Annie
McClough of Baltimore, Md.
Paul d. Johnson of this city and Emily
Peckham of Mt. Rainier. Md.
John E. Canady and Beatrice L. Williams
both Of Richmond. Va.
Louis L. Lawler and Alise r. Tatum.
Chapel Peake of Long Eddy, y. T.. and
Katherine I. Reichman of Acidalia. y. Y.
Claude NJ. johnson of Richmond, Va, and
Jessie o. Sven Of Newton. Ill.
Edward Stanofeld and Florence Pinkett.
James Fl. Diggs and Viola VI. DuvaE.
william Heron and Rosie l.. Young.
Frank Hodgkin and Caroline G.. Somers.
Drewie Smith and Hattie Smith
D.. Raynal Black of Chicago, H.! and Hilda
f. Herpy OF this city.
Benjamin II. Parker Of New York city and
Susan +. Gili.n OF Vienna. Va
oro &. Ellsworth Of Nadduy Mont art
Freda V. Hofeldt of Marinette. Wis.
Evening star., 1920-03-03
Deaths Reported.

The following deaths have been reported To
the health department in the last twenty -four
hours:
James NJ McCauley. ~, 4l9 ST. Sc.
George Flick. e.. 7o6 4th st. ne
John II. Rank- cad. II. 1865 Columbia I'd.
Helen NJ. Meyers, So. 10 18th St ne
Dayton S. Ward. as. 1869 Columbia I'd.
John c. Whitaker. -. Walter Reed Hospital
Mary Y. Dyer. 90, 3o4S :. St
James s. Breast, 81. 317 1st st. sc.
Elzada RICHTER. %, 533 llth st. sc.
Marianne Murdock. 76 1924 ST.
Harriet NJ. Prescott. SIS, 72os Blair I'd, Ta-
ESma Park.
Edith L. Decker. 40. 1401 Columbia rd
Infant Of Richard NJ. and Carol Il. Kalb. IL
hours. Sibley Hospital
George r. Robinson. IS. 1868 Church st.
Frank Costley. S3 Freedmen's Hospital.
Eliza Berry, 80, Washington Asylum Hos
pitsl
James Fl. Jackson. IS. n. c. Jail.
William s. Logan. l, 1915 18th st. ne.
Peter J. Brown. 30. 1854 10Th q.
James Love. 40, c2S l st. s.w.
William Bowie, IS. ~ st. s.w.
Evening star., 1920-03-03
Births Reported.

The following births have been reported t.
the health department in the last twenty -fou
hours:
Gaetano and Rosa Stefanelli girl.
James E. and Maud NJ. France boy
William +. and Sarah NJ Beard girl
LLOYD and Minnie NJ. Thompson girl.
Walter T.. and Catherine A. Thompson. girl
Glenn W. and Catherine L. Ashley boy.
Vernon !. and Mabel =. Rennett boy
Joseph II. and Harriet Friedman girl.
Harry and Gertrude White girl
II. F.. and Irene Hartney boy.
Claude and Emma Owen. boy
Eugene and BERTHA O'Rryhim. girl
otho and I.uvinia Morgan, hoy
l. Smith and Gertrude Iankford girl.
Richard NJ and Carol L. kalh. boy.
Bernett {. and Theresa NJ. Johnson girl.
James r. and Eugpuia s. Durnell girl.
John and Mary nibhie, girl.
W. II. ard Deborah r. Brennan, boy
Herman J. and Mary E. Kaiser. boy
Joseph and Nary \. Weare. girl
Charles and Jeanptt" Silverman. boy
Robert L. and Marian Dewalt boy
Wayne W. and Clara Bradley girl
Walker and Bertha Johnson boy.
Charles F.. and Willie NJ Gee. girl.
John Il. and Lureue Hill. girl
Toney and Ella Brown. boy.
Charles II. and Hattie Franklin boy
George and Zeda l.. Robinson. boy
Evening star., 1920-03-03
ARMY STORES TO CONTINUE.
Director of Sales Announces Pro-
gram for Retail Branches.

The director of sales has announced
that no Army Quartermaster retail
store or branch store, of which there
are at present seventy-seven in op-
Grafton in various parts of the United
States, will be closed until its supply
has been practically exhausted or un-
til its overhead expense exceeds 10
per cent of it's sales receipts. More
than 90 per cent Of the items adapted
for sale through the retail stores al
ready have been sold. The supply.
therefore, having been greatly dimin-
ished. particularly of those items for
which there Is the greatest demand.
the expense Of operating these estab-
lishments Is materially increasing.
Evening star., 1920-03-03

Fire destroyed the Wellington Glas.
Company plant at Cumberland. Md.
Sunday night. The loss Is estimated a
S2b0 600
Evening star., 1920-03-03
INDORESS D. C. SUFFRAGE.
Literary Club Backs Campaign of
National Press Club.

The Excelsi Literary Club. 1i34
Rhode Island avenue northwest. has
indorsed the campaign of the ma
tional press committee for District
of Columbia suffrage. At q meeting
of the club yesterday a resolution
introduced by Mrs. Anna f. Hendley
president OF the Anthony League
placing the club on record as favor
ing representation in Congress and
the electoral college. was unanimous
ly adopted.
Evening star., 1920-03-03
DEPICTS BIRDS HOME LIFE.
DR.. H. c. Oberholser Gives Lecture
Before Audubon Society.

The Home Life of Birds" was the
ject of an Illustrated lecture by DR..
II. c.. Oberholser. assistant biologist
of the biological survey. before the
Audubon Society at the Wilson Nor
NAL School yesterday afternoon. The
lecture opened the course of the bird
study class.
DR. Oberholser told Of the nests and
found in the District and throughout
the country. Bird life on the plains
and the home life of waterfowl were
discussed.
The Audubon Society is to begin
it's series Of spring walks to study
birds next month.