The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-01-22
His right thumb under the nail is
black and blue and the thumb near
the nail is cut.
McCrill Makes Statement.

ASkeO 0S TO MS reason IOr Killing
Thompson, McCrill said to the Inde-
pendent representatives:
"Search me. | never intended to
kill Ernie. l thought when told
him to stick 'em up, that there would
be nothing to it and that l would get
the keys and get out. Just as | drew
the revolver and told him to stick 'em
| up, Ernie, who had his back to me,
locking one of the cell doors, turned
around quick and hit my hand with
the big Jail wrench and this is what
made the gun go off.
4 Chas. Maxcy, colored, who saw the
shooting plainly, says he did mot see
Thompson throw anything at McCrill.
/ Maxcy informs the Independent that
Thompson was locking a cell door
when McCrill appeared at the dor lead
ing into the corridors surrounding the
cells. Maxcy was between Thompson
and McCrill, who pushed Maxcy out
of the way, calling to Thompson at the
same time. "Stick 'em up, Ernie"
Thompson started to turn around.
He usually carried his revolver in his
side coat pocket so that he could shoot
thru the coat if necessary without
pulling out the gun. His hand went
to his pocket as he turned around, but
he had no time to pull the trigger.
McCrill shot him once, the bullet
striking the Tailor in> the forehead,
squarely between the ,eyes. Thompson
fell dead. McCrill hurried to the body
of the dead iailor, turned the body
over and extracted the jail keys from
his pocket. He ran to his own cell
and put on his coat and cap, unlocked
the door and escaped. Maxcy rushed
upstairs.
Art Jordan, auto thief who occupied
q coll near which the TAILOR was stand
ing when he was killed, informed the
In'enendent man that the whole affair
4 was over in about minute "It was
Just like that, that" he said as he
clapped his hands together. was
right in line with the bullet and be-
lieve that it would have gotten me,
if it hadn't hit Thompson"
| At the autopsy, it was found that
the top of the jailor's skull was split
by the impact of the bullet, which
was found in the rear Of his head.
Sheriff Scofeld heard the prisoners
pounding on the Jail bars and he rush.
ed into the jail moment or two after
the murder had been committed. He
seldom carries a gun and had he ar
rived before McCrill escaped, his life
undoubtedly would have been taken
as we'll. He found the jailor's revol-
yer lying on the floor near The body
EWhether Thompsons pulled the gun
ready to shoot or whether it was taken
out Of MS pocket by McCrill looking
for the keys is not known. Within q
few minutes, Sheriff Scoheld and his
forces were looking for McCrill, whose
capture within few hours reflects
much credit on Sheriff Scofield and
his force. 4
McCrili's gun, a .ss U. s. Special,
which was bought by his brother
Thos. from Dave Phillips few hours
before the murder took place, and
which was taken to the jail by Thos.
McCrill and given to his brother at
about 5 o'clock that afternoon, was
found behind a chair at the Bruhl
farm, where, McCrill was captured.
| 1t was found by member Of the
Bruhl family the day following the
capture, and will be turned over to
Sheriff Scofeld.
Thomas McCrill, who was arrested
at his room in the Robbins block at
$3.50, an hour after the murder was
committed, has been taken from the
city jail to the county Jail. States
Attorney Herigstad filed q charge of
murder in the first degree against
Thos. McCrill, as he is considered
equally guilty of the crime as "Red"
McCrill He was arraigned before
Justice Lynch, when he waived exam
ination and was held to district court
under $25, 900 bond, which he has been
unable to furnish.
"Red" McCrill also is charged
with murder in the first degree. He
also appeared before Justice Lynch,
who fixed his bail at $4,000. Neither
brother will be able to furnish bail.
The McCrills at one time possessed
considerable money and "Red" McCrill
had an equity in a valuable piece Of
property west Of the Home hotel,
where he and his wife ran joint of
some sort, including blind pig. The
McCrills did thriving business in
their line, depositing over $4,000 in
one of the Minot banks in one. year.
cred" McCrill, until year or so ago,
owned $500 beaver overcoat and
was a silk stocking artist right. The
money has all been spent and the Nc
OAll1o dIC pCIlAlOSSs 1eCu 4IkSSIA1AS
who was serving a sentence % three
months in the county Jail for taking
liquor onto the reservation. faced a
sentence of from four to seven years
in the state penitentiary for burning
his house, west of the Home hotel in
an effort to defraud the insurance
companies. He knew that he would
soon be taken to Bismarck and that
afternoon, his brother Tom visited
their attorney and asked what could
be done for "Red." The attorney
stated that the McCrills had not yet
paid their attorneys in full and that
there was ABSOLUTELY nothing that
could be done. Tom then bought the
revolver and turned it over to his des-
perate brother. "Red" McCrill's wife,
Bessie McCrill, was in Jail for some
time, but she was let out on parole
and is now in Edmonton, Alta.
The McCrills have been going under
an assumed name in Minot. "Red"
McCrill once told q friend that when
he came to Minot and engaged in IN
unlawful business, he changed his
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