The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-03-24

DVULL Ill y DsIlVrl
!. Of SH0 yKING TRAGEDY
The awful tragedy $hch snuffed out theli Of Willie
Olson who met his ath from revolver bullet in the
hands Of Policeman IN Jensen about 12,SO Thursday
morning was shock to the people Of this community 1t
is hard to give many details Of the terrible affair but
will try and be as fair ast possible to be under the cir
clstances As near as gather the officer TAX
ngPau Featherstone to Jail for being drunk and dsor
derby and Roy Kernkamp and others nterfered and a
general mxup occurred Olson it is sad rushed out to
help up someone else who had fallen down, and it is claim
ed the officer shot him. He hit the heart and died
quickly The melee happened, we are told, opposite the
Swanson hotel on Fourth Avenue or thereabouts Olson
was on his way home and IS clean cut innocent victim
maker and in trying to restore peace is the
his life. He of the finest young men in the city
There several witnesses to the killing we have been
told and presume that all the facts will be brought out
at the inquest which will undoubtedly be held by Coroner
Hoberg very We prefer to let the corones inquest
bring out the facts 50 that the real truth can be known
Jensen when asked for an interview by Times, Record
representative said that he had nothing to say havngtold
his story to his lawyer, A. P: Paulson.
Paulsohs story stated III detail:
Jensen it seems had taken Paul Featherstone into Gus
tody charged with drunkenness and was taking him to he
city gail when Roy Kernkamp interfered attempting to
get Feaherstone loose Jensen claims he hit Kernkamp
with his club but about that time two three other
whom Jensen did not know at the tme also Joined forces
with Kernkamp and Featherstone Olson being among the
number. Jensen claims that they threw him down and
were mauling him, and one Or two of them remarked Kill
Olson, Jensen says was lying on him when he pulled
his gun with the intention of shooting into the air to at
tract attention When Olson Jensen pull the gun,
according to the statement he grabbed Jensen hand and
twisted it about in such to cause it to be dis
charged Jensen claims that he did not know that the shot
claims and said aren't going to shoot you? Well
guess I'm shot The shot entered his chest just to the
right Of the heart.
a, Olsen died on the way to the hospital. @ ssz
Immediately after the altercation, Jensen called the
chief Of police and gave himself up He taken to the
county jail, where he is held at the present time.
Jensen has wife and two children, one an invalid
Olson was young man. unmarried and 81 years OF
age and Of the partners Of the firm of Carlson Of
son. in the restaurant business East Main street. His
folks, Mr.. and Mrs Carl Olson reside in the city:
A coroners inquest will be held tomorrow morning.
A. P. Pauson, Jensen's lawyer, said that accidental
shooting and seldefense would be claimed by the de-
fendant.
Theabove Of course the story Of the defendants at
torney and will have to be taken as such On the other
hand the TmesRecord representative has interviewed
or two other witnesses to the tragedy that tell an
to decide the facts in the We want to this how
ever that matter what happens the trough neck part
of the community always looking for chance to paste
the ocerof claw who is trying to do his duty Mr. Jen
sen may have made some serious mistakes and may and
perhaps has shown some exhibitions Of unWise Judgment
m official acts police officer Of the city, but at the
same time he has now put himself in jeopardy by having
to cope with bunch Of booze fighters and rosterers who
all the time looking for to put ose
the forces Of common decency and law and order
are not saying that he right in this matter but we do
know that big bunch rough necks have been doing dis
graceful things for long time and they lose no opportun
ty to howl long and Justify at any attempt Of the city Off
cias to make them behave by force otherwise That is
position this matter and going to back up the
forces Of law and order at all times and we only hope that
Mr. Jensen clean slate in the unfortunate af
fair of last night No matter what you think about it,
wait until the evidence before you either condemn
acqut him. Give him fair chance There always two
sides to every question.
tt has been known or at least we are SO told that sew