Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-09-16
MURDERED THREE
TAKES OWN LIFE
JOHN WEBB, SLAYER, ENDS LIFE
WITH RIFLE USED In
MURDERS

Hibbing, Sept. 14.-Trapped by a
police force last Thursday, today
east of here, John Webb, who shot and
killed three members of the Hibbing
police posse, in log shack two miles
killed himself, ending statewide man
hunt.
With five Hibbing policemen stalking
him in the shack, the fugitive blew off
the top of his head with 30-30 rife,
the same weapon he used in his triple
Staying here.
1t was just 7:45 a. NJ, when the five
policemen approached the log cabin,
which rested on a knoll in a wide clear
ing in the woods. Ever cautious OF
the deadshot des perado, they got with
in 800 feet Of his hiding place before
he spied them.
Trapped Slayer Kills Self =
Just moment his head shown at
a window, a gaunt face peering out at
them like an animal at bay. Then he
dropped from sight and second or
two later, the shot rang out that ended
the search for the man who had struck
terror to the countryside around Hib-
bing.
The five patrolmen in on the fugi-
tive's last stand and who will share
equally in rewards totaling $4,000,
were: N. E. Tutles, Elmer johnson,
William Lundberg, Thomas Moore and
Alexander Nunter. They had been in
the hunt continuously since Webb
killed three fellow officers.
5000 Greet Captors
When the body was brought to the
Hibbing courthouse, it was met by
crowd Of more than 5000 persons, so
quickly had the report Of Webb's IS death
spread. From the courthouse the body
was taken to an undertaking establish
ment, where it will be held pending
burial arrangements.
Mayer Victor Power was in the
thronr that greeted the five policemen
who brought in Webb's body, and he
publicly Congratulated the men on
the successful termination Of the re-
lcntless search.
Sought After Staying Three
Webb became a fugitive last Thurs.
day afternoon when he killed Chief OF
Police Daniel Hayes, Chief of Detec-
tives Gene Cassidy and Patrolman Will
liam Kohrt, who had sought to arrest
him on a warrant charging an offense
against his 16 year old daughter.
The warrant had been sworn to by
Webb's 1s year old son, the Oldest OF
the children living at home. The
mother died two years ago. There were
six children, the eldest of whom
Edward, aged 21-is reported to be en-
ployed in a railroad office in st. Paul.
When the three officers came to the
Webb home, Chief Hayes opened the
door and stepped in, only to receive
fatal bullet through the heart from a
3O-3O rifle in the hands OF Webb, who
stood across the room.
Rush to Aid, Killed
Cassidy rushed into the house when
he heard the shot, and he topPied
over with bullet through his shoulder,
diving a few minutes later. Then Kohrt
entered the room, and he too was shot
down and died few hours later in the
Hibbing hospital
Webb, it was reported, had fled in a
southerly direction, and Frank Haben,
assistant chief of police, Immediately
organized posse and set out in pur-
suit. National Guafdsmen and members
of the American Legion, together with
other citizens, joined the manhunt, and
thousands soon wer, engaged.
Since Thursday night, the search
has been pushed without interruption,
although rains had interfered and at
times had cut down the body Of hunt
ers to so or 60 men,