The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-04-22
C0NFESSES HE
SLEW W00DSMAN
7 YEARS AGO
John Erickson, Living Near Du-
luth, Tells of Murder After
Grave Is Discovered
STRUGGLE IN THE WOODS
Man Shot Was Living in Home
Of Woodsman; Quarrel Oc.
CURED Late at Night

Duluth, Mimi, April 22.-John
Erickson, 81, settler living near
Fairbanks, St. Louis county, in an al
legged confession to Sheriff Frank
Magi to-day admS1ted kiutng Just
Tommi, woodsman. on July s, 1915.
Erickson confessed voluntarily when
he learned coun4:, authorities had To-
Gated the grave he had dug in the
woods and have brought the bones
here. Sheriff Magi said Erickson Is
the father of five children. Tommir,
who was about 40 years Of age was
unmarried and made his home with
The Erickson's.s
Erickson is said to have told the
sheriff that he quarreled with Tommi
while the two men walked home from
neighbours home on the night of
July 8, 1915. Erickson, 1t was said,
told how Tommi drew small pocket
knife and attacked him and he pulled
a long hunters knife and stabbed
Tommi in the heart.
County authorities returned yester-
day with bones taken from grave
in the woods near Erickson's home
which Ericks',~ is said to have admit
ted he hid. According to the alleged
confession Erickson hid Tommi's bo-
dy under brush pile near the road,
burying it after three weeks.
MOTHER, FATHER, son SHOT
Redfield, s. D., April 22.-Elmer
Schermerhorn, 13, who shot himself
last night with a rifle after his moth
er had been shot and killed and his
father wounded, is expected to re-
cover, physicians at local hospital
said.
Elmer, who weighs $50 pounds, is
being kept under observation ait a
hospital. He told the coroner his
mother was shot when his rifle acci-
dentally discharged. Fearing, he said,
that his father, J. E. Schermerhorn.
living near here, would punish him
he shot him in the jaw. Then he
turned the gun or himself.
The c0rOner's jury met and decided
to investigate further with regard to
the boys mental condition.
The boy at the age Of 13 had reach
ed the weight of $50 pounds and had
always tesa slow in grasping new or.
strange ideas, broke down after hc
has recovered from the shock of the
wound and told the coroner of Red
field the shooting was an accident.
intended to kill the mother and claim
He had not, according to the coroner,
ed the gun was accidentally djscharg-
oA Tho hr,11ok eE1,. kha okhAss 1>o
low the nose penetrating to the brain
and causing instant death.
The father lying in hospital here
today began Ito realize the significance
Of the crime which has wrecked his
family of four, and left on his elder
son, Carl. He can give no reason for
che killing.
TEACHERS BODY FOUND
Hill City, Mimi, April 22.-The
body of Miss Margaret Peterson,
teacher, ait the Logan school, who has
been missing since April l, was found
in woods near the village of Mis-
sissippi by posse. The belief was
expressed that she had become lost in
the woods and died from exposure.
Saturday morning, April 4, Miss
Peterson left the school ito visit her
mother, at her home five. miles away,
with the intention of returning the
following Monday.
Monday she did not return and the
children took for granted the unau
thOrized vacation.
A member of the school board yes
terday called Miss Petersom's mother
and asked why her daughter had not
returned to the school,
but she is teaching, and has been.'
the mother, replied.
G. F. Williams Aitkin county coro-
ner; was notified and ordered the
search.
The path from the school to Miss
Peterson's home i- only a dim trail
through the thick woods. The teacher
had wandered from the
trail and it is believed had roamed
about several days before death from
exposure overlook her.
PENN, RAILROAD
Is SIIST AIMED