The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1922-10-14
POLICEMAN } !, | SHOT H |.
BY.COLORED Man
!. .I DIES Is: IN HOSPITAL
STEGNER AND BOR-
DEN WOUNDED IN ATTEMPT
TO QUELL DISTURBANCE
FIJI. ON STATE STREET -.
Three Women, One White, and Four
Men Held as Material Witnesses
in ARRAY -.

Stegner who was shot by William
Smith, colored, while attempting to
quell a disturbance in a shack in the
rear of 146 State street Wednesday
night died at the City hospital at
$3.50 A. M. Thursday. Smith, who
was arrested shortly after midnight,
has confessed to shooting Stegner
and also Patrolman William Borden,
who was not seriously wounded
Smith was arrested by Detectives
John MCGOWAN, Edward Hughes and
Paul Meyers at "Steve's" rooming
house. 319 East Seventh : street at
1880 A. NJ. He had taken off his
clothes and was in bed when the de-
tectives found him, but he had his re-
volver, loaded with fresh cartridges
under the covers. He made no re-
sistance, however, and was taken to
Central station where yesterday
morning he signed a confession for
Chief Sommer detailing the entire
affair. 49,.
> Three Women, Four, Men Held
Three women, one of them white,
and four men are being held at Gen.
trail station as material witnesses.
Smith, who also is known as Will
liam Johns, told police that he had
given, one of the woman some money
and that she left the shack. He said
he found her with another colored
man, nearby and when he demanded
his money back, she screamed.
,Neighbors hearing the disturbance
called the police. Patrolman Borden,
knowing the shack was though
hangout" asked Ducas station to send
some assistance, then started for the
scene of the. brawl. He threw open
the shack door, yelled :"stick them
up and was greeted by volley Of
shots. One bullet struck him in the
chest and he fell. =
: .stegner Mortally Wounded
Stegner. had just come up at this
time. Stepping over Borden's body
he attempted to enter the shack, but
he also was greeted with a volley of
pistol shots, and fell beside his fell
low officer, mortally wounded.
A riot squad was then sent to the
shack, but . the inmates had fled
through another door and the re-
serves found only the two. wounded
officers. Both were taken to the City
where Stegner died at $3.50
A. M, after an operation lasting
more than an hour. He had been
shot<in the abdomen. ...
The bullet which struck Borden hit
a rib and was, DETECTED around his
body, making a long, ugly surface
wound, but not penetrating a vital
organ. The shock of the bullet fired
at close range, striking his body,
caused temporary numbness and par
alysis of the upper part of the body.
After the shooting Smith told
Chief Sommer that he went to his
home at ITO Eatin street, then to
Curlev Campbell's place on Wabasha
near Fourth street. He then went to
Seventh and Wabasha streets and
boarded street car, getting off near
the rooming house where he was ar
rested.
= q. Said He Killed Two Cops
His confession omitted visit to
the home of William Wilson, a COL
ored officer and friend of Smith who
lives at 149 Chicago avenue. Police
learned that 3 he visited the Wilson
home, and in the presence of Mrs.
Wilson and Dave Brodky, student,
extracted six empty shells from his
pistol and reloaded it, saying: "Pve
just killed two cops and I'm leav-
ing" -. -.
Smith. was not the only person
armed or using firearms. Police also
are holding another colored man who
is reported to. have shot half dozen
times, at nothing in particular, ap-
parently just to be in on the shoot
ing party. ,> -
Funeral arrangements for Stegner
have not been completed, but men,
bers of the police force will act as
pallbearers and as many police and
firenen as can be off duty at the
time. will attend the services.
y, Praised by Chief sommer
~sT Stegner was born in St. Paul 27
years ago. He became member Of
the police departmental April, 1919,
and has been one of the best motor
cycle, officers on the force since, ac-
cording to- Chief Sommer. ST..
Stegner is survived by his widow,
a bride Of three. weeks, his mother,
Mrs. Anna L. Stegner, 1900 Laurel
avenue, a brother, w. E. Stegner of
Albert Lea, and a sister, Mrs. John
Smith of Alaska. He also is sur
vived by 6-year-old daughter, Dor
Othv nv a former marriape