The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-06-03
May HAvEI0Sl:. !. !: !.
FE:ARRESTINc
G.A||.M!E.P'oAc|' il Il
Joseph E, Kreager;; Deputy.
Warden, Drowned.

+ Oul play may nave CduScu SHS
death of J. E, kreager, deputy game
warden, age 40, and for p years a
member OF the local Plumbers union,
whose body was found in the
water near the south shore OF Grand
lake, 25 miles northwest Of Duluth
at noon Tuesday. On the. same
shore so feet from the floating body
was an overturned 16 foot canoe with
hole in the bottom.
The foul play theory was advanced
by w. Z. Pugh, chief Of police. Dep
uty Coroner James F. McAuliffe con-
Quoted an autopsy Wednesday which
revealed that Kreager's heart had
been in good shape and his brain
showed no evidence of hemmorrhage,
but the lungs indicated: he had died
from drowning. The head was badly
swollen and showed post-mortem
bruises, due possibly to the fact that
the body had f1oated close to, the
shore and had been beaten against
the rocks. +.
However, those who knew Mr..
Kreager, discredit the theory that he
met death by accidental drowning I'M
der the circumstances. He was known
to be, very careful and exceedingly
cautious in his movements Had the
weather been rough he would have
taken no chances with a canoe. He
was drowned in shallow water. The
canoe was found with a hole in the
bottom. 1t is contended that he might
have come up to persons who were
violating the game laws, informed
them that they were under arrest,
whereupon he was struck on the
head, which stunned him, after which
he fell in the water and was left by
the aw-breakers to perish.
Drowned Thursday. :,
Indications reveal that Mr.. Kreager
morning Of that day he left his home
in Duluth informing his wife he
would be gone for day. He took a
lunch and occupied the cabin Of John
Meining, former sheriff, on the north
side of Grand lake. His automobile
was parked on the side of the cabin
and his lunch, untouched, was in the
cabin. ..sA watch in his clothes pocket
stopped#Rtz 2 o'clock and an auto
matte revolver was on his person.
Mr.. Kreager's mission to Grand
lake was to take into custody per-
sons living. in that vicinity who were
reported. to be. Illegally catching
appointed by Hamn,eId:
He, was appointed ::depnty game
warden by Gov. Winfield s.. Ham,
naond. in 1914, replacing Thomas
Storey. =. 49, 4.
TIE body of Mr.. Kreager was
found by c. J: McNaughton. III west
Third street and r. S. Bates, 62S
East Third street,. who were; visit
ing one oft cabins pn the lake.
Mrs. Kreager. and friends were on
their. way to Grand lake IN an auto
mobile where they. planned to search
for Mr.. Kreager when 1.the->police
automobile containing Chief. Pugh
and other officers met them on the
pike lake road. The party; blamed
to have a holiday picnic Attic lake
if their search was successful: When
informed that her husband was re-
ported drowned, Mrs. Kreager,
collapsed and was brought back to-
Duluth. :
BROTHER. Says Foul Play.
Frank .Kreager. patrolman. and
brother of. the deceased still believes
his brother met with foul play He ex-
planned that the lake was too shallow
for; his brother to drown IN &C
cidently. He preached the = theory
that his brother probably was struck
oiisfhe, side of the head wilma paddle
or: oar welded by some Of the per-
sons reported to have illegally used.
nets to. catch fish. :. =
: Chief Pugh, Lieut.. Oscar; Olson. and
Frank Kreager," patrolman. and
brother of: the deceased. conducted
an investigation at the lake. the
body. was brought to- ,Dulutf and IS
at Grady & Horgan's undertaking
rooms: = -, ..' 4. ",12s - g.
surviving Mr.; Kreager are his
widow and daughter Alice; his
mother. Mrs. c.. Kreager, 927 East
sixth street: three brothers, George
Kreager. 931 = East " Sixth: street
prank Kreager. 927 East Sixth street
and AT. Kreager. 1921 Robinson
street. four sisters. Mrs. Andrew Nc
Cormiclz. 6015,;Lond on. road: Mrs. Bert
Krisback, French River. MINI: Mrs;
John Nesso1a. SIT <Es st Seventh.
street and Mrs. 4IA.5stJe4 Harker, 6S1.
Tenth avenue East. -
Mr.. Kreager was a member of. the
Plumbers union. the United Order OF
Fnresters ara the Duluth P-n"vc-.
lent society. He. was born; In Duluth.
and lived 1ere,all his life. He learned
the plumbing trade in the shop Of
a. j. Harker. COMPLETED his aprren-
.ticeship IN 1895 and Joined the JOUR-
.neymen Plumbers' union. He was ap-s
@nointed member Of the Minnesota
Board z for Plumbers by
].