The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-01-07
LAB0RER TELLS
HOW HE KILLED
2FARM HANDS
Joe Berger of Richardton Ad-
mits Responsible For
jamestown Murder
TELLS MARTINES SON
Local Police Chief Given Con-
fessiOn of Man; Taken
To jamestown
TELLS NJ MARTIN ESON

Joseph Berger, Is, formerly
Of Richardton, North Dakota,
driven by a haunting con-
science and pressed to unbur-
den his story by Chief of Po-
lice Martineson, confessed
here Sunday afternoon that
he killed two unknown men|
at a strawstack in the north
west part Of jamestown over
four months ago. He slew
them, he said, because they
had laughted at and "kidded"
him, with perhaps robbery
also a motive. After Berger
had repeated his story and il /
was checked, he was taken to |
jamestown late Sunday by |
authorities.
Berger, declared a moron
by Chief of Police MARITIME
son, had been racked by a Wis
ion of the two dead men
whom he partially covere,i
with straw after he had slain
them with an iron pump
handle. He wandered many
places since the murder was
committed between August
18 and September A, 1923, and
finally arrived in Bismarck,
Friday night penniless and
out of work. Relief which |
followed his telling of the
story of the murder was sue
ceeded7by a realization Of pos
sible life Imprisonment for
first degree murder, a new
worry for him.
i There was no hestitancy on the
part of the farm hand in telling his
story to Chief Of Police Martineson
and States Attorney Russell Chase
of Stutsman county Sunday after
noon, after he had previously con-
fessed to Martineson. In pantominc
he convinced the officers. Given. the
iron pump handle picked up near the
scene Of the murder and brought
here by jamestown officers, he stood
, up IN little room in the police sta
ton and went through all the mo-
tions Of the staying.
Found Sept 4.
The two unknown dead were found
on September 4 by L. l.. Mccarthy,
who mad gone to the strawstack I'd
get some hay. He saw the shoes
OF one many sticking out and then
un.o'crcd the bodies. Both werd
found with heads crushed by blunt
instrument, their pockets rifled and
blood-stained iron pump handld
nearby. Both bodies were badly de-
composed and were unrecognizable by
the many persons who sought ID
identify them. Since the murde
scores of people in all parts of tho
country have written for descriptions.
of the men, but none have placed
them as missing relatives. One mar
was thought about 20 to 22 years ole
and the other 2S to 80 years of age
Berger told the authorities that nd
was working on threshing rig nea
jamestown with the two unknown
men, both Of whom carried l. W. w
cards. The three decided to knocl
off work. They drew their pay and
proceeded to get bottle of hom{
brew for little celebration. TheJ
went to the strawstack, drank AM
talked 1t was night. Bergen
whose sub-normality appears YER
evident to officers, was the butt O
jokes cracked by the other two, HI
said. They wouldn't let him sleep
They fell asleep, warmed by tn
home brew. Berger decided on hi
revenge. He walked over to al
abandoned shack he said, picked U
the iron pump handle, bar tw
inches wide and three feet Ions
went back to the strawstack an
knocked one over the head. He die
without struggle. The other RAISED
and as he did Berger "socked" him
Other blows made tne job sure Tn
murders were committed between Au
1S, when the straw was threshed, al
Sept. 4.
OSASSA IHcH IAueQ Cnelr pockets
He found $50 on one and $100 on tn
other. He tore up letters, tossed
pocketbook aside and went back
the farm where he was workin,
thought by jamestown officers
have been Frank Fletchcr's farm. Fl
worked there a couple of more day
escaped suspicion which attached
scores Of intinerant workers in TIL
neighborhood, and then went to Glad
stone. Frof Gladstone he took
job on a farm along the Heart rive
near Mandan. He drifted on an
came back to jamestown on Decen
Der 4.
Had Been in jamestown.
Deputy Sheriff D. c.. Ross
Jamestown remembers Berger's aj
pearance in jamestown in DecembeI
He was picked up by Ike Siltma]
(Cdhtinusd On Psgs 3)