The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-12-03
AGED MAN IS
BEING HELD
FOR MURDER
Park Policeman in Moorhead,
Minnesota. Is Arrested in
HanSmann Death


Moorhead, Mimi. Dec. 3.--Georgc
Piper, 70, of 3lS Tenth st. y. Moor
head, PARK policeman, was arrested
at $3.50 p. M. yesterday by Sheriff
Peter Malvey of Clay county on a
charge Of first degree murder just
one hour after the county grand
jury had indicted him in connection
with the murder OF Michael Hans
mann late i'll the evening Of Sept
10, last.
The charge Of murder placed
against Piper is unbeatable and the
defendant is being held in the Clay
county Jail,
Hansmann was murdered on the
porch Of his home, 1920 Second Ave
y. as he was returning from Il
meeting of the Woodmen lodge Of
which he was :; member. Death re-
suited from a charge of bird shot in
the abdomen. Hansmann dying at
st. Ansgar's hospital about an hour
following the shooting.
Although Hansmann cried out inn
mediatcly after he was sho. and
members of the family who were
in the house at the time came to his
aid, the murderer escaped in the
dark.
Threat Arouses Suspicion
Suspicion was directed toward
Piper due to several quarres which
he had with Hansmann over the pas
turing of the latters COWS near
Holes park in Moorhcad where Piper
was policeman, County Attorney r.
George Hammctt, said last eve
ming. HanSmann had secured per
mission from +. H. Mccoy to pas
ture his cows in that lot adjoining
the Mccoy residence which is the
old county courthouse, and the park.
The cows once hal been staked
too near the park with the result
that they browscd in the park. Piper
and Hansmann got into an argument
during the progress of which the
former is said to have threatened
the murder victims life.
County Attorney Hammett, intro
duced this evidence to the grand
jury as d probable motive for the
murder. He also explained that it
was possible for Piper who lives
about block and a half from the
murder victims home to leave his
own residence, sneak through back
yards, cross Third Ave. n, which
is badly lighted between Tenth and
Eleventh streets, and approach the
HanSmann residence without being
detected. The escape, Mr.. Hammett
said, could have been made the same
way
No Weapon Discovered
Piper. according to Mr.. Hammett,
is said to have claimed at different
times that he did and did not have
gun. The weapon with which the
murder was committed was Thought
to have been Il sawed off shotgun or
weapon without choke bore, for,
according to Hansmann's dying
statement. the shot was fired from
distance Of about " feet and the
shot had spread little larger than
an eight inch circle.
Piper's residence has not yet been
oNaiNhcu anu DIS ScL ITO gun Oh any
kind has been found in connection
with the case, Mr.. Hammett stated.
Takes Arrest Calmly
With a niece. Miss Abbie Piper.
piper has been living secluded life
and although he has lived in Moor
head for the last four or five years
few people knew him until he took
charge of Holes park this past sum-
mer. He is 70 years of age and Il
native of Maine. 1t is thought that
he came to Moorhead from Red Lake
Falls, Mimi. He was very quiet and
calm in his cell in the Clay county
Jail Monday night, according to re-
ports.
The night Of the murder Piper
was observed to go home about p.
m. and was seen no more that eve
ming. He has made no statement
concerning his actions to either Mr..
Hammett or Sheriff Malvey, they
said last night. No intimation has
been made as to the nature of any
other evidence that the authorities
may have against the accused
May Be Tried Soon
Mr.. Hammett said last evening
that thorough investigation of the
case would be begun Immediately
and it was possible that the case
will be brought to trial at the pres
ent term of district court.