The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1928-01-04
FORMER REDWOOD FALLS MAN
is VICTIM OF SHOOTING
WHILE PERFORMING
DUTY.
MURDERER GIVES SELF UP
BODY is ESCORTED TO RED.
WOOD FALLS BY COMPANY
AND LEGION. FUNER-
AL THURSDAY.

Upon performing his duty as =
Federal prohibition agent Wesley
Allen Fraser, formerly of Redwood
Falls was shot to death in South st.
Paul Monday while removing con-
fiscated coal from house that he had
raided for moonshine distillery two
weeks before. Captain Fraser was
murdered by Gulob Nickolich, for
eigner of South St. Paul.
Shortly after the shooting Nickol-
ich surrendered to the police and ad-
mitted having murdered Fraser. He
gave no reason for the shooting except
that he was mad at the Federal pro-
hibition agents"
The victim of Mondays shooting,
accompanied by Carl Olson, another
Federal prohibition agent, raided the
same house in which the shooting oc-
cured, three weeks ago. After this
raid three men were arrested for op-
Grating an unlicensed distillery. They
were released on $5,0O0.OO bail each.
The men had rented the house from
Nickolich.
After the raid had been success
fully conducted deal was made by
the department with a junking COM
pany to take over the wrecked dis
tillery and supplies, which included
a ton and half of coal.
The two men working for the
junking company came to get tho
coal but were not allowed to enter
the house by Nickolich, who brand
ished gun and threatened to kill
some one. The two men left and re-
ported to Fraser who warned Nick
olich that the house was still in the
custody of the government and that
he had no right to stop the men from
removing the confiscated coal.
On Monday noon Captain Fraser
accompanied the two men to make
sure that the removal of the coal
would not be hindered. On the way
to the rented house Fraser stopped
at the home of Nickolich to get the
key to the house; no one at home the
men continued to the rented house.
Upon arrival there was no one at the
house so Fraser crawled through the
basement window to get the coal.
Nickolich hearing of Fraser's re-
turn hurried to the house. When ar
irving he saw Fraser through the
open basement window; drawing his
revolver he fired. The bullet passed
through the victims heart. Nichol-
ich fired the second time, this bullet
hitting Fraser in the hand. After
the shooting Nickolich started for the
police station to give himself up; he
was placed under arrest.
Fraser climbed through the base
ment window and fell unconscious In
the yard. An ambulance was sum-
moned but the victim died before
reaching the hospital.
A formal charge Of murder in the
first degree was lodged against Nick
olich Tuesday by Dakota County au-
thorities.
Lieutenant Thomas Hosken of Com
pany IL" and j. c. Budik of the 10
cal American Legion Post left Tues
day noon for Saint Paul to return the
body of Fraser to Redwood Falls to-
day Wednesday,. Arrangements
are being male for military funeral
which will be held here Thursday.
Captain Fraser is survived by his
wife and three small children. He
was born in Vesta on June IL, 1894,
and moved with his parents to Red
wood Falls where he graduated from
the local high school. When war was
declared with Germany in 1917 Mr..
Fraser joined Company "L", then the
End Minnesota Infantry, later made
the 136th Infantry. He received his
commission as second lieutenant It
Camp Cody, New Mexico and spent
months overseas in the Army Of Oc-
cupation. In August 1919 Lieutenant
Fraser returned from duty overseas
and was lhonorably discharged from
the army. During one of the local
legion posts most successful years
Mr.. Fraser was commander. In 1922
Mr.. Fraser was appointed Captain Of
Company az, his old company, which
commission he held until the. time of
receiving the appointment as FEEDER
al prohibition agent in November,
1926.
A complete obituary will Be pab-
lished. in the columns Of the Gazette
next issue.