The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-09-06
Youth BATTLES FOR.
LIFE WITH BULLET IN
Heart, x-RAY Shows
Assailant Of Glen ulIin Youth
Held as Possible Murder
Charge Looms
vlETz TELLS ROW VERSION
Denies Shots Were Fired IS
Minutes Apart; Admits He
Had Been Drinking

Although physicians said he has q
bullet In the tissues surrounding his
heart or possibly in the heart itself.
william vietz. Is. Glen Ullin man
who was shot twice in 4 pool room
squabblc early yesterday morning, TO-
day was hanging to life by q thread.
He is In q Bismarck hospital and
Morton county authorities are waiting
to learn whether he will live or die
before filing charges against Charles
Bower. 62. also Of Glen Ullin, who
fired the shots into victz' body.
The physician attending vietx said
x-ray pictures show that the bullet
Is lodged In the heart. but vietx' con-
dition prohibits moving him 90 that
X-ray pictures might be taken from
other angles. Ehtil other pictures
are taken. he said. 1t will be impoS-
siblc definitely to locate the position
Of the bullet. vietz has shown re-
markable vitality but doctors said he
had only slim chance to live.
Talks 70 Connolly
Talking to Louis n. Connolly,
Morton county states attorney. last
night. the wounded man denied that
the shots were fired Is minutes apart.
Bower yesterday stated that the shots
were fired IS minutes apart.
vietz also denied that Bower had
warned him that he would shoot him
II he returned. The wounded man
admitted that he had been drinking
earlier In the night and said that
Harry johnson, = friend. was with
him when Bower fired the shots. He
said the shooting occurred about 2
a. nj.
Bower IS being held in the Morton
county jail today. having been
brought there from the Glen Ullin
Jail yesterday II vietz dies, Con-
molly said. charge Of first degree
murder will be filed against Bower.
Bower will be charged with assault
with deadly weapon with intent to
kill should vietz live.
Connolly said that he could not
learn that either vietz or Bower had
had trouble before with each other or
any other persons In the locality.
Bower, It Was learned. has been In
Morton county for about . year. He
formerly was employed 1t Alnont.
The shooting occurred at the Steve
Filibcck pool hall. where Bower Was
employed. the arrested man firing
through q window the first time and
. door the second time. according to
hts story.
bower Talks Freely
Bower told Connolly strange story
Of shooting vietz on two different oc-
casions about Is minutes apart. He
said that Vietz. Harry johnson and
Joe Weller, also OF Glen Ullin. came
into the poolroom where Bower was
employed Wednesday night. Bower
said they had 4 bottle Of liquor with
them and drank 1t there. When he
closed the place at 2 q. m. he had dif.
ficulty inducing them to leave. he
said.
While Bower was locking up. Vietx
came hack and Bower believes he was
accompanied BY johnson. victx tried
to get into the place and Bower fired
one shot at him but said he did not
intend to hit him. Vietz and his COM
panion thereupon left the place.
Fifteen minutes later. Bower told
Connolly, Vietx came back again and
Bower shot him again.
Examination at the hospital here
showed that vietx was struck twice
with bullets from Z q caliber pistol.
once. Ia the neck ana once In the
heart.
! william Vietz Is the son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. John vtetx. prominent pioneer
farmers Of the Glen u1lin vicinity, re.
tired, and now living in Hebron.