The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-11
Injuries Expected to Prove Fatal; Probe of
Affair May Delay Prohibition
Smash by Government
MINNESOTA MOB FEARS DIES DOWN
of Father of Two Held Under $1,000
Bond on Manslaughter Charge;
Death Story Told at Hearing.
BIZ United Press

BIZ United Press
INTERNATIONAL FALLS,
Mimi, June 11,-Apparently
satisfied to let the law take its
course, International Falls was
quiet today after a threaten
ed demonstration against the
officer who has been held re-
sponsible for the death of
Henry Virkula, Big Falls con-
fectioner.
Emmett j. White, border Gus
toms agent, has been named for
mally as the person who caused
Virkula's death and is being held in
jail here.
When a coroner's jury reported
Monday that Virkula's death was
caused by the charge of a shotgun
in the hands of White.
So many of the confectioner's
friends crowded in and about the
court rooms that authorities became
uneasy and guards patrolled the
streets about the county jail.
Mrs Virkula, who, with her two
children, was in the automobile,
testified that she heard no COM
mand to halt before a charge of
buckshot crashed through the rear
window and her husband slumped
over on her lap dead
Bond Is Set at S1,5OO
white ran up to US Mrs. Vir-
kula declared, "and said: Lady, I'm
sorry I did this but I only did my
duty. Don't cry, Lady I have a
wife and children and it makes me
feel bad"
1t later was brought out that
while While is married he has no
children.
Whites bond was fixed at $1,500
which at an early hour today he
had been unable to provide. He was
granted a weeks continuance when
lie will be given hearing on a
charge of second degree man.
slaughter.
Meanwhile, White remained on
the government pay roll. Customs
officials in Duluth announced he
would not be suspended until they
definitely satisfied themselves he
had exceeded his authority"
A third inquiry was being con-
Quoted by L. L. Drill, United States
attorney, from his Offices in st. Paul.
White, testifying at the inquest.
admitted he fired at the Virkula
machine when it failed to heed his
command to halt.
Tells Story of Shooting
He said he and another customs
agent, Emil Servine. were parked
along a wooded highway south Of
Little Fork when sedan ap-
preached. Both officers got out of
their car, Servine carrying sign
reading, stop United States Of
fcers," White related.
"Servine was about ten feet closer
to the approaching machine than
I. I heard him yell at it to stop, but
it kept on coming I had to jump
out Of the road to avoid being hit.
Il fired into the ground and then
two more shots at the wheels, hop
ing to hit the tires.
THE car continued twenty-five or
thirty feet, then rolled into the
ditch. I hard a scream, ran over to
the car and asked if any one was
hurt.
1.-The driver was slumped over the
wheel.
THE woman beside him said:
You've killed him
Auto Travels Slowly
1.-TWO children in the back seat
we're rubbing their eyes. We brought
the driver to hospital here in In
ternationaI Falls. The woman there
said he was dead"
Mrs. Virkula, when on the stand,
testified the border guard was in
no danger Of being run down.
we weren't going any more than
eight or twelve miles an hour" she
said. "a light flashed in the road
and we saw some sort Of sign. Henry
began to slow up.
Then I heard shots.
"I called to him not to run into
the ditch as the car luched side
ways.
I didn't know he had been hit.
But he was dead when these men
ran up a minute later"