The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-06-30
SALESMAN KILLED
WHILE SITTING IN
auto With WOMAN
Companion Says Killer Asked
for ROLL but Fired Before
Friend Could Comply
AMATEUR SAY POLICE
Maniac Seeking N%otoriety,'
Says Cass County Sheriff,
Who Fears More Tragedies

Fargo, N. D., June 30.-P)-Plung.
ing into an investigation OF two theor-
les, local police and Cass county Of
ficials today sought an explanation OF
the Staying of Left Erickson, 25-year-
old travelling salesman.
Erickson, employed by the Fargo
branch of the international Harvester
company, vas killed early Sunday as
he sat in a parked a near the fair
grounds here, in the company of Vera
Helgerson, 20.
Miss Helgerson's story Is that q
mar pushed a gun in the window of
the small coupe, commanding stick
'em up. Give me your roll" AS
Erickson passed his money to the
masked robber. Miss Helgerson was
showed down into the seat and the
bandit fired.
The bullet entered Erickson's right
shoulder and passed out under his left
arm. Oscar Peterson, acting captain
Of the Fargo police department., be-
lieves the slayer was an "overanxious,
amateur holdup man."
Fear Slayer Demented
Sheriff Mark Andrews of Cass
county is investigating on the theory
the shooting is the work of a partial
ly demented person who has been fol-
lowing the work of New York's maniac
killer, who took the lives of two per-
sons and operated under the delu-
sion he was a protector of woman
hood.
Coroner j. Hanson has called an
inquest for this afternoon. He said
Erickson died from loss of blood.
Several hours after the killing, and
when she had recovered from a state
of hysteria, Miss Helgerson told po-
lice that Erickson, after he had been
shot, pushed his car in gear and
started, but collapsed q moment, later.
Miss A1elgerson salt she then ran
to a house, called w. T. Ovind, a
friend of Erickson, and he called po-
lice. When police arrived, Erickson,S
body had tumbled into a ditch.
Harry O'Neil of Moorhead. parked
with a companion near the Erickson
machine, said he saw a nan fleeing
down the road after the shooting. He
chased the mar several blocks but lost
trace of him in an alley.
Had Big Rolf
Saturday evening Erickson and Miss
Helgerson attended a theater, ate a
lunch, took a short ride and then
parked the machine. During the
evening, she said. Erickson had ex-
hibited a large roll of bills and she
warned him not to show his money
in public.
Erickson's mother. Mrs. Fred Erick-
son, and a brother. o. S. Erickson,
reside at Wheaton, MINI.
1T seems to me-" Sheriff Andrews
said, "some demented person has been
reading about those New York kill
ings. The killer took no money and
did not seem to be out primarily to
commit robbery. He may have had
a double purpose-probably to rob If
he could. but first to kill, so he could
obtain notoriety.
There seems to be a touch Of sug-
gestion of the New York killings run
ming all through the affair. It will
mean a close observance to prevent a
recurrence Of such a tragedy, If there
is a person in the locality Of this
nature"
Reconstruct Shooting
Sunday afternoon, the murder Of
Erickson was reconstructed. Sheriff
Mark Andrews and Acting Chief Of
Police Charles Albright took Miss
Helgerson Owe the route the couple
had taken Sunday morning.
Following the shooting Of Erickson,
the man, according to the girl, threat
ened her with assault. Twice he
threatened her life while she screamed
in terror. Only the lights of an ap-
preaching a saved her. The killer
became frightened and ran
Erickson was Is years old. He was
born in Wheaton, Mimi, the son Of
Mrs. Frederick Erickson, who still re-
sides there. In 1928 he came to Fargo
to enter the employ of the Interna-
tional Harvester company. Erickson's
father is dead, but he leaves four
brothers and two sisters besides his
mother.
His brothers are Folke, Leonard and
Hiding, all of Wheaton; and DR.. Eskie
Erickson Of Garrison. N. D. The sis
tiers are Elsa of st. Paul and Thelma
Of Wheaton.