The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-09-16
LAWRENCE MORK
ADMITS SHOOTING
DURING DISPUTE
Is Held in Jail Without Charge
Pending Outcome Of Pre-
! liminary Investigation
DEAD MAN SHOT IN BACK
Officials Say Accused Farmer
Has Virtually Confessed
Deed During Conversations
MAN SHOT IN BACK

t0O |
Deed During Conversations
The machinery Of the law was
grinding today on the killing Mon
day Of Henry g. Stephan, IS. OF San
born. 1t the Carlos Boynton farm four
miles north Of Sterling.
Lawrence Mork, SO, accused OF
shooting Stephan, his landlord, DUR
ING an agreement over . mortgage
and their tenancy agreement, was IN
iail at WaShburn. where Burleign
county prisoners are being lodged
during the building Of q new jail
here. No charge has been nleo
against him pending the outcome OF
the preliminary investigation OF the
homicide. The coroner's inquest VIII
be held at three o'clock this after
noon. -
The body Of Stephan was brought
to the webb morgue hare Monday
evening. There was . gaping wound
through the right breast and back,
but until an autopsy Is held 1t VIII
not be definitely established on which
side he was shot. It seems, however.
that the bullet, fired from Q rifle, n
tered his back, then Z ricocheted up
ward and cut the jugular vein IN the
neck.
Told WEIGH He Was Sorry
Mork has answered questions Is to
the shooting which virtually constt-
tute admission Of the deed, officials
said. His first admission was to
Sheriff Rollin WEIGH, who heard Of the
tragedy while at Driscoll on another
matter. The sheriff went to the
scene OF the shooting ana then TO
Mork,s home on the Stephan farm
adjoining. and arrested him.
The sheriff parked his car 50 feet
from the house and walked toward
the home. There had been Wild talk
at Sterling to the effect that Mork
was In q mood to shoot anybody try
inr to arrest him, but. instead, he
came out and held out his hand to
WEIGH. The sheriff had been to the
farm last Friday on the very matter
which led to the shooting.
Il am sorry to hear what happened
here" said WEIGH. 80 am l." replied
Mork.
The prisoner was brought here and
was taken to the office Of George
s. Register, county attorney. and
questioned before being taken to the
Mclean county jail.
Wanted to Shoot Neighbor
There were two witnesses to the
shooting. Ed Schmidkins and his 16-
year-old daughter Florence. They
had accompanied Stephan In his car
to . field on the Boynton farm adj
joining, where Mork was putting up
hay. /.
Schmidkins says Mork first turned
on him ana threatened to shoot him.
According to the officers who made
the arrest and Anton Beer. acting
coroner in the case, who vas with
Sheriff WEIGH at the time, Schmidt
kins said Mork got his rifle out Of .
buggy in which he had driven out to
his haytng and made demonstrations
as though to shoot him. Stephan
talked the excited mai out Of any
such purpose. 6chmidkirs said.
AS the talk proceeded, Mork again
became violent, said Schmidkins, and
they started to run. Then, said
schmidkins. Mork shot and Stephan
fell.
County Auditor A. 9. Isaminger, who
went along with the deputies from
here when word Of the shooting was
sent In, found the empty shell Of the
soft-nosed bullet about six feet from
I, where Stephan's body lay. indicating
:, that Stephan had not started to run
Z but vas shot as he turned to do 50.
Had Rifle Well Loaded
According to States Attorney Reg
lister, Mork said he shot after calling
on the two men and the Schinidkina
girl to halt. whereupon Stephan turn
ed around.
After placing q blanket over the
body, 50 a. ito keep off the flies
according to Monks statements TO At
torney Register, he drove schmidkinl
and his daughter to their home. q
mile away.
There vas some curiosity Is to why
Mork had the rifle with him In the
buggy In which he drove to the hay
field. He explained that there had
been chicken hawks about the place
and be meant to shoot any II they
showed up. The rifle later was found
in . wagon close to the Mork house
by Anton Beer ana was brought In q
Of the exhibits In the case. The
weapon was found cooked, with Il
bullets In It.
Talked Of Cleaning Upr Family
Seated In Attorney Registers office
last evening, Mork wa rather uncon.
cerned q to himself, but he expressed
fearful s0licitude for his family. YET
There were reports at Sterling Mon
day that he had threatened to hI
them also.
Schmidkius told Anton Beer that
!. altar the shooting, Mork shook hands
I With him and said he was going home
, TO Clean up" the family and ~regrettet
that two Of the children were II
school.
Mork has six children, ranging II
age from eight years to stx months
Stephan was the father of four som
and one DAUGHTER. M grown, this IN.
(Conttnued O. page sleveu)