The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-12-18
SAM OWENS
NOW SHERIFF
County Board Names Popular
Young Man to Fill Vacant
Position.

Sam Owens was named sheriff OF
st. Louis County on Monday by the
board of county commissioners on q
vote of five to two. Sheriff Emil
Erickson resigned last week after a
years litigation carried on by Frank
Magic to prove that Erickson was not
entitled to the Office because Of being
a non-citizen. Since the resignation OF
Sheriff Erickson, DR.. G. F. McComb,
county coroner, has been acting sheriff.
When it was found that Erickson
was out and that Magic would have q
slim chance of regaining the Office,
names from all quarters began to be
sent in to the county board for ap-
pointment. Among these were c. G.
Linquist, Duluth attorney; Henry Ole,
Virginia; Martin Johnson Of Duluth;
Henry Gessner of Hbbing; Judge 4
w. Dart of Proctor: John Brown OF
Duluth; j. L. Peterson OF Duluth; P
F. Demore of Duluth; Ingworth Erick-
son Of Duluth; Francis j. Dacey Of
Duluth; Oscar G. Olson and George
Kettner of Duluth.
SO42A2A4oo4OA4CAo 61410C1SO44 d&-o ENEH-
man favored the naming of Ingworth
Erickson. These commissioners have
strong labor affiliations and stuck 70
the man named by labor organizations
The board spent some time in executive
session where several things were
threshed out. Upon emerging from
the session resolution was adopted
naming Owens to the position on q
5 to votes The naming of Sam Owens
seems to meet with the approval Of all
concerned.
The son Of pioneer residents of ST.
who saw service overseas, Mr.. Owens
was born in Tower on Oct. 10, 1895.
His parents were Mr. and Mrs. s. Il.
Owens, who settled in Tower in 1882
In 1900, Owens parents removed TO
Eveleth and he attended grade and
high school in that city. From 1913
to 1916, he worked as a trainman for
the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad
With the opening of the trouble be-
tween the United States and Mexico
on the Mexican border, Owens joined
the army and served on the border.
Returning to Eveleth following cesSa-
ton OF hoStiities, he again went 20
work for the D. & I. R., staying with
the railroad until entrance of the
United States in the World War in 1917.
Joining tank ammunition train
attached to the first army he went
overseas. He served through the ST.
Mihiel and MeuSe Argonne offensives,
holding the rank of sergeant.
Owens was employed by the City OF
Eveleth on his return from the war.
and in 1924 was appointed city clerk
OF Eveleth. He held that position for
two years, following which he travelled
as salesman for a chemical company.
On Jan. l, 1927, he was appointed
a deputy sheriff by Magic in the
Duluth office. He later went to Viz
gnia as chief deputy at that city. BE
was appointed chief deputy at Duluth
Sept. l, 1929, and moved here. He
served as chief deputy until Emil
Erickson assumed Office last January.
Owens married Miss Margaret Beney
OF Negaunee, Mich, in 1924 They
have one child, as6-year- boy. and
live at 4031 Regent street, Duluth
Appointment of Owens as head of
county law enforcement may bring 70
an end years legal battle over oc-
cupancy Of the Office After Emil NJ.
Erickson was named to the Office Nov.
4, 1880, Magic, his predecessor, con-
tested the election, claiming Erickson
was an alien A series Of legal steps
resulted in Magic being ordered TO re-
hnquish the Office.
A first trial of the citizenship suit
resulted in verdict being returned for
Erickson by Judge Bert Fesler, but
Magic obtained second trial on the
strength Of new evidence. Asserting
his mothers health would not permit
him to allow her to testify again IN
his behalf, Erickson resigned before
conclusion Of the trial last week. A
Judgment naming Erickson an alien
was returned by Judge Albert Emerson
Of district rrsrrf