The Bismarck tribune., 1931-10-29
Seek MurdererS of
Badla11ds Sheepn1atl
Investigation Shows Victim
Was Shot Twice and Then
BrutalIy Beaten
ROBBERY IS HELD MOTIVE
Man Was Known to Garry
Large Sum Of Money Which
Had Vanished

Belfield, N. D., Oct. 29.-Feeling has
been running high in the Belfield
district against the unknown slayer
Of o. s. Sipe, 59-year-old sheep herd
er who was found mortally injured at
his home last Friday.
Sipe died In q Dickinson hospital
Tuesday night from the effects of the
slugging he received and two bullet
wounds in his head.
Returning to his ranch 20 miles
north of here from Belfield Friday
evening, Henry A. Bjordahl, the sheep
herder's employer, found Sipe uncon-
scious on the front porch of his
shack. Regaining consciousness for a
short time, Sipe told an incoherent
story Of what had happened to Bjor-
dahl and then lapSed into uncon-
sciouSness again.
Sipe was rushed to Belfield for
medical aid and then to the Dickin-
son hospital.
Robbery is believed the motive for
the attack. Sipe, a cripple, carried
large sum of money on his person.
Two Shots Fired
An investigation at the ranch dis
closed two bullet holes in pane of
window glass on the west side OF the
house. It is believed both bullets
struck Sipe, one going through his
ear and lodging itself In his head
while the other struck him glancing
blow in the ear and buried itself In q
door casing on the cast side OF the
room.
| Sipe probably was sitting or lying
down when the shots we're fired. as
the cane with which he walked was
found propped up against the bed.
That Bjordahl arrived but q short
time after the attack Is indicated by
the fact that some meat which was
frying in the stove had not been
burned when he entered the house.
Sipe was found on bloo1-covered
front step. His face buried in the
dirt, the sheep herder had almost
died of suffocation. Sipe also had
suffered long scalp wound, a large
cut back of his ear. a large open
wound on his right shoulder and
chest and a large swelling on his
head. which indicated he had been
struck with blunt instrument.
Is Struck at Door
It appears that Sipe, after being
fired upon, went to the door to see
who was shooting. His assailant ap-
parently was waiting for him at the
door and struck him with large
lpiece of iron.
According to the reconstruction Of
the attack made by investigators. the
assailant while Sipe was lying on the
ground near the door stunned, Sc
cured q post hole auger, with which
he struck the herder on the shoulder.
The auger was broken by this blow
and was found lying across Sipe's
chest.
The only clue left was a small pock-
etbook lying on the floor Of the house.
This was stolen from Bjordahl about
a year ago. Though A. j. Anderson
and w. ]. Ray, Billings county sher-
If and states attorney, believe Sipc
had been in possession Of the pocket
book, Bjordahl is not OF the opinion.
The rancher believes the slayer OF
Sine Is the same man who stole his
pocketbook a year ago. Officials
know who were in the Bjordahl house
when the pocketbook was stolen.
A coroner's jury Wednesday decided
, that Sipe's death. resulted from a
bullet wound and skull fracture ad-
ministered by party or parties un-
identified.
! sipe was alone all day Friday at
the lonely hut on the edge Of the
Bad Lands, Bjordahl and a youth
working there having left for Belfield
early that morning with load OF
. hogs.
The fatal bullet was fired from a
% calibre gun.
Money Was in Shirt
Sipe carried his money In shirt
pocket fastened by a safety pin. But
tons had been ripped from his vest
and shirt, the pin unclasped. and the
money stolen. The amount Is unde-
. termined.
Four suspects Questioned by Sher-
|iff Anderson and States Attorney Ray
have established alibis as to thet:
whereabouts during the time the
crime Is believed to have been perpe.
trated.
Bjordahl found Sipe unconscious
about 7:30 p m. The youth WORKING
on the ranch was with Bjordah
when the herder was found.
Sipe had no known enemies. A d.
vorced wife, Mrs. Leo Hoist. lives ir
Dickinson. Funeral services Will be
conducted In Dickinson Friday. witt
interment in the Dickinson cemetery
He leaves two sons. one living al
Grassy Butte and the other at Soutt
Heart, and a daughter living with hel
mother in Dickinson.
Billings county authorities gathered
at Belfield Thursday morning to re-
sumo their investigation Of the at
tack.