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The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, March 26, 1904, Image 4

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Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063381/1904-03-26/ed-1/seq-4/

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HE DIED HIS
OW N HAN
Coroner's Inquest Last Night
Decides Wm. Pettker
a Suicide.
INQUEST HELD AT COURT HOUSE
BY CORONER HENDERSON.
Testimony of a Dozen Witnesses
Clearly Establishes Suicide
Theory.
"We the jury find that Wm.
Pettker committed suicide by
hanging on the night of the 21st
of March, 1904, at Tenstrike."
This was the verdict of the
coroner's jury in the inquest
over the remains of Wm. Pettker
at the court house last night.
The testimony of a dozen wit
nesses clearly established the
suicide theory and warranted the
jury's verdict.
The coroner's jury empanelled
was composed of W. W. Hart
man, A. L. Wyler, J. A. McDon
aid, James Price, Charles Ham
mond and Thomas Hill. The
jury viewed the remains at the
Lahr undertaking establishment
and proceeded to the court house,
where Coroner Henderson called
the inquest to order at 8 o'clock.
The witnesses were examined by
County Attorney Loud. Dr. E
H. Marcum testified in his ca
pacity as deputy coroner as to
the condition of the body when
he first examined it and as to his
connection with the autopsy.
George Draper, the night bar
tender at the Stechman hotel,
Henry Stechman, the proprietor,
J.C. Reedy, the night clerk, and
Harry Gunsalus, an employe,tes
tified as to Pettker's being in the
house on the afternoon and night
preceding his death. Other wit
nesses examined were Charles
Hoyt, L. L. Miller and John Pet
terson. The latter had known
the dead man at the lumber
-_camp_of_ Dan Rack, where both
had been employed. He testified
that on the afternoon preceding
his death he had had some con
versation with Pettker and that
he seemed despondent. He had
complained of losing his money
at the gaming table and had re^
marked that the only thing he
saw to do was to get a gun. Pet
terson had told him to cheer up
and had offered to buy a drink,
but his invitation was declined.
Dr. Henderson /testified as to
WRITE US IN REGARD TO
Free
Scholarships
CONWAY'S
COMMERCIAL
COLLEGE
Box 744, io8 Sixth Street, between
Bemldji and Beltrami Avenues.
his connection with the dead man
as coroner anl as to the autopsy
which he had conducted. Andy
Danehar indentified the rope by
which the body had been su
spended as a rope cut from the
awning in front of his saloon.
Prom the testimony of other
witnesses it developed that
Pettker owned a horse and had
told a friend that he had a claim
near Minot. North Dakota. No
thing was developed in the evi
dence that would tend to locato
his relatives.
The body was interred at the
county poor farm this morning.
Novelties for Easter
We have received an exclusive line of Easter Novelties
which is the most complete ever shown in Bernidji
Easter EggsIn the cutest and most novel designs.
Easter LogsSomething original and fetching.
Easter Bon Bon BoxesIn a complete line of elegant art
novelties.
Easter Babies in the BasketA thing to ravish the heart
of a child.
Rabbits, Cats, Carts, Barrows, etc.
Others too numerous to mention.
These novelties are made in Germany and are the now
est thing in Easter Goods. Our showing is an exclusive one
for Bernidji. .__
Decorations for Caster Table
Easter Cards and Decoration Novelties
for the Easter Dinner Table.
THEY'RE ALL THE RAGE.
E. A. Barker.
-ReedV Studio
Sportsmen's League.
J. J. Ellis, of Bernidji has re
cently been appointed a deputy
warden by the state game and
fish commission and has been
spending some time this week
going over the country. Mr.
Ellis would like to see a league
organized among local sportsmen
for the purpose of protecting
game. He says there is no ob
jection to settlers haying what
meat they need for actual use
but the wholesale and injudicious
taking of game animals and fish
is to be condemned and he be
lieves with the state of local senti
ment a sportmen's league would
be a long step in the right direc
tion.
In District Court.
and ^&d\svq Skou^s
IN ANY STYLE, FINISH OR PRICE. ALL KINDS OF
Photos, Views of the City,
Lake and Lumber Camps
Old pictures made new and enlarged to any size. Studio occupies all
of the second floor of tbe new Street block, next to the postottioe. My
reception, display and dressing rooms are always open and you are
welcome.
Judge Spooner granted an
order for a new trial in the case
of James Kelly vs. J. E. Platley
This case was tried at the Sep.
tember, 1903, term of court, and
the jury rendered a verdict for
the plaintiff, Kelly. Charles \V.
Scrutchin was attorney for the
plaintiff and the defendant was
represented by Gibbons & Tor
rance.
The case of the State vs. W. C.
Jones was this morning con
tinued until the September term
of court on motion of Mr. Jones
attorneys Gibbons & Torrance.
Wood and Ashes Must Go.
StreetCommissioner Pogue will
begin a campaign next week
against the man who piles wood
in the street and empties his
winter's ashes directly opposite
the front door. The streets in
.somesections^LlJie-jjityiwilLbe- in bad condition as soon as the
snow melts and the ground dries
up and Mr. Pogue doesn't pro
pose to have them looking any
more discreditable than is abso
lutely necessary.
Squatters Arrested.
Acting under the orders of
Major Scott, the Leech Lake In
diarf agent, the squatters on the
cut over lands in the vicinity of
Cass Lake were yesterday ar
rested and compelled to move off
their claims. The squatters feel
very indignant at what they con
sider rough treatment and have
appealed to the commissioner of
the general land office. Judge
Lang was among the number ar
rested and ha4 squatted on a fine
claim a short distance from the
village. _^______ i~
To Put-on
R.W. REED, Prop.
WofiTTrains.
The announcement is made
that the Great Northern plans
dointr considerable work on the
Duluth line this year between
Crookston and Duluth. Grades
will be reduced. New steel will
be laid in some places, several
sidings are to bo lengthened and
tho right of way ballasted up in
several places. It is expected
that two steam shovels will work
on this division during the
greater part of the summer and
a number of extra work trains
will be put on. Duluth line
is one of the Grc Northern's
most important branches, the
business is constantly growing
and in time all the wheat from
the DakotajLWill be handled over
this line to tho head of the lakes.
Changing Their Way.
Local dealers in strong drink
and others who give the festive
woodsmen the glad hand when
he arrives in town with his win
tei's wages in his pockets report
that the old tvpe of woodsman
seems to be disappearing. The
man who spends his money like
a prince and afterwards sleeps in
the street is not as much in evi
dence this year as usual. The
boys have a good time for a few
days but most of them have
money left when they leave this
city for their homes or other des
tinations and the prolific spender
of the old days is a minus quan
tity comparatively speaking.
Nay Make Arrangements.
Local devotees of the boxing
game would like to arrrnge an
exhibition match at Blackduck
or some of the towns up the
north line in the near future and
the project is being discussed at
present. There is said to be
some very fast talent in this sec
tion at the present time and
there are any number of enthusi
asts who would like to see them
go. It is proposed to have a
special train run out of Bernidji
the night of the event and to pull
off an event that will be clean and
worthy of patronage in every
way.
Arrested for Forgery.
A typographical tourist and
printerman, who is well known
throughout the northwest was
arrested at the Pioneer compos
ing room this afternoon by Con
stable Jones, of Blackduck, on a
charge of forgery. He is alleged
to have passed a forged check at
Blackduck for $12.50, and his
story is that he received the
check for work done at the office
of the Blackduck American and
that he passed it in good faith.
He was take'h back to Blackduck
to answer this afternoon.
Going West to Grow Up.
The-Great Northern's west
bound business at the present
time is quite large and almost
every train handles several cars
of emigrants. Most of them are
going to North Dakota destin
ations west of Minot, but a con
siderable number go to the Can
adian Northwest. The emigra
tion this year is not nearly so
heavy as last year, however,
when solid trains of emigrants
were handled to the western
country.
Insufficent Encouragement.
The committee appointed by
the mass meeting last Monday
night to solicit the subscription
of 5,000 stock for the sash and
door factory reports that while it
has received considerable en
couragements the desired amount
of stock is still over three thou
sand dollars short of the marl'.
The matter will not be dropped,
however, before representatives
of'the Delametcr Co. visit the
city again. .._,
Locate in Bernidji.
The Continental Casualty Co.,
doing a large insurance business
in this section, will locate a dis
trict office in Bernidji the first of
April. It will be in charge of
Mr. Av EUingson, late of Fergus
Palls. Mr. Ellingson will have
charge of all the agents in this
section of the country, and the
new territory north of this city
is to bo. developed for the com
pany at once.
We AreDaily
making sittings for people who have
been elsewhere fur photographs and
have been disappointed both imiuality
antl price. Step in and see what we
can do for you.
Our studio is on the ground floor, two
Works north of the City Boat house, on
the lake front.
Vouvs.for business.
M. J. MORSE,
Lakeside Photographer.
1
Thifd Street
After Aqua Para.
Warfield Bros, have begun the
work of digging a well near the
electric light plant to demon
strate to the city authorities that
it is possible to get good water in
that section of the city and inci
dentally after this is developed to
secure the pumping contract
from the city, The well will be
put down to the gravel beds, and
they-are-confident that-they-will
be able to secure water which
will be just as good as any in
town. In the event that they
are successful in establishing
their point, they will be able to
make a great saving to the city
over the old pumping plant.
To Fix Up Race Track.
The Agricultural association
has dbcided to make some im
provements to its fair grounds
property. The base ball diamond
and race track are to be re
paired and. put in good condition
as soon as the weather will per
mit. The race track could be
made one of the best in this sec
tion with a little workbttt-i-s
heavy at present and the trainers
who are handling horses in this
country prefer to train at the
Park Rapids track, which is one
of the best in this section. The
matter of a county fair will be
taken up later.
Eggs for Easter.
Easter eggs promise to be
very reasonable. in price, if the
present downward trend of the
market continues. During the
past three weeks the price of
eggs has been cut in two. Where
they were formerly selling
at 32 cents they are now quoted
at 16 cents per dozen. They
haye dropped 2 cents in price
during the past week. The
prices at which they will be
quoted'-for Easter trade will all
depend on the weather during
the next week.
I Invited to Cass Lake.
The members of the local
Masonic lodge have been ex
tended an invitation to attend an
Easter Ball which will be given
under the auspices of the Masonic
lodge at Cass Lake on Easter
Monday night. Music will be
furnished by an orchestra from
the Twin Cities and elaborte pre
parations are being made for the
event.
Institutes Tonight.
Grand Recorder Charles E.
Larson, of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen, arrived in the
city this afternoon and will assist
Deputy Organizer Olson in the
installation of an A. O. U. W.
lodge tonight. The lodge will
have forty members on its char
ter and the meeting will be held
at Odd Fellows hall.
Banner Load of Logs.
The A. T. Hatcher logging
camp near Lakeport"claims' the
distinction of having hauled the
banner load of logs for that vicin
itp during the present winter.
It consisted of 30,000 feet hauled
"by four horses over their logging
road and was landed one day last
week.
Action for Damages.
The case of Christina Hanson
vs. L. H. Bailey is occupying the
attention of the district court to
day. The plaintiff sues for dam
ages. Mr. Bailey is represented
by Bailey & McDonald and
Chester McKusick is appearing
for the plaintiff.
Lotl
Ribbons worth to 10 cents, choice only
5c a yd.
Lot 2
JLivrl' mtk
Ribbons worth to 15 cents a yard, choice only
71 a yd.
Robideau Gets a Verdict.
The jury in the case of J.J.
Robideau vs. the Iron Range Tel
ephone Co. last night returned a
verdict for the plaintiff in the
sum of $150. Robideau sued to
recover $2,500 damages for in
juries sustained in running
against a telephone wire which
.he alleged was left in a negligent
manner. Gibbons and Torrance
"a-ppeared"!oifEhe piaihTiff~antl"~PT
V. Coppernoil, of Wadena, as
sisted by E. E. McDonald con
ducted the case for the defend
ants. Thought to be in the Las Stages
of Consumption.
Mrs. Minerva Burgess, of
Byars, 111., says I have just re
ceived the White Wine of Tar.
We think there is medicine
like it. lb cured me'when I was
thought to be in the last tages
of consumption. I will always
recomend it to those that have
any disease of the lungs.
THE NEW
BUSTER
SUITS.
Boys' 2 12 to
7 years'
Detachable
Collar for
$5.00.
t^resented-
FIRE SALE
O
Ribbons, Ribbons, Ribbons
will continue Saturday and Monday, as follows:
Choice of a large selection of Ribbons worth up to 35 C)f vrrl
cents sale price only C* jl*
Ghe ^ar
ft bij*oMa Of.
choice for
rrT
Lot 3
Ribbons worth to 20 cents a yard, choice only
10 a yd.
Lot 4
JJVl
A large line of Ribbons worth to 25 cents, sale price only
15c a yd
NEAR TO DEATH
Chief Bernidji Lying Very 111 in
Cabin Near Cass
Lake.
Cass Lake, March 25.Bernidji
chief of the Cass Lake Chippewas
and friend of the whites,is dying,
at his cabin near Rice Lake, 14
miles north of here. The city of
Bernidji takes its name from him
and the old Indian is greatly
esteemed by the early settlers of
that place, who always refer to
him as a "good" Indian.
Chief Bernidji is over 80 years
of age, but until recently has
been quite active, working at kis
trade of making canoes. Tlie
birch bark canoes that Bernidji
made had a reputation for
strength, ease of paddling and
graceful outlines that brought
him orders for more than he
could make.
A-^~A. A A-A- A A. JL. .A.
13he Clothiers
Spring Openin Ha Sale
GORDON'S HATSAn extensive variety of the latest spring
-siiapesi-new coloring. Gordon's is by far the most
fashionable young men's hat in the market. For
quality there is none better choice for
SCHNEIDER'S GUARANTEED SPECIAL-Complete showing of
the most stylish spring shapes, either stiff or soft styles, the
new roll brim v. ith dip front, every popular shape rep
our guarantee back of every one of them, at
Rain Repelling
Spring
Overcoats
that are reliable---new colorings
in Coverts, Whip Cords, Eng-
lish Tweeds, Cheviots, Home-
spuns, Diagonals, Worsteds, Vi-
cunos and Thibets at choice for
$15.00.
Minnesota Ave.
A few days ago the old man,
who had been sick for some time,
sent for his old friend, Dr. Rod
well, the government physician
and sub-agent. Dr. Rod well
came quickly, but it was appar
ent that medical science could do
nothing for the patient who was
rapidly breaking down from old
age.
"Medicine,, man," said the
chief, "I am a sick man. I do
not believe I shall live very long.
What do you think?"
"Bernidji,', said the doctor in
pitying tones, "I am afraid you
are right. You may not live
much longer."
The old chief made a gesture
Of assent.
"It is well," he said, with sim
ple dignity, "Bernidji is old. His
time has.come, and he is jready
and not afraid to go. When he
reaches the happy hunting
ground he will suffer no cold, not
hunger. Life will be only "a
pleasure."'-
$2

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