Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, April 16, 1908, Page 1

o THE BEMIDJI DAILY MINNESOTA ISTORICAL VOLUME 5. NUMBER 307. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1908. ARRESTED IN ATTEMPTED BLACKMAIL; CONFESSED August Kisser Writes Threatening Letter to George B. Thompson.—Demanded $100, and Was Arrested When He Went August Kisser, a young man liv- ing with his mother on a larm- five miles west of Bemidji, was arrested at the point of a gun at midnight last night, after he had attempted to carry out a bold scheme of blackmail, from which he expected to realize a good-sized sum of money. Kisser was broughtto the city by Deputy Sheriffs J. N. Bailey and ArneSolberg and lodged in the county jail, awaiting a hearing for his crime. From a conicssion made by Kisser to the two officers while he was being brought to town, it was learned that Kisser was the author of an anonymous letter sent to George B. Thompson, in which the writer demanded that a sum of money be left for him at a lonely spot west of the city. The letter was as follows: “Mr. George B. Thompson:—We know you have money in the bank. Now what we want is $100; and if you don’t give it to us we will poi- son all your stock. Leave it at the signboardat 10 o’clock Wednesday night, April 14th. Remember, you are watched, and if you tell the police about this you will get hurt. Remember. X X x” Mr. Thompson, who is a farmer living west of Bemidji, received the letter, in due course of the mail, and after thinking the matter over, handed the threatening epistle to the sheriff’s office. Deputy Sheriffs J. .N. Bailey and Arne Solberg arranged with Mr: Thompson that he should apparently carry out the desires of the writer of the letter, and he was induced to go alone to the signboard (about three miles northwest of Bemidji) and deposit a package resembling a bundle of money, the officers to lie in wait in the shrubbery for the man who demanded the money. The plan of the officers was carried out by Mr. Thompson, who went alone to the lonely spot where the signboard stands, and left the package, which contained paper, afterward returning to his home. The deputies remained in the bush until 12:30, when they decided that the man after the money had given up his quest and they walked to the signboard. At that instant the form of a man came out of the darkness toward the place where the officers stood. He was accosted andJordered to throw up his hands. The stranger responded by mak- ing a moyement with his hand towards his hip pocket, when Bailey and Solberg drew their revolvers and fired in the air, at the same time advancing on the stranger. The latter failed to get out his gun before he was overpowered and his his revolver taken from him. The officers placed the man under arrest, ascertaining that his name was August Kisser. While the trip was being made to the city, Risser was finally induced to tell what he knew of the letter written to Thompson, when he con- fessed to being the author of the threatening document, claiming that he needed money very badly and took that method of getting it, knowing that Mr. Thompson had funds in a Bemidji bank. Hlfillllllllllllllllllfilllllllllllll DU R O O e e Fire Department Meeting. The members of the Bemidji fire department helda meeting last night, at which the matter of purchasing new uniforms was considered and discussed. The department could not see its way clear as to the financial end of the proposition, and the uniform matter was laid on the table for the present. The department formally decided to send a running team to Thief River Falls with the intention of se- curing the white banner of the tournament association. The team will begin training just as soon as the weather will permit a person for the Money. Kisser made many overtures to the officers to let him. escape, say- ing that no one else knew of his connections with the affair, and that he could be released and no one would be the wiser. He was lodged in the Beltrami county jail to await a hearing on a charge of attempted blackmail. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH Assessors Meet May 2. County Auditor Wilmann today sent notices to the assessors of the county to meet a member of the state tax commission at his office Saturday May 2. At that time they will receive their assessment” books for this year and also instructions as to the valu- ation of the different classes of property to be assessed. It is the intention of the state tax commission to have the property of the state assessed as near equal as possible, and with that object in view a member of the board will visit each county seat and meet the assessors and give them instructions as to how the assessment is to be made. Local news on last page ROSS & ROSS WILL LEASE A BIG FARM NEAR ANGUS Will Pasture Their Logging Teams There and Seed Many Acres of Land. Ed Henry, of the firm of Ross & Henry, loggers at Kelliher, left yesterday for Angus, where he will negotiate for the lease of the large Winchester farm just east of that village, the fine farm buildings being just half a mile from town. Much of the farm is fenced in and Ross and Henry will without doubt lease it because of its fine pasturage for 60 head of heavy horses which they have been using in the logging camps the last winter. They wiil farm the balance of the land, and as much more as they can lease in that vicinity, as 60 good horses can farm a considerable acre- age. Itisalso the intention to put up several tons of hay, and that loca- tion is close to much fine hayland a little farther east. The horses will be driven down from Kelliher, as the roads are good and the trip overland with the roads fine as pres- ent can be made cheaper than by rail as it would take three cars to carry the horses down. Easter souvenir postals cards at he Pioneer office. Additional local matten will be found on fourth page. STATE BOARD MAKES ST OF HEALTH RICTER RULES Those Exposed to Smallpox M tined.—Directs Closing of ust Be Vaccinated or Quaran- Schools During Epidemic, Unless Teachers and Pupils Are Vaccinated. New smallpox regulations have been adopted by the state board of health extending the quarantine requirements. to persons exposed to the disease as well as those who have it, unless they are vaccinated within three days of the first ex- posure. The new regulations also provide that when smallpox breaks to cease wearing furs, A PARASOLS Beautiful new Par- asols for Easter, in white, blue, brown, champaign. navy, green, embroidery and Persian borders. Dresses, N O S P A W A D O P A THE HOME OF FASHION Easter Display in superior fashionable wear- ing apparel in Ladies’ Spring Suits, Jackets, Waists, Skirts, Millinery, Dress i Goods, Shoes, ete. ORIUM EASTER GLOVES in Kid Gloves, 12 and 16 inch button, in white, black and col- ors; long Silk Gloves in white, black,brown, pink, mode and new blue shades. A glance at our store will convince you that we are prepared to fill your EASTER WANTS to the minutest detail. clever styles predominate in every department. EASTER SUITS, DRESSES AND GCOATS Mikado, butterfly and prince chap effects in chiffon, panama, tussor shadow stripe and linon suits. Our silk and lawn customs and jumper suitsare marvels of beauty most exquisitely trimmed, made in princess and butterfly styles, at less than it would cost to make them. UNDERMUSLINS Our new shipment of undermus- lins has arrived in time for Easter. A more magnificent line has never been brought to this part of the country. Every garment shows style and exclusive designs. Our four piece suits are especially worthy of your inspection Prices are as pleasing as the styles of these garments. SILK AND GLOTH GOATS We'show a most extensive and particularly pretty line for ladies, misses and children, long and short coats in black, tan, and fancy stripes, FROM $3.00 T0 $35.00 SILK PETTIGOATS made of the best oil boiled taffeta, elaborately trimmed, exception- ally wide. We have them in all colors to match your suit: PRIGES FROM $4.75 T0 $I5. WAISTS ‘We show a profusion of bewild- ering styles in lawn, silk, lace, gingham and percale ‘Waists from 65¢, 75¢, $1.00, $1.25 up to $15, One has to see this line to appre- ciate it. Execlusive and \ Do not tail to inspect our SILK AND DRESS GOODS DEP'T before choosing your spring dress, The materials are more beautiful and in greater variety of fine fab- rics and exquisite shadings. at prices that a new spring dress is within the reach of everyone. EASTER MILLINERY A most elaborate collection in ladies’, misses’ and children’s hats, exquisite imported and eastern styles. at most fascinatingly low prices. Just received our new shipment of EASTER FOOTWEAR in the new Oxfords, Ties and Slip pers. All nobby spring styles to fit every foot and purse. Easter Shopping made a pleasure at the : Berman Empornum out in a community or in a school the schools must be closed for three weeks unless all unvaccinated teach- ers and pupils are vaccinated within three days of the first exposure, with similiar requirements in regard to the classes at the state univer- sity and at colleges in the state gen- erally. Under the regulations which went into effect Jan. 1, 1908, only the patients were quarantined, but it having appeared that in many communities the local authorities were very lax in the enforcement of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease, the board adopted this new regulation which requires the isolation of all persons jexposed to the disease unless they are vaccinated. The board feels that if the people do not care to avail themselves of the opportunity of being vaccinated, which they consider a certain preventative, the stricter quarantine regulations must be enforced. The regulation providing for the closing of schools in the cases of epidemics of smallpox was adopted as the result of a recent opinion of the attorney general holding that such a step could not be ordered by the local boards of health or educa- tion unless the state board had established such a rule. It was thought, prior to that time, that this rule could be put into effect by local boards without any action on'the part.of the state board. As it is now the rule becomes operative only when adopted by the local boards. BOARD ENGAGES ALL OLD TEAGHERS EXGEPT SIX Teachers 1o Fill Vacancies, and Also Two New Ones, to Be Engaged. At the regular meeting of the school board, held Tuesday even- ing, all of the teachers were re- elected to their positions, and all accepted, with the exception of the the following: Misses Grayling, Harding, Gudgell, Shaw, Taylor and Hayden. As over eighty pupils will be promoted next fall from the First to the Second grade in the Central school alone, the board decided to secure the services of another teacher for ‘the Second grade. It was also determined to obtain a teacher to have charge of a manual training and science department. Superintendent Ritchie was au- thorized to look up and recommend to the board teachers to fill the vacancies created by the resigna- tions of the six who will not return next year and the two extra teach- ers. Mr. Ritchie reported that he had |received 106 applications this year for positions as teachers in the Bemidji schools, and this without his ever having announced that there would be any vacancies during the next school year. There are very few schools in this part of the state which can show so large a number of applications. This indicates that the Bemidji schools are well known and speaks well for their popularity and the management of them. A committee of two, Dr. Smith and T. J. Andrews, were appointed to’ examine the Central school and report to the board on the repairs necessary for next year. Lumber for Sale. We have for sale Inmber, lath and shingles. While they: last- we will sell shingles at $2.00, lath at $1.25. Douglass Lumber Co. Bemidji | H || || | | .| .| = | .| | | .| N X B | B l il | ! | N | | | . .| X X l .| .| | R | _| .| .| | | _| | M | N | | | | | | | _| _| | . | | Local news on last page —_—