Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 4, 1909, Page 1

¢ she wasseen there alive. _THE BEMIDJI DAILY PION] fl'\sto:'\cal Society- -~ SR MINNESOTA HISTORICAL Y. VOLUME 7. NUMBER 195. BEMIDJI,. MINNESOTA, SATURRDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 4, 1909. TEN CENTS PER WEEK. FOURNIER’S SECOND TRIAL WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK Man Once Convicted of Having Killed N. 0. Dahl to Be Given New Trial at Brainerd.—Killing of Dahl’s Was Atrocious Crime: On Wednesday next, at Brainerd, in the district court before Judge W. B. McClenahan, Paul Fournier will be given a new trial on the charge of having killed N. O. Dahl, of which crime he was convicted in 1907 and sentenced to a term of imprisonment for life in the state penitentiary. Fournier was granted a new trial through the efforts of his attorney, Charles W. Scrutchin, who applied to the supreme court to give his client another chance for bis liberty, the court giving as its reason for granting the trial the methods of the county attorney at the first trial. County Attorney McKusick will conduct the new trial against Fournier and will be assisted by C. Lewis Weeks of St. Paul, assistant attorney general. Fournier will be defended by his former counsel, Charles W.Scrutchin. The killing of N. O. Dahl and his daughter Aagot was one of the most cold-blooded and brutal murders in the annals of crime in northern Minnesota. An almost helpless old man, white- haired and past 62 years of age, weighing but 150 pounds; and a young woman, 23 years old, sickly, and frail and without suspicion as to danger of any kind—the victims of unknown murderers who shed bloood in the hope of obtaining a few paltry dollars, believing that their identity would never be discovered, and, knowing well the isolated condi- tion of the country, were confident that the bodies of the old man and his daughter would never be found. N. O. Dahl was for many years a resident of Polk county, and was in Crookston for months at a time. Mr. Dabhl, whose wife was dead, decided in 1902 to file on a claim in northern Beltrami county. He came to Be- midji, and later filed on a claim about a mile and a half east of Quiring postoffice and fifteen miles north- west of the village of Blackduck. At that time there were very few settlersin the vicinity of Quiring and the aged Dahl decided to induce his daughter Aagot (who was in poor health) to come from Crookston and take a claim near his, in the bracing air of the pines, where she could re- gain her strength. Miss Dahl came from her home and filed on a claim adjoining that of her father. Mr. Dahl and his daughter lived in shacks on their claims, and were .apparently on very friendly terms with all their neighbors. Miss Dahl visited in Crookston, during the month of September, 1903 with her relatives and that was the last time She re- turned to her claim, and was never seen again outside the home of the neighbors in the vicinity of Quiring. Mr. Dahl was seen in Crookston uring the month of January, 1904 , having sold the timber on his claim while he was in that city, realizing $1,800 therefor. Mr. Dahl returned ‘to Quiring, taking only about $80 of the sum realized by the sale of his timber. The Dahl’s mingled with their meighbors quite freely, in the neigh- borhood of Quiring, and were often seen at the Quiring postoffice, until the month of March, 1904. when their visits ceased, about the last of the month. Letters of inquiry addressed to the relatives of the Dahls residing at Crookston bronght replies to the effect that neither the father nor daughter had been in that city for some time. Nothing in the form of a clue as to the whereabouts of the missing Dahl’s was unearthed until the even- ing of July 26, 1904, when Eugene Caldwell and Owen French, two homesteaders living near the Dahl claims, came to Blackduck and re- ported that they had found the body of N. O. Dahl under the rootsof a big balsaam tree near his shack. Eugene Caldwell and Paul Four- nier were arrested, charged with killing Dahl, and both men were bound over to the grand jury. The grand jury returned indictments against Fournier and James Wesley, the later having lived at the home of Eugene Caldwell, and suspicion was directed against him, connecting him with the crime. Fournier was held in the county jail, awaiting the finding of James Wesley, whose whereabouts were unknown. On October 11, 1904, County At- torney Loud bad the indictment against Fournier annulled, the evi- dence against the prisoner not being considered strong enough to warrant trying him on the charge of murder. Wesley remained at large and his whereabouts were a mystery to the officials. The body of Miss Aagot Dahl was found on August 17, 1904, four months after her disappearance from her claim. The bones were put into a box and brought to Bemidji, and were afterwards taken to Crookston for interment. In spite of every effort of the authorities of Beltrami county, the mystery of the identity of the murderers of the Dahl’s re- mained as deep as ever and there appeared no possible solution of the affair. As time passed, the crime was seldom alluded to, and was in a fair way to have been entirely forgotten. On March 27, 1905 (a year after the discovery of the absence of the Dahl’s from their claims) James Wesley was arrested at Green Bay, Wis., where his parents were residing. On September 20, 1905, the grand jury returned indictments against James Wesley and Paul Fournier, charging them with killing the Dahl’s, Much was done to secure evi- dence that would convict Fournier and Wesley of the crimes of which they had been accused, but it was necessary to annul the indictments. The grand jury in April, 1907, indicted both Fournier and Wesley on the charges of having killed N. O. Dahl and also his daughter, Aagot Dahl. Wesley was tried first, on the charge of having killed Aagot Dahl. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, the confession alleged to have been made by Wesley to one Foote, when he and Wesley were occupying cells in the Bel- trami county jail, being largely re- sponsible for the verdict brought in by the jury. Fournier was tried immediately after the conclusion of the Wesley trial, he being charged with killing N. O. Dahl. Fournier’s brother, Owen, gave very damaging testi- mony against Paul, claiming Paul had told him that he had killed the Dahls. Fournier was taken to the state on April 18tb, 1907. He has worked in the shoe'department, and Sheriff Hazen says that Warden Wolfer told him that Fournier was a well-be- haved prisoner. Fournier was brought back to Be- midji in July of this year and bhas been confined in the Beltrami county jail since that time. His attorney, C. W. Scrutchin, procured a change of venue from Beltrami county to Crow Wing county and the trial will be held at Brainerd, the county seat of Cr>w Wing county;and the trial will be watched with inter- est by the-people of Beltrami county, the killing of the Dahl’s being well remembered as most astroscious murders. The Pioneer---10¢ per Week GREAT JEWELRY DISPLAY AT GED. T. BAKER & G0.’S Exhibit Includes a Watch, Keeping Perfect Time, Frozen in a Solid Block of lce. What seems without doubt the most ideal and attractive jewe!ry display ever exhibited in this city is that of George T. Baker & Co. today which includes the famous South Bend watch frozen in a solid block of ice, the most gruélllnz test that can be given that delicate piece of mechanism. When we stop to realize what heat and cold does to metal in the way of contraction and expansion |- one cannot help but think what it means for a watch to be frozen in-a solid cake of ice, and keeping per- fect time, and the adjustmeut it must go through before leaving the factory, where all adjusted grades of South Bend watches are alter- nately baked in an oven and frozen in an ice box before being sent to the jeweler. Mr. Baker has the exclusive sale of the South Bend watch in this city and his farsightedness in getting the — the ageney for this excellent move- ment; which i§ so especially adopted and adjusted to the climatical con- ditions of northern Minnesota, is to be commended. d The citizens of Bemidji and sur- rounding country have always found Mr. Baker an up to date and aggres- sive business man and if there is anything new comes you will always|, find it first at Mr. Baker’s store. Through fair and courteous treat- ment and ‘“thdt smile that won't come off” Mr. Baker has won d host of friends throughout northern Minnesota. Mr. Baker's display includes the largest-line of watches in northern Minnesota, which goes to show that he is prepared to furnish any movement, grade or make of watch on the market and at right prices. . The weather permitting this great display, including the watch keeping - perfect time frozen ina solid cake of ice, will be continued for several days and Mr. Barker and his corps of assistants will be pleased to answer any questions or give any information regarding any of the watches on display, especially the one in the ice, which is attracting no small amount of attention, i WOODS GIRL TAKEN BY FATHER; AT RAT PORTAGE Lucinda Was Undoubtedly Kidnapped.— . Was Taken from Home Wednesday Night, November 24th. . A clue has been found to the whereabouts of Lucinda Woods, daughter of Mrs. Frank Freeman (nee Woods), who disappeared from the Freeman home Wednesday night, November 24. - Mr. Freeman now states that a letter has been received in this city from Port Arthur, Ont.,, which was written by Charles Woods, in which it is alleged Woods stated that he has the girl safely at Port Arthur and is taking good care of her; that he intends to keep her permanently. When Mrs. Woods secured a divorce from Mr. Woods, last spring, she was given the custody of their child, Lucinda, and the girl has lived with her mother since the latter’s marriage to Frank Freeman. When she disappeared from her home it was surmised that Woods had kidnapped her and that sur- mise proves to have been a fact. Local news on last page. T. J. CRANE & CO. Women’s and Children’s Ready-to-Wear Garments Better Suit, Coat and Dress Values were never known than these we offer in this Underprice Sale PRESENTING $8.90 $11.50 We are enthusiastic about these gar- ments because we know just how much better they are in style, in fabric and the making than other garments offered at the same prices. This Our Own Best Record for Value Civing The materials are Serges, Broadcloths, Cheviots, fancy Homespuns and Tweeds. Silk and Silk Jersey tops. Dresses of NEW ARRIVALS House Gowns, Kimonas, Dressing Sacques, Silk Hosiery, Fancy Neckwear and Turkish Jewelry. for Regular $30 and $35 Coat values for Regular $12.00, $14.00 and $16.00 Coat, Suit and Dress values. for Regular $18, $2) and $22.50 Coat, Suit and Dress values. for Regular $24, $26 and $28.50 Coat, Suit and Dress values. Serges, Panama, TO BE HELD ISUNDAY SCHOOL MEETING HERE MONDAY A. M. Locker, Secretary of the Minnesota Sunday School Association, Will Preside.—Splendid Program Has Been Prepared; Successful Meeting Assured. The Beltrami County Sunday School association will participate in 2 Sunday School institute which will be held in the Baptist church in this ~ A. M. LOCKER, Secretary Minnesota Sunday School Association. gram will be given: 3:00—(a) My School.” General Discussion. verse side of the program. Evening Choir and Singers. Benediction. most commendable start. city, Monday, at which time A, M. f.ocker of St. Paul, chairman of the Minnesota Siinday School association, will preside aund the following pro- Afternoon Session. 2:45—Song and Devotional Service, by a local pastor. All the Church in the Sunday School. (b) All the Sunday school in the Church. . (c) A campaign fot membership. ] —By A. M. Locker. 3:45—Three-Minute Talks by Superintendents on “The Greatest Needs of 4:15—FTree discussion on your choice of topics taken from the list on res Led by A. M. Locker. Session, 7:45—Praise Service, Led by a Superintendent and Assisted by Local 8:00—"Sunday School Extension,” or “Training Sunday School Teachers” A. M. Locker. Offering for Sunday School Work. It isexpected that a large crowd will attend the conference as local people are showing much interest in the affair. Rev. J. C. Mapson of Tenstrike County Sunday School association, Rev. H. R. McKee of the local Baptist church is vice-president and Miss Sybil Benner of Bemidji is secretary. . Mrs. M. A. Phibbs is superintendent of the teachers training departs ment; Mrs. C. L. Knox is superinteneent of the home department; Mrs. F. N. Freeze is superintendent of the temperance department. The Beltrami County Sunday School association includes in its mem- bership the members of all protestant Sunday schools in the county. A conference was held in Bemidji last spring, at which time an ex- cellent program was rendered and the newly-organized association givena is the president of the Beltrami —_— POPULAR GOULD STORE MOVES TO MILES BLOCK After Ten 0’clock.,—New Quarters Better. Arthur N. Gould, successor to Crane & Gould, who is conducting a novelty store at 218 Beltrami, will move into his new home tonight. Mr. Gould will occupy the store in the Miles Block, No. 301 Beltrami. This store has been completely remodeled and the store has been built and furnished 'to accomodate the Gould store and stock. Mr. Gould believes that his new quarters aré much better and on new quarters. The firm of_Cr? uld have _been doing business ‘in this city for the past two yearsand since Sebtem- Entire Store Will be Moved Tonight| ber 1, Mr. Gould has owued and managed the business alone. His line of business is leather novelties, Mexican and Indian handicraft, art goods, cigars, tobacco, etc. The stock will be moved after 10 o'clock tonight and a force will be at work all night to prepare the store for business Sunday morning. Mr. Gould expects to have everything in readiness by that time. Mr. Gould is fast becoming rec- ognized as one of the foremost business men of Bemidji and his future is indeed a promising one, he being still a young man. He de- ‘account of the growth of his busi-|. ness he is about to occupy: these serves the patronage of every citizen in this community and will be glad to meet old and new patrons at the new store. Marriage Licenses. . D. E. Sullivan to Myrtle Ellis. Lee Hilz to Frieda Dohrman. G. L. Makinster to Kitty Falken- stein: William I. Spencer to Cora Hus- ton. | |