Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, June 19, 1911, Page 1

"THE VOLUME 9. NUMBER 44. READY T0 CONFESS Said to Have Told Officers He Will Tell All, Further Implicating Other Persons. PUPOSKY MAN SAW SHOOTING Rex Warner Says He Saw Davis Stumble and Drag Himself Into Woods. TO SEARCH TWO VALISES Property of Bandits, Found in Be- Saloon May Add New Evidence. midji Bean, the wounded bandit who is in the Beltrami county jail, with his legs shattered, seen this forenoon, is suffering acutely from his wound, which makes him nervous and wor- ried. It is said by Assistant State Fire Marshall Fullerton and the officers in charge that Bean has today made a complete confession, but the officers refuse absolutely to give out any in- formation in regard to the confes- sion at this time; but that the state- ment will conform entirely to the charges which have been made by the officials connecting Dr. Dumas with the safe blowing and incendiarism as well as many other people, several of whom are high up in political and social circles. Were to Hide in Cabin. Every effort to get inside inform- ation relative to this confession has failed and officers refuse to divulge a word of it until later in the day or tonight. Bean has said that at the “yegg” meeting held in Bemidji last week, Davis and Bean arranged that if either of them was hurt while they was blowing the safe and firing the building at Puposky they were to go to a cabin half a mile from Pu- posky, where they could await the arrival of the other. The officers knew of this and went at once to the cabin and broke in teh door, but no one was inside. Rex Warner Saw Wounded Man, Rex Warner, proprietor of the Hotel Puposky, rushed from his house while the hail of lead was being sent through the air, and he says that he saw Davis and Bean run for the woods; that Davis was wounded as he stumbled several times and was barely able to get into the timber. It is now believed that a third robber was with Davis and Bean the night of the shooting at Puaposky, and that this man had charge of the wires and cut them when the two robbers went to the building, intend- ing to make sure that no communica- tion could be had with Puposky, and that this third man helped Davis to get away. Third Man May Be Known. That the identity of this third man is fixed almost to a certainty by the officials is hinted at by the officers. A railroad speeder has been found half a mile south of Puposky, indi- cating that the men at the last minute changed their plans and de- cided to run from Puposky to Bemidji on the speeder, in precisely the same manner that the men who committed the two former robberies at Puposky made their get-away, one robber be- ing shot at the time of the last robbery, Thanksgiving morning, 1909, The deputy fire marshall and the detectives now have in their posses- slon two valises, property of Davis and Bean, which were left at a Be- midji saloon and restaurant, after the two men had changed their clothes prior to leavin for Puposky to do the job of robbing and firing. These grips will be searched, say the officers, and the contents will further involve two robbers and their accomplices. Sheriff Hazen has given instruc- tions to bis deputies to allow no one to see Bean in the jail; and the offi- cers aer guarding him closely in or- der that no one can get to him and pass anything to him. Tifft of New York city is the only | man in the United States with no given name or initials. Heisa mnn-' ufacturer of box shooks, and he signs checks with his one name. l Tehparary Organization Effected Here Today and First List of Of- ficers is Named. A. J. McGUIRE URGES ACTION Urging the farmers of this terri- tory to co-operate and pull together in the establishment of a creamery in Bemidji, A. J. McGuire, superin- tendent of the state experimental farm at Grand Rapids, this morning addressed more than 100 farmers who came to discuss. the advisability of establishing a co-operative cream- ery in Bemidji. “What you gentlemen want to do,” said Mr. McGuire, “is to take out stock in this organization, make it a farmers’ organization, and work for its interests.” The speaker told of how he had aided in organizing creameries in different parts of this section of the state, and how they had made good, in even less encouraging country than the one which surrounds Be- midji. On motion the following list of officers were elected to meet and or- ganize the creamery association: A. E. Rako, president. Iver Ungstad, vice-president. A. P. Ritchie, secretary and treas- urer. D. A. White, director, Nelson Willitt, director. J. E. Patterson, director. M. Rygg, director. At the adjourned meeting of those interested in the movement held this afternoon an investigating commit- tee was named to look into the mat- ter of securing the Melges creamery, now owned by the Fitzsimmons-Bald- win company, and to ascertain the lowest price they will ask for the rental of it. . Another committee named to draf the by-laws was: A. E. Rako, 4. P. Ritchie, William Morris, Nelson Wil- lett and M. F. Pendergast. The next meeting will be held in the city hall Saturday at 10 a. m. PROBE FOR HAZEN ASSURED PETERSON St. Paul, Minn., June 19.—(Daily Pioneer Special Wire Service.)— Viggo Peterson, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Beltrami county, called upon Govern- or Eberhart, this morning, and urged the appointment of a commission to to inquire into the official conduct of A. B. Hazen, sheriff of Beltrami county. Governor Eberhart assured Mr. Peterson that, as soon as the formal opinion is received, he will appoint a commission to inquire into the charges if, in the opinion of the legal department, such action is warrant- ed. Following the conference with Governor Eberhart, Mr. Peterson conferred with the attorney general’s department. MURDER FACES JURY State Presents its Evidence Against Maki at Brainerd in Quick Order. DEFENDANT ALLEGES ALIBI Drop Insanity Dodge and Now Will Attempt to Show That He Could Not Have Committed Crime. FIVE WITNESSES THIS FORENOON Prosecution Closes This Afternoon and Prisoner Will Present His Side Tomorrow. Brainerd, June 18.—(Daily Pio- neer Special Wire Service.)—After having exhausted a special venire of 25 and excusing a number of tales- men the jury in the case of the State of Minnesota vs. Erick Maki, for the brutal murder of little nine year old Earl Edmond Rielly began today. At noon five witness for the pros- ecution had been heard, and it is probable that the prosecution will rest some time this afternoon and that the defense will open its side of the case tomorrow morning. It is understood in Brainerd that the defense will endeavor to prove an alibi, this rumor putting an end to the supposition that the accused man would try the insanity dodge. The jury in the case was not com- pleted until late Saturday afternoon, and'is made up of: W. H. Rosen- kranz, George Bock, W. J. Hutchins, J.© C. Hammett, H. V. Flansberg, S. P. Coffrain, W. H. Bolton, E. P. Clipp, C. H. Cannon, Perry Everett, Hugh Carmichael, Bert Baker. Maki, although he does not under- stand the English language, is tak- ing a keen but silent interest in the progress of his trial. JULY 4TH MEETING TONIGHT Question of Celebration to Be Decid- ed at City Hall. Is Bemidji going to celebrate the Fourth of July? This is the ques- tion that can be heard repeatedly along the streets of the city today, and which will be answered at the meeting of the public which is to be held in the citl hall at 8:30 this eve- ning. J. A. Franklin, international pres- ident of the Boilermakers and Iron Ship Builders of America, says that an assessment of 3 to 6 cents will be levied upon each of the 3,000,000 members of the American Federation of Labor to aid J. J. McNamara, sec- retary-treasurer of the Structural Iron Workers. (] (Copyright, 1911.) NCEEATIN - SUMMER \Q\\x\\!fx\w’lwfli W ) N At the meeting 'of the newly created immigration: board of the Northern MinqesofiavDevelopment as- sociation, held in h}a city. Saturday, officers were elected and June 30 de- cided on as the' 01 which to meet in this city and complete plans. It was decided’that an investiga- tion be made of the; plan, such as is being used in ‘Wi cess, which requites all heavy land owners to pay-&: tax of one cent an acre to the board to be uged in ad- vertising the state. The money received 'in this way besides being used to further the advertisement of the country, will be used to maintain an exhibit in St. Paul of the produce grown in this country. i The officers -chosen at the Satur- day meeting are: W.'A. McGonagle, chairman, A. G. Wedge, treasurer, W. R. Mackenzie, secretary. WILL YOU DECORATE? ———dy 53 New and Ur- ss Men to nkers. Commercial Club gent Appeal to B Prepare for the- MAYOR PARKER MAKES PLEA On Wednesday of.this week, one ‘of the leading orgamizations of the state will hold its annual convention in Bemidji, the State Bankers’ assoc- iation. 1t is customary for the residents in the city in which the convention is held to decorate and it is hoped that Bemidji will establish a record in this respect' and that organiza- tion urgently requests that all busi- ness houses decorate. In speaking of the bankers coming to Bemidji, Mayor Parker said today: “l earnestly hope that between now and Wednesday the business men of our city will decorate their stores, in order that the visiting bankers may know that Bemidji welcomes their coming, and that they may leave believing this city to be one of hustlers and enterprising citi- zens, ; . “I have been unable to locate a city where even the district bankers have met that the place did not decor- ate to their utmost ability and in my opinion, with the state convention there, if this city lets this rare appor- tunity of advertising slip by, it will be & slap in the face that will smart for a good long while. Dec- orate and let the bankers know that we are glad to have them with us.” Cass Lake Mayor Now Held Responsible for Destruction of La Porte; also $200,000 Fire at Superior and Long List 0f Other Crimes DOCTOR IN BEMIDJI TODAY TO CONSULT }.IUI)GE SPOONER Efforts of Deputy Sheriff Helmer and Detectives to Trace Escaped Robber Fail and Search of Puposky Woods Has Been Abandoned and Other Towns are Being Watched for Wounded Desperado SAFE OPENED AND NINE STICKS OF DYNAMITE WITH FOUR CAPS ARE FOUND BULLETIN Bald Eagle, Minn, June 19.—A man, bearing the description of Mike Davis, the fleeing Puposky robber, was seen here this morning and St. Paul detectives were notified at noon and are in hot pursuit. The man was wounded in the left shoulder and left ear. Bald Eagle is a su- burb of St. Paul. Dr. D. T. Dumas, mayor of Cass Lake and rising young physician by day and apparently ring leader of the American crook trust by night, to- day faces added evidence charging him with incendiary fires, one of which wiped out the thirteen business buildings of the village of Laporte, a few miles south of here, another a $200,000 blaze at Super- ior, Wisconsin, the robbing of three safes and other crimes of plunder and carnage, during the past six months. This erime carnival is attributed to the mayor who continues to pro- test his innocence, by Joseph Field- ing of the St. Paul Pinkerton branch and Assistant Fire Marshall Sam Ful- lerton, who believes the net returns during this time, which they assert by no means covers the entire crimi- nal career of Dr. Dumas, aggregate thousands of dollars, which Dumas is said to have generously distributed with his associates, many of whom stand high in the business circles of the Northwest. Added Sensation Promised. As soon as this evidence is prop- erly arranged arrests of business men in Bemidji and Cass Lake will take place. It is expected that before the day is over at least ten men high in business circles will have been dragged into the case as having been pawns played by Dumas who dealt out to them a share of the spoils, Detectives are now on the way to the Minnesota state prison to get the sworn statement of a man con- victed under the name of Fred Hunt- er, and sentenced to seven years from Grand Rapids, Minn., on the charge 0g bank robbery. When arrested in Grand Rapids not long ago, Hunter sent for Dumas, who proceeded to employ an attorney for Hunter, who is now said to admit that Dumas was the guiding spirit in the work. of himself and companions, Incriminating Letters Found. It became known this morning that a letter from LeClaire, said by the Chicago police to be the mest expert safe blower in the country, was found in possession of Dr. Dumas, and in which he refers to Dumas as “dear doc.” Another letter from Dr. Dumas to LeClaire contained the sal- utation, “Friend Ed.- When the safe of Dr. Dumas was searched yesterday dynamite. was found. This frightened some of the bystanders ‘who backed away. Dr. Dumas, who witnessed the opening of his safe, advanced grabbed one of the sticks of dynamite, exelaiming: Dynamite Food for Cows, “What are you afraid of; they feed this stuff to the cows.” To further illustrate his contempt for the explosive, the mayor grabbed a stick of the dynamite and broke jit in two. He asserted that the dynamite had been purchased for a farmer who was to Dblow stumps. Dynamite for blowing stumps has a percentage of nitroglycerine of from forty to sixty per cent. The dynamite found in the Dumas safe contained more than 85 per cent of nitroglycerine. Bring “Mike,” Says Letter. The letter from Dr. Dumas to Le Claire, now in the hands of the Pinkertons, was written on Dr. Dumas’ stationery, mailed at Cass Lake about two weeks ago and sent POPPPPPPPVOOPOO0® Z MOREEVIDENCEAT HIBBING. 2 © Hibbing, Minn., June 19.— & @ (Daily Pioneer Special Wire & © Service.)—S. P. Fielding, of ¢ © the St. Paul Pinkerton agency, & @ was in Hibbing this morning on & © an errand connected with the & © Dumas case. @ “I am here to get evidence and ¢ I am overjoyed with what I & have found,” said Mr. Fielding. ¢ Mr. Fielding left Hibbing at & noon for St. Paul. It is known & that the detectives obtained ¢ from Chief of Police Ring, who ¢ searched Mayor Dumas, a check ¢ for $200 made payable to Dr. Dumas, signed by R. E. Smythe, ¢ drawn on the First National & Bank of Bemidji. In the left ¢ hand corner was written “land ¢ account.” Mr. Fielding said that ¢ check would prove to be im- ¢ portant evidence in the case ® © against the mayor, ® The detective also took away & 4"with him“an‘automatic revolver © & which DF: Dumas {8 ghld to*have & ® carried and which is said to be © of the same pattern-as weap- & ons carried by the Puposky ¢ yeggmen and some receipts for ¢ drugs and other articles said to ¢ have been bought by Dr. Dumas ¢ inSt. Paul. When asked if the re- & ceipts would have any bearing ® on the case, Mr. Fielding re- ¢ plied: “They ‘will have a very im- & portant bearing in the manner & of ‘manufacturing explosives.” & 0006000006606 0 * to LeClaire who was in Grand Forks at the time. “Bring Mike or some other good man and come at once,” the doctor is said to have written. The Mike referred to is Davis, the man who escaped during the battle at Puposky Friday night, at which time his con- federate, Billy Bean, was caught and 18 now in jail here. The letter from LeClaire to Dumas was in regard to clothes that LeClaire had left in Cass Lake and which he wished Dr. Dumas to send to him at Custer, Montana. LeClaire subsequently left for Mon- tana where the officers allege he had planned to rob a bank. Prisoner Here Said to Have Confessed A long conference was held at the county jail, this morning, and it is understood that Bean was questioned and that he made a confession but this confession is temporarily with- held by the officers in charge. The plans of the detectives are so far reaching and cover so many angles and different towns that it is next to impossible to give them in detail. FEach development seems to further entangle Mayor Dumas and the disclosures of the past 24 hours have caused clnsternation in busi- ness circles both here and at Cass Lake. Dr. Dumas Comes to Bemidji. Dr. Dumas came to Bemidji today, arriving here shortly before noon in an automobile and proceeded at once to the office of his attorney, Judge Marshall A. Spooner, where he is spending the afternoon in conference, arranging details or his defense Wwhich is to be made when he is given an examination before Court Com- missioner H. A. Simons on June 28. Neither Mr. Dumas nor Judge Spoon- er had anything to say for publica- tion. Dr. Dumas’ own tongue was his andoing, is the assertion of Sam Fullerton. It was the bravado of his own deeds whicE caused Mr. Fullerton to begin the investigation, which started at Northome and which expanded rapidly into o sweeping a sensation that the -detective work was placed in the hands of the Pink- ertons. Mr. Fullerton discovered RO R R R R R OB RO RS R ORORORC RO R RO RN few hundred dollars hab been in- sured for thousands of dollars and in some instances by Bemidji companies. Say He Was Close to Convict. Of Dumas’ connection with Frank Hunter, sent up from Grand Rapids, Dumas is said to have been his closest friend in the hour of need. Hunter’s downfall came when he took off his coat to engage in a saloon fight. An officer saw that the inside of the coat contained a complete safe rob- ber’s outfit and such as is known as a “yegg’s cloak.” As soon as Hunter was arrested, he requested that Dr. Dumas be notified and the doctor is said to have taken up the work of obtaining an attorney for Hunter. He went to Grand Rapids and then came to Bemidji to employ an attor- ney. In the meantime,’ Hunter yielded to efforts to plead guilty and was taken before Judge Stanton of this city who sent him to Stillwater for seven years and it is there that @| be is to be Interviewed by Detective Fielding and Sam Fullerton, Mr. Fullerton leaving Bemidji this eve- ning. Mr. Fiélding and Sherift Haz-. en went to Hibbing this morning ‘where they took charge of the prop- erty found on Dr. Dumas when he was arrested in that city Saturday. Mr. Fielding proceeds from there to Stillwater. ~ Said He Had Jury Fixed. When Dr. Dumas was told that Hunter had pleaded guilty, he is said to have become enraged, throwing his hat to the floor and stamping on it, exclaiming: “The’crazy fool! And I had it all fixed so that the jury would be hung up high and dry.” Pinkertons assert that one of their own men made a report of the plans unfolded by Dr. Dumas in the John Larson saloon on Third street in this city for the Puposky robbery and that they have four witnesses to the concoction of this plot which was made iif the rear of the Larson saloon, they say, and which was at- tended by Bean, the man now under arrest, and Mike Davis, the robber who got away. Shevlin Fuse Was Wet. Dr. Dumas is said to have chided Davis for his failure to blow open the safe in the bank at Shevlin. Davis replied that “she would have cracked all right but the fuse was wet.” “Well, damn you, don’t have any wet fuse at Puposky,” Dr, Dumas is reported to have replied. Dr. Dumas continues to discharge his official duties as mayor of Cass Lake and has several patients to whom he devotes his personal ef- forts, and despite the crushing thunder bolts of evidence which con- tinues to break loose in almost an incessant chain, he appears composed and says everything will come out all right. At 6 o’clock last evening, Detec- tive ‘Fielding, Sam Fullerton and other detectives and officers, opened Dr. Dumas’ safe, in his presence, at his office in Cass Lake and found nine sticks of dynamite and four dyna- mite caps. The opening of the safe was pre- ceded by an unsuccessful chase b; detectives through the woods near Puposky after “Mike” Davis. Deputy Sheriff Helmer assisted in the chase. The opening of the Dumas safe was also witnessed by Frank Yeager, safe expert from St. Paul, Matt Ken- nedy, deputy sheriff of Cass Lake, who worked the combination and County Attorney Richard Funck, al- 80 of Cass Lake: When Detective Fielding and Mr. Fullerton informed Dr. Dumas that the safe was to be opened by the ex- pert, Dumas said: “You needn’t go to that trouble. T'll give you the combination.” that buildings worth only a He made good on his proposal and — e e e (Continued on last page.)