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ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA,FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1921Leslie Edwards of Mason City, Former Resident of Albert Lea, One of Gun Men, Is the Victim. Twenty-seven Shots Exchanged. Norman Ed-. .wards, a Brother Escapes, But Is Believed To Be Wounded. Ted Liefson Has Narrow Escape. Face Burned With Powder and One Bullet Goes Through His Overcoat Just Under the Left Arm. Boys Were Wanted at Owatonna For Burglary. Leslie Had Jewelry, Liberty Bond, Thrift Stamps and Other Articles, Believed to Be Part of Loot. Had Mask in Pocket.Excitement ran high at the local Rock Island station Thursday evening, when two gun men battled with three local officers for thirty-five minutes before one of the gunmen fell mortally wounded ^nd the other, believed wounded, made his escape.The gun men were none other than Lesl e and Norman Edwards, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Edwards, formerly of Albert Lea but. now living at Seventh street southwest, Mason City, Iowa. Leslie who was thrice shot during the battle, died at the local hospital shortly after four o’clock Friday morning.According tc a telephone message received from Owatonna at ten o'clock Thursday evening by local detective W. T. Sherrod of the Rock Island Railroad, these two young men had robbed a rest dence of that c ty cn Wednesday nighL A few minutes later, the local police department received a message stating: “Bad menaboard Rock Island passenger No. 62 Get them if possible.”The train arrived in Albert Lea at eleven o’clock. Officers Liefson, L.iedal and Detective Sherrod were on the lob at the depot. In order to prevent an escape Officers Liefson and Sherrod stationed themselves on the ea6t s de of the train and Officer Liedal on the station platform to the west of the train.As the passenger was coming to a stop the gunmen were discovered by the officers, on the blind baggage, just back of the engine, swinging off to the ground on the east side within a few feet of the officers. According to Sherrod’s statement one of the men saw the officers and cried: “Get Them.” Instantly the other man raised a gun and fired into Sherrod’s face three times. “The fire from the gun stuck my face as the first buUet sped by my head.” says Sherrod. “The second shot blind ed me. I heard only the report of the third shot and the bullet go by me. I realized that we must get them or they would get us, soI opened up, as did Mr. Liefson.“I was up close when one of the fellows first shot at me,” says Officer Liefson, “The hot powder struck my face. The bullet came very near me. From that time on the bullets flew thick and fast. One bullet went through my overcoat just under my left arm.” Dur-ing the battle twenty-seven shots were exchanged.“I don’t know whether I shot the fatal bullet or not,” says Sher red, but I know the second time I fired one of the*boys fell. The other went to him and helped him to his feet. Then both ran and I thought they had escaped.” The fellow, who got away ran south along the track towards the Milwaukee crossing. I believe he was wounded. A few minutes after the shooting we heard groans Just ea6t of the train. We went over that way and found one of the men lying partly under a box car bumper on track number six. lt;1 am hurt—I need help,' groaned the fallen man.Officer Liefson 6tooped and asked his name and he said: “Leslie Edwards. My home is at Seventh street, Southwest, Mason City, Iowa. The name of the fellow who escaped is Norman Edwards, he is my brother.The injured man was rushed to the hospital and Dr. Folken was called. Upon exam nation it was found that Leslie had received three shots. One entered the head near the left temple and grazed the outer portion of the skull for about five inches before it came out. One entered the left side at the ninth rib. passed into the abdomen, through the liver and came 0t on the right side just over the eleventh rib. The third bullet had penetrated the left ankle, lodging in the bone.i he wound, that caused death, was the one penetrating the abdomen and liver. “Death resulted from the shock and internal hem-morrage,” said Doctor Folken.At the hospital Leslie inquired. “Do you think I will live?” Dr. Folken told him that he had onlya slight chance, if any. “What k nd of a scrape were you in at Owatonna?” inquired the doctor. “We robbed a house,’ was the answer. “We have been in lots of scrapes in Albert Lea and Owa tonna,” continued Leslie. “I didn’t start the shooting at the depot this time. My brother opened up on the officers. I am twenty two years old and the son of Robert Edwards of Mason City. We formerly lived here on Park street. I believe my brother got away safely after the shooting.”Leslie was in considerable pain fcr a time before death came to relieve him.On searching his person at the hospital a full head mask was found, a quantity of Jewelry, an auto tire tester, his gun, a flash light, a hook of thrift stamps containing fifty dollars worth, one dollar coupon Liberty Bond and a razor. All but the gun, is believed to be a part of the loot taken at Owatonna. Among the Jewelry was a pearl necklace, a lady's silver pocket book containing rings, bracelets, brooches, etc. In one pocket was found a note book. All through this book were pencil drawings of robbers making raids, on horse back and on foot. The men riding horse back had dirk knives and revolvers in their belt while they rode furiously firing revolvers as they turned in their saddle.According to the authorities at Owatonna the boys got away with about eighty dollars in money, besides the jewelry, thrift stamps and Liberty Bond.“Bob” Edwards, father to the dead boy, arrived in Albert Lea from Mason City on No. 19 early Friday morning.After Leslie had passed away the body was removed to the Knatvold Undertaking parlors. The funeral will take place at the parlors Friday afternoon at two o’clock. “It will be strictly private, stated one of the near rela fives to the Tribune Friday morning.fiLater.Up to the time of going to press no clue that would lead to the whereabouts of Norman Edwards had been found. The police searched the Rock Island yards and the south end of the city all morning in their efforts to get a clue.Gil Johnson found the overcoat worn by Norman, this he picked up in the south end of the yards early Friday morning. Nothing was in the pockets of the coat.At two-thirty o'clock Friday afternoon William Leahy, the Steele county sheriff in company with Thomas Dumgan, Chief of Police, Patrolman Fred Rosenthal and Martin Kubiatowcz all of Owatonna arrived in Albert Lea over(Continued on pace five.)
Newspaper Details
Albert Lea Evening Tribune
Albert Lea, Minnesota, US
Fri, Apr 22, 1921
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Jason T.
USA 03 Apr 2024
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