Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND002 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 00853
Title: George L. Dixon
Date:
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 6/21/1890
Summary: Officer George Lincoln Dixon, age 27, a highly respected citizen and police officer of Wilton, ND, was murdered July 1, 1917 in the line of duty. No tragedy in the history of Wilton had so shocked the town as the brutal murder of George Dixon. The deceased came to Wilton as a boy, grew to manhood there, and had proven himself an excellent citizen and an efficient officer. In Bismarck, where he spent a number of years as an attendant at St. Alexius Hospital, and as a guard at the penitentiary, he had many warm friends to whom his untimely death came as a blow. He had been a resident of Wilton for the past 15 years, and a police officer for 1½ years. His untimely death was a distinct loss to the community in which he lived. Sheriff Hendricks was called to Wilton at 2:00 am on Sunday morning, July 1, 1917, to investigate the killing of George Dixon, who was stabbed to death in Wilton at 12:30 am of that morning. Early Saturday evening, Joe Keller appeared in the downtown district of Wilton in an intoxicated condition, and was ordered home by officer Dixon. Later the same evening he returned downtown again and this time was taken home by Dixon and ordered to stay there. About 12 o’clock the same evening he again came downtown and went to the hall where a dance was in progress. Mr. Dixon went to the hall, and took Keller out and was in the act of placing him under arrest and taking him to the city jail, when Keller drew a sharp butcher knife and stabbed the officer in the heart with the first thrust. There were a dozen men within 25 feet of Dixon and Keller when the stabbing took place, but none realized that a knife had been used until Dixon fell and Keller tried to make his get-away. Not a word was spoken by either one of the men, and it is presumed that the first thrust of the knife was the one that caused death and rendered it impossible for Dixon to say a word. There were four knife wounds made, two were fatal. The whole affair did not exceed 30 seconds and George Dixon was dead within five minutes. Joe Keller was captured within 100 feet of the place of the crime, and was placed in city jail. On Sunday he was transferred to the county jail, and on Monday was given a preliminary hearing before Judge Brummand, and was bound over to District Court for trial on the charge of murder in the first degree. The deceased’s wife and mother were both confined in St. Alexius Hospital at the time of his death. When his wife learned of his death she demanded that she be carried to Wilton Sunday evening, but his mother was in such critical condition following a recent serious operation that she could not be told of the fate which had overtaken her son. The next morning, within two blocks of her room the last rites were held for her son, and in order that she could make the most of her small chance to live, she could not be permitted to know the significance which the solemn tolling of St. Mary’s bell possessed. Scores of friends of the popular officer escorted his body to Bismarck, and the bier laid in state at Lucas’ chapel until 9:00 am the next day. Modern Woodmen of America, in whose organization he had long been a prominent member, formed a guard of honor for the remains of their late comrade, marching to the cathedral and then to the cemetery. He was laid to rest in St. Mary’s pro-cathedral July 4, 1917. The Rev. M. J. Hiltner officiated. He was survived by his wife; three small children; his parents; and brothers and sisters. Joseph Keller, an escaped insane patient from the asylum in Jamestown was put on trial November 16, 1917 in Washburn, ND, for the alleged murder of Officer George L. Dixon. He was found guilty, and sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Nuessle. He was 43 years old, and had escaped from the Jamestown asylum twice prior to the murder.
Red ID: FND_I_77297 Image ID: 509117 Image Notes: 10950 00002 00853

Collection: FND002 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Date:

Summary: The North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program honors fallen officers with highlights of their lives and careers.

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