Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND002 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 02016
Title: Hans C. Jess
Date:
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 6/10/1873
Summary: Hans C. Jess Mandan June 3rd, 1929 Hans C. Jess, 56, night officer on the Mandan police force, died on June 3rd, 1929, from a heart attack when in the act of making an arrest. Jess died in the arms of Anton Kary, the man whom the officer had been called to arrest. Neighbors had turned in a call for the night officer at about 1:00 A.M. Jess left a local cafe a few moments later to make the arrest. Taking Kary into custody, Jess had a struggle with him to get him to the curb where his car was parked. Indications are that the night officer then drew a billy with which to subdue Kary. The night officer had one foot on the running board of his Ford coupe when he was stricken. Kary who was standing directly behind Jess, caught him as he fell backwards. William Grosgebauer and Fred Doll, employed at the N.P. freight house nearby, heard Kary's scream for help, and ran across Main Street to find the night officer lying dead in Kary's arms with the billy lying at the officer's feet. No marks of violence were found on the night officer. Overexertion in placing Kary under arrest is thought to have caused the heart attack, although Jess had been in seemingly good health. Kary is being held in the county jail. Definite charges have not been preferred against him, although he is being held on a drunk and disorderly charge, with the probable further charge of resisting an officer. He was later charged with the second count, and on June 7, he pled guilty to both charges. Hans Christian Jess was born June 10th, 1873, in Schleswig Holstein, Germany, and came to the United States with his parents when he was 16. Following residence in Illinois, he came west to New Salem in 1908, and in that year was united in marriage to Mrs. Annie Harrison at New Salem. He was serving as a special police officer at the time Chief of Police N.H. Romer was killed on Christmas Day in 1926. He was then made a permanent member of the police force. Of a very quiet disposition, he was liked and respected by a great circle of acquaintances and friends. He was a member of the Mandan Presbyterian Church. Besides his widow, a sister, Mrs. Henry Leach, Rosebud, S.D., and a brother Max Jess of Arthur, IL., and his step-son, Leslie Harrison, survive him. He is also leaving behind a devoted partner by the name of Bozo, a great shaggy black and white shepherd dog, who regularly aided the officer in his nightly vigil through the lonesome hours.
Red ID: FND_I_77308 Image ID: 509128 Image Notes: 10950 00002 02016

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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