Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND002 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 03416
Title: Carl Petersen
Date:
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 1867
Summary: Carl Petersen Westhope October 1922 Carl Petersen, night policeman, was shot and almost instantly killed at an early hour Monday, October 2, 1922, by a band of robbers who had broken into Meddaugh's Hardware Store in Westhope, N.D. Petersen had accepted the night watchman position two weeks prior to the shooting and had been warned about tackling any bunch of robbers that might show up. The night of the robbery, Petersen called authorities about 45 minutes before the gunfire saying there were robbers in the store and he was told help would be in town within a few minutes. In a short amount of time, four or five men gathered and just as they were within a block of Main Street, they heard the shots. Petersen was shot in the leg with a 32-40 rifle stolen from the hardware store. The bullet severed the artery and authorities figured he couldn't have lived more than three or four minutes after the bullet struck him. He was found about 3:25 a.m. lying in the middle of the alley face down with his gun in hand at the rear of the store. The gun had two empty shells in it. Other authorities were notified and Sheriff Hennessy arrived about daylight. In search of the robbers, the boys who were planning on going out on the early morning freight were lined up and frisked, but nothing was found. Later it was learned that a car had pulled out of town right after the shooting. Marks in the street proved where the car had stood and it was discovered it was the same car Canadian officers had been following earlier that night. Two years passed when John Kraft, alias "Whitey the Bum," was arrested in Minot in connection with the crime and was charged with murder. Kraft pleaded guilty to second degree murder after denying the charges and providing alternative stories as to what actually happened the night of the murder, blaming his partner Earl Kyle. Kraft was found guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in the state penitentiary. Three months after the sentencing, Kyle was apprehended in Aberdeen, Washington, and was also charged with murder. Kyle pleaded not guilty and told authorities that he and one other man, "Oklahoma" Patterson were sitting in a car outside of Westhope when Kraft robbed the store and killed Petersen. Kyle was sentenced to 20 years at the state penitentiary for the murder. Patterson was never found. Petersen died at age 55 and left behind his wife and nine children. He was a longtime resident and businessman in Westhope.
Red ID: FND_I_77329 Image ID: 509149 Image Notes: 10950 00002 03416

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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