On This Date in Minnesota History: September 14

September 14, 1921 – John Webb, sought for the murder of three Hibbing police officers last week (see Sept. 8, 2014 blog), committed suicide early today when surrounded by a posse. Five officers, who trailed Webb to a shack in the woods three miles from Kitzville, heard the shot when they were still 100 yards from the shack.

They found Webb’s body in the garret.

Webb had been sought by thousands during the week. Governor Preus had ordered out the Hibbing National Guard unit and the forest rangers to aid in the search. Webb shot and killed Chief of Police Daniel Hayes, Detective Eugene Cassidy and Traffic Officer William Kohrt, when they attempted to arrest him at his home for allegedly sexually assaulting his 13-year-old daughter.

Webb’s body was placed on the running board of the automobile and brought to Hibbing. Huge crowds viewed the body at the police station.

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Murderer of Hibbing Police Takes Own Life. Officers Hear Shot While Still 100 Yards From Shack Where Webb Was Hiding.”; September 14, 1921; p. 1.

Chief Daniel Hayes

http://www.odmp.org/officer/6259-chief-of-police-daniel-hayes

Detective Eugene Cassidy

http://www.odmp.org/officer/2906-detective-eugene-cassidy

Officer William Kohrt

http://www.odmp.org/officer/7678-patrolman-william-kohrt