New Rockford Farmer Killed by Hired Man

New Rockford, Feb. 12.—George Riddle, who lived on the Nels K Mattson farm five miles north of this city, was fatally shot by Nick Chensos, a hired hand, Thursday morning. Mr. Riddle was building the fire in the kitchen range when Chensos entered the room and Chensos, without warrning, fired three shots from a .38 calibre revolver, one bullet piercing Riddle's lungs, another lodging in the upper part of the chest and the third entered his liver.

The wounded man's wife tried to get help from the neighbors but their telephone was out of working order, when after some time (near noon) she prevailed upon Chensos to go to the Frank Anderson home and summon Dr. Crawford from this city, who hurried to the victim's relief. Riddle lingered until Friday when he passed away. The doctor immediately summoned Sheriff Fahrer, who placed Chensos under arrest.

No motive can be assigned for the awful deed, as there never had been any trouble or ill-feeling between employer and employee and only the best of good feeling existed.

Chensos is a German-Russian and came to this country about a month ago from near Fessenden.

Deceased leaves a widow, four little girls, the oldest seven years, and a baby boy.

Valley City Times-Record, 2/17/1916