This is my grandmother Gladys Adell Morehouse Paul's brother, Frank Elliot Morehouse.
Frank was the 8th child born to Chester Almond Morehouse and Amy Adelaide Nichols Morehouse in 1891. He was five years older than my grandmother.
On February 19, 1916, Frank was walking home after doing business in the nearest town. According to reports, he became ill and stopped at a neighbor's house to rest. Later that day he was found lying on the floor with a bullet hole in his head and a gun next to him.
First reports listed his death as suicide. But when someone figured out that it was impossible for Frank to shoot himself behind his ear using a long rifle - the gun found with him - the charge was changed to murder.
An arrest was made. A trial was held. The accused was acquitted. I have been unable to find anything more about this case.
Here are the newspaper accounts I found concerning Frank's murder.
The Grand Forks Daily Herald
2-25-1916
Van Hook Farmer Commits Suicide By Shooting Self
Van Hook, N.D., Feb. 24 - Frank Moorehouse, a farmer living eight miles north of town, committed suicide by shooting himself behind the right ear this afternoon. The deed was done at the home of Frank Kaczor who lives four miles north of town. Mr. Morehouse had been in town the day before after medicine and started to walk home but became quite sick and stopped at Frank Kaczor’s home to spend the night. About 12 o’clock he became despondent and at 4 a.m. he was found dead with the gun beside him.
Mr. Morehouse was a single man 25 years of age. He was a farmer and well thought of in his neighborhood.
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Williston Graphic - Thursday, March 2, 1916
Young Farmer Near Stanley Murdered
Stanley, N. D., Feb. 28.
—Frank E. Morehouse, one of the prominent young farmers living 25 miles south of Stanley, was found dead. The coroner's jury found that he had been murdered.
He had been shot through the head twice by a 38-56 high power rifle. The bullets entered his head just back of his ear and came out of the top of his head. The top of his head was blown open. The rifle was found lying on the floor beside the body.
It appeared as though the murderer, whoever it was, laid the gun near the body to make it look like suicide. So far, they have no clue as to who did the awful deed.
The murdered man was 24 years old and was to have been married in three weeks.
Shortly before his death it is stated that he had quite a sum of money on his person but when the body was found the money was gone.
The young man leaves a father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Chester A. Morehouse, who live south of Stanley, and several brothers.
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THE WARD COUNTY INDEPENDENT
Minot, Ward County, North Dakota, Thursday, March 2, 1916.
BELIEVE VAN HOOK MAN WAS MURDERED
FRANK MOREHOUSE, AGED 25, FOUND DEAD AT HOME OF
FRANK KACZOR, NORTH OF VAN HOOK.
Frank Morehouse, a farmer living eight miles north of Van Hook, was found dead at the home of Frank Kaczor, who lives four miles north of that town, Feb. 19. At first it was believed that he committed suicide, a bullet hole being located behind his right ear.
According to a report from Stanley, Morehouse was the victim of foul play. The victim was to have been married in three weeks and it is known that he had a considerable sum of money on his person in anticipation of the event. No money was found on the body. An investigation by the coroner's jury found that the man was murdered.
It is said that Morehouse had gone to Van Hook that day for medicine and becoming ill, had stopped at Kaczor's house. It was reported that he had been despondent, and this is the reason that it was believed at first that he had committed suicide. The man was 25 years of age and highly respected.
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BISMARCK DAILY TRIBUNE - THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1916.
Aberdeen Daily News - 3-6-1916
MYSTERY SURROUNDS DEATH OF MOREHOUSE
Sanish, N. D. March 1.—In the case of Frank Morehouse, who was found dead in the house of Frank Kayzer, who lives five miles northeast of Sanish, Saturday afternoon, February 19, a mystery remains uncovered.
Morehouse arrived at the Kayzer home about 10 o'clock Friday night, complaining of being very ill. Dr. Biatherwick was summoned from Van Hook by phone and found the young man's temperature 101 and gave him some medicine.
On Saturday afternoon, about 2 o'clock, Mrs. Barron, who lives across from the Kayzer home, heard a shot and, rushing over to the Kayzer house, found Morehouse lying in a pool of blood and a rifle alongside of him.
The bullet had entered back of the right ear, coming out of the left temple, killing him instantly.
A coroner's jury was empaneled, who brought in a verdict of accidental death. On Tuesday another jury was called, and the verdict was foul play. Sheriff Slaughter and deputies are at work on the case, and it is probable that new developments will be brought to light shortly.
Frank Morehouse bore a good reputation in Sanish, was not a drinking man and was engaged to be married shortly to a prominent Van Hook young lady.
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The Aberdeen Sunday American 12-29-16
HELD FOR MURDER
Stanley, N.D., Man Faces Charge 10 Months After Crime
Stanley, N.D., Dec 28 – Special – The murder of Frank Moorehouse in his homestead shack near Van Hook, this county, last February, is laid at the door of Frank Kaczor, just arrested at the insistence of county officials after a long-extended inquiry into the crime.
At the preliminary examination held in this city, Kaczor was bound over to the district court for trial, first degree murder being charged.
C.A. Moorehouse, father of the murdered man, has prosecuted a vigorous inquiry into the death of his son, and his efforts were partially responsible for Kaczor’s arrest.
Moorehouse was found dead in his home, a bullet wound in his head. The coroner’s jury declared it murder but couldn’t name the guilty party.
Now, ten months later, Kaczor faces the charges.
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Grand Forks Herald 8-9-1917
FLICKER TALES
Stanley – Frank Kaczor, who had been on trial in this city for the murder of Frank Moorhouse, was found not guilty.
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The following are additional reports concerning the murder of Frank Morehouse. They were generously sent to me by my dear cousin, Debbie. Her sharing of information is truly appreciated.
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CAUGHT NOTED HORSE THEIF
Joe Kaczor Landed in Durance Vile After Wholesale Stealing Race
Stanley, N. D., March 6---Deputy Sheriff Sam Safford has returned to Stanley with Joe Kaczor, who is wanted on a charge of stealing. Mr. Safford also brought in the horses which Kaczor is alleged to have stolen. The horses were the property of Joe Leedal, who lives north of Palermo and had been running on the Fort Berthold reservation and Kaczor roped them and took them to his ranch where he secreted them last May and kept them until fall when he sold same to Mike Enright of Amanda.
Mr. Kaczor is under bonds for another offense of grand larceny and at the preliminary examination State's Attorney Miller requested the court that his bond in this case be fixed at $1000.
Martin Hanson, one of his former bondsmen has withdrawn from his bond and Kaczor will be confined in jail by Sheriff Dolan until the next term in court.
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MOUNTRAIL OFFICIALS ARE SUED FOR DAMAGES
VanHook, N. D., June 1 (1922).---States Attorney R. E. Swendscid and Sheriff Forest Rice of Mountrail county are made defendants in two damage suits for approximately $35,000. started by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kaczor for alleged unlawful searching of their premises with a defective and illegal search warrant.
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FORTY CASES ON CRIMINAL LIST
Mountrail County Establishes Remarkable Record in District Court --- Hoff Up for Perjury.
Stanley, N. D., July 18---Forty criminal cases for trial at one term of court is the unusual record that has been established by Mountrail county, there being that many cases for the term which opens in this city today with Judge Frank Fisk presiding. There are 36 civil cases on the calendar.
Most important among the criminal cases are those against Joe Kaczor, charged with stealing horses; Frank Kaczor, grand larceny; John C. Hoff, of Palermo, perjury; and Jim Moore of White Earth, attempted criminal assault.
The action against Mr. Hoff is one that is particularly interesting because of his prominence in the county. It is expected that court will remain in session several weeks to clean up the business.
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IS FEDERAL CASE
Point Raised Favoring Man Arrested on Indian Reservation
Stanley, N. D., July 28---If the writ of habeas corpus granted by Judge Goes (sp.) in the case of the state against Joseph Kaczor holds then the officials of Mountrail County have no jurisdiction over that is included in the Indian reservation.
Kaczor was arrested on a charge of grand larceny and the writ was secured on the grounds that the arresting officer had no jurisdiction, but that the matter was entirely up to the federal officials. A settlement of the question is expected soon.
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HELD FOR MURDER
Stanley, N. D., Dec. 28---Special---
The murder of Frank Moorehouse in his homestead shack near Van Hook, this county, last February, is laid at the door or Frank Kaczor, just arrested at the instance of county officials after a long extended inquiry into the crime.
At the preliminary examination held in this city, Kaczor was bound over to the district court for trial, first degree murder being charged.
C. A. Moorehouse, father of the murdered man, has prosecuted a vigorous inquiry into the death of his son, and his efforts were partially responsible for Kaczor's arrest.
Moorehouse was found dead in his home, a bullet wound in his head. The coroner's jury declared it murder, but couldn't name the guilty party.
Now, ten months later, Kaczor faces the charge.
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ONE ALIEN ENEMY SENT TO PRISON ON LARCENY CHARGES
Stanley, N. D., July 30---One alien enemy of the United States was disposed of for a time at least when Judge Fisk in district court sentenced to one year at hard labor in the state penitentiary, William Miller, a citizen of Germany, convicted of grand larceny. William Crowder of Ross, charged with shooting Alfred Olson of the same place, was cleared, and the jury directed to return a verdict of not guilty. The case of the state verses Frank Kaczor, charged with the murder of A. (should be F.) Morehouse of Van Hook, now is on trial, and is being hotly contested.
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