Special Agent James G Harney

End of Watch : September 23, 1932

AGENT JAMES G. HARNEY
ATF
Died September 23, 1932

On Friday, September 23rd, Agent James G. Harney and four other agents had been looking for a still near Tamarack. At 2:30 p.m., the four officers went to a farmhouse, but since no one was home they went out into the woods to look. They found the 200-gallon still abut 300 yards from the house. At about 3:30 p.m., the four agents started to dismantle it but Agent Harney didn't show up. About 4:00 p.m., Harney's brother, M. L. Harney, who had been the former Northwest Prohibition Administrator, was notified that his brother was missing. On Saturday morning a search was organized. Around noon, Harney's body was found in the woods under a pile of brush, 54 yards from the still. He had been shot in the neck with a .22 caliber weapon. The shot had severed an artery, which killed him instantly. His gun was missing, but later found a short distance from his body. Officers figured that he had located the still before the other officers arrived and was attacked by the suspects.

One man was arrested about a mile away at a farm home shorly after the body was discovered; police arrested two more suspects a short time later. The suspects were identified as Gust Hedstrom, his brother Harry Hedstrom, 42, and Emil Giving, their brother-in-law. Two of the suspects, Gust and Emil, denied being involved with the shooting, but a farmer who had been hiding him turned in Harry. Harry had told the farmer, "I killed that guy because he called me a dirty name." Harry was taken to the Aitkin County Jail. There, he stated that he had gone down to the still and saw Harney. He said Harney also saw him and told him to stop, but instead he turned and went back into the woods. Harney started after him and called him a name, so Harry said he turned and shot Harney twice. Even as he lay dying, Harney continued to yell out names. After about an hour, Harry then dragged Harney's body over by a log, left and went to a friend's house and helped move furniture. When he got home he saw a lot of cars around as well as men he assumed were looking for him so he sat in the bushes and watched them. He left at daylight.

On September 29th, Harry pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He was transported to Stillwater Penitentiary the next day. The shooting, capture, confession and sentencing all occurred within a week.

Agent Harney was 32 years old and had a wife and two small sons, 2-year-old James Patrick and 13-month-old Lawrence Timothy. His widow received 35 percent of his salary not to exceed $175 per month. Mrs. Harney received a total of $96.25 per month for herself and the children.

Agent Harney's funeral was held Tuesday, September 27th, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cloquet. He was buried in Cloquet.

Sourced from: The book "We Will Remember"
With permission from Lisa Lovering, Author and Board of Director
MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association
L.E.M.A. 2009

Rudolph A Fischer

Ira Leon Evans