James 'Jimmie' Jacobsen shooting death, 1935

JACOBSEN, THOMPSEN, PALAS, BOLAND, GOHEEN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/3/2014 at 20:36:21

Farm Hand Shot To Death At Elkader.

Elkader, Ia.-- Clayton county officials Thursday were uncertain as to whether charges will be placed against Thomas Thompsen who is free under $1,000 bonds after the fatal shooting Wednesday night of Jimmy Jacobsen, 25-yeear-old farm hand.

Sheriff John Palas said Jacobsen made several attempts to get into the Clayton county fair Wednesday night without paying the admission price. Thompsen, secretary of the Elkader Fair association, who was patrolling the grounds, finally scuffled with Jacobson and his revolver was discharged, the sheriff said.

The two men allegedly with Jacobsen fled and have not been apprehended.

Thompsen's action was approved Thursday by the Elkader Fair association which regretted the incident but asserted that Thompsen acted in line of duty.

~Ames Daily Tribune Times, 15 Aug. 1935

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Elkader--- Thomas Thompsen prominent Elkader attorney and Legion official, took the stand in his own defense in Clayton county district court here Friday. He is charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Jimmie Jacobsen, 24 year old farm hand, at the fair grounds here last August.

It was believed that the case would reach the jury Saturday.

Thompsen in his testimony Friday morning admitted he fired two shots in the air but he did not remember anything after that. State witnesses had previously testified that the third bullet was the one that resulted in Jacobsen's death.

Thompsen was cross examined this afternoon.

~Mason City Globe Gazette, Fri., 13 April 1936

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Elkader, Ia. March 16.-- Thomas Thompsen, secretary of the Elkader Fair Association, was acquitted by a district court jury here of the charges of manslaughter, growing out of the fatal shooting during last August of James Jacobsen, farm hand.

The verdict was returned at 3:20 p.m. yesterday by a jury of ten men and two women who had deliberated nearly 28 hours.

The shooting for which Thompsen was brought to trial occurred during a disturbance at the Elkader Fair grounds. Thompsen, according to his testimony, had experienced difficulties with several young men who sought to "crash" the fair grounds gates. He fired two shots in the air, he said. A third shot struck and fatally wounded Jacobsen.

During the trial Thompsen said he could not remember how the fatal shot was discharged. Testimony was introduced for the defense, showing that Vincent Boland, companion of Jacobsen, alledgedly grabbed Thompsen's arm during the fair grounds disturbance.

The court room was virtually deserted when the jury returned its verdict to District Judge T. H. Goheen.

~Oelwein Daily Register, Monday, 16 March 1936