The San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 152, Ed. 1 Friday, June 19, 1925 Page: 2 of 28
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: San Antonio Light and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
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2
TWO DIE AS OFFICERS SPRING TRAP FOR HEDWIG BANDITS
FATHER SON
SLAIN IN
SOL
< ■’ ~—
Three Shootings Are Staged
in Terror Sector
During Night.
(Continued From Pate One.)
uicn approaching the bridge from the
diraction of the "Sullivan road.”
The officers waited until they
reached the center of the bridge.
Then playing a flashlight on the
approaching men they commanded
them to halt.
“Halt! We're officer* and want to
question you” Chief Miller challenged
the approaching men.
Instead of halting the men quick-
ened their walk to a run and drew
revolvers.
“Throw up your hands quick!”
another officer called.
OPEN FIKE.
For reply the three men arc alleged
to have opened fire.
The officers returned the fusillade
probably 50 shots peing fired in les*
than that many seconds at close
range.
When the firing began the bandit
trio was half way across the bridge
and were revealed by a flashlight
in the hands of one of the officers.
The police were partly sheltered by the
ear and were clustered in the shadow*
about an end of the bridge.
The three men rushed several feet
before one of them fell instantly
killed in the center of the bridge.
The other two continued their
charge firing as they came.
it was the father who fell first.
SON IS WOUNDED.
His son was within only a few
feet of the end of the bridge and
about 10 feet from where the officer*
crouched before ne tell mortally
wounded. He staggered to the railing
clutching at it even as he fell in a
heap.
In the midst of the battle the offi-
cers’ spotlight was shot out and the
whole scene pluaged in darkness so
that the flame of revolvers was the
only target offered by either side.
Officers afterward declared they
believed the alleged bandits had no
idea of their str-egth and probably
thought they were rushing out pr pos-
•i>iy tWo men. Gs<imt
THIRD MAN FLEES.
After the second man fell the third
suspect fled escaping in the darkness
which followed the shooting out of the
officers' spotlight. The light was hit
squarely in the globe the officer hold-
ing it not being injured.
Theodore Miesch 900 Yucca street
and his son. Herbert hearing the
shots started toward the scene of
the battle.
As they did so. the fleeing man
passed them. He halted long enough
to fire two shot* at them neither
of which took effect before resum-
ing his flight.
The fugitive then borrowed a horse
from the brother-in-law of one of the
dead men and continued his flight to
a grocery store about five blocks from
the scene of the battle and attempted
to use the telephone.
He was arrested there by Special
Officer M. T. Cassanova who held
him until Police Captain Joe Moglia
who had picked up the trail arrived.
IS PARDONED SLAYER.
When arrested be was recognised
as a mon convicted and sentenced to
the state penitentiary for murder
here in 1920 but tecently pardoned.
His brother also sentenced for the
same murder bad previously escaped
ybe penitentiary.
When taken to the police station
the prisoner made a number of con-
flicting statement*. He declared that
he was a city employe and was re-
turning home. It later developed
that he was five miles from his home.
He also told officers that be was
“just telephoning an officer to give
myself up.”
Police will take this prisoner be-
fore the most recent woman attack
victim who gave them an accurate
and complete description of her at-
tackers for identification.
Her description taUiee. police de-
clare with the man now held and
further evidence points to the fact
that the three were implicated in
the recent series of attacks that
startled the city.
TRACE TRACKS.
Chief of Police Miller and Chief
Street traced the track* of one of
the attackers from the acene of the
crime only a few hundred ya rds from
the acene of Thursday night’s battle
straight to the yard of the dead men.
This was done after the most re-
tent woman attack.
Following that the two police
heads mode a chart nf the recent
crimes drawing a map of the St.
Hedwig section where most of the
attacks and holdups have occurred.
In three instances the attacks on
women occurred at the same spot on
the Sullivan road. Two other at-
tacks occurred on the Bem Brick road.
The bridge where the battle was '
fought is about midway between the
points where the attacks hare oc-
curred
With this to work on officers
•‘planted’’ several cars in various sec-
tions of the danger area. In each
car. a man and woman were appar-
ently staging a "petting party.” Of-
ficers waited in ambush near each of
the ear* awaiting possible develop-
ments. The car in which the five of-
ficers were riding was patrolling
the roads between the various ears.
TWO OTHER BATTLES.
Two other gun battles were staged
during the evening within a few mtn-
Utes of the time the main one was
fought on the Yucca street bridge.
A Ban Antonio physican. returning
fw. m» call about eight miiee out on
the Sutherland Springs road was
within a mile of the Yue<a bridge
near enough to bear the battle there
whan a car containing five men drove
FRIDAY.
JURORS LAUD OFFICERS
The Bexar county grand jury investigatiag the
killing of two tnen in a gun battle with officer*
Thursday night in the St. Hedwig road aector com-
mended the officer* in a report to Judge W. S. Ander-
son Friday.
After a thorough probe the grand jury returned
“no bills” saying the evidence showed the officer*
were in the discharge of their dutie* and were risking
their lives to prevent hi-jackers from operating.
Instead of condemning the officers they com-
mended them and gave them a clean bill for the
event* of Thursday night which culminated in the
three gun fights.
up beside him and ordered him to
halt
Instead he stepped on the gas.
The bandit car then pulled ahead of
him and fired a volley of shots
across his path. The doctor opened
the throttle of his ear wide and sped
from the scone outdistancing the
other car. None of the bullets took
effect
About three quarters of a mile away
just off North Waters street and near
the St. Hedwig road at the scene of
several recent robberies one of the
decoy cars was sitting.
Police Captain William Green and
Patrolmen Wilson and Roberts were
in ambush near the car about 100
feet distant.
"DECOY” FAILS.
A man and woman were sitting in
the car to attract the highwaymen.
So clever was the approach of the
bandits however that they bad slip-
ped up on the couple in the car before
the officers were aware of their pres-
ence. Hearing the door of the car slam
as the bandits forced its occupants
nut the officers crept up on the ban-
dits.
Meanwhile the woman had been
robbed of a purse containing MS. and
the man was robbed of $ll aud some
small change.
The officer* by thi* time were close
up. and commanded the bandits to
halt.
Instead they opened fire.
their guns in the fuasillade that fol-
lowed the bandits fleeing as they
fired. The woman’s purse was drop-
ped. Both men escaped in the da:s-
ness but left a trail of blood. Both
are believed to be wounded. Deputy
Sheriff Sam James took h s blood-
hounds to the scene of th« hold-up
and the dogs found the woman's purse
its contents intact but lost the trail
of the bandit*.
After rushing the wounded man
to the hospital the officers notified
Sunday Is Father’s Day
Give “Dad” a Tie
District Attorney C. M. Chambers of
the battle and he conducted an inves-
tigation into the affair before mid-
night.
Following the investigation he is-
sued the following statement:
“From evidence in my posses-
sion. the officers are without fault
and were only doing tbeir duty.
The matter will be submitted to
the grand jury which will make a
thorough investigation. Sheriff
Jim Steven* and the distrirt attor-
ney’s department instructed their
men to do their utmost to stop hi-
jacking in thia county and we have
had the full co-operation of Com-
missioner of Fire and Police Phil
Wright Police Chief Miller Detec-
tive Chief Street and their forces.
Our instructions were to get these
hijackers alive if possible but to
get them. We propose to stand
squarely behind the officers and
unless there is a letup in this whole-
sale robbery others may be shot.”
The statement was signed by the
district attorney.
The officers all appeared before
the grand jury early Friday morning.
A mass of evidence linking the three
men who engaged in the main battle
With the officer* with the Bt. Hedwig
attacks has been compiled by offi-
cer*.
In addition to tbe woman who is
expected to identify the bandit who
so perfectly fits her description of
tbe man who attacked her police
have found tbe shotgun which figured
in several of the holdups the re-
volver carried by one «f the bandit*
and a number of witnesses.
The revolver found beside the
bridge over the Katy tracks where
the battle occurred has been identified
by the wife and brother-in-law of tbe
slain youth a* tbe one he carried.
YOU simply must not let the day pass with-
out remembering “Dad” with a gift. It’s
the one day in the year that’s dedicated to him.
A necktie will make a most acceptable
present and our large stock affords you an ex-
cellent opportunity to find just what he will
like. \
Beautiful New Neckwear
$l.OO $1.50 $2.00 to $3.50
frank Bros
/at&u for ipa *
BACKS OFFICERS.
FIND DAMAGING CU ES.
THE SAN ANTONIO LIGHT.
IM 15 HEID
AFTER CHASE
IN DARI
Fugitive Is Arrested as He
Uses Phone in
Store.
The brother-in-law who was ar-
rested early Friday by police ad-
mitted that the gun formerly was
his but declared he had given it to
the youth. The slain man’s wife
corroborated this testimony.
PROMISES INFORMATION.
The third member of the alleged
bandit gang now held in jail prom-
ised officers that he would have more
to tell them Friday.
After fleeing down the road when
his companions were shot he fired
two bullets at Theodore Miesch and
his son and then fled to tbe home of
the brother-in-law where he obtained
the horse. Police believe he dis-
carded his revolver at that point.
Tbe shotgun believed to have fig-
ured in the various holdups in the
St. Hedwig district was found in a
little hut near the scene of the battle
by Detective Captain John Long and
George Stendebaeb. It was concealed
between two mattresses on the bed.
The but both officers said evi-
dently had not been lived in recently.
FIND RENDEZVOUS.
There were no cooking utensils in
the kitchen and the rooms were
scantily furnished. They believe this
to have been the rendezvous from
which the bandits probably worked.
Forty-six outrages are attributed to
the band that has been terrorising the
Sr. Hedwig vicinity for the past year.
Nine casualties have resulted from
the holdups including four deaths and
fiv* wounded. Several women have
been attacked by the bandit*.
Frank Langford was beaten over
the bead and a woman companion at-
tacked on the night of May 31 1921.
During the night of July 5 1924
Joo Henderson was shot in the leg
while resisting bandits and Eddie
Darn wag shot twice during another
holdup in which be and Gradt Darn
were the victim*.
SHEPHERDCASE
HANGS UPON
FAIMAN
Doctor’s Story Told on
Stand Is State’s Sole
Proof of Charges.
(Continued From Page One.)
tion of Charles C. Faiman was de-
layed this morning while the attorneys
argued in chambers.
LAWYERS WRANGLE
The defense sought to have Judge
Thomas J. Lynch permit questioning
of Faiman about alleged “sbndy” deals
at bis school the National University
of Sciences where he testified yester-
day William Darling Shepherd ob-
tained three test tubes of typhoid
bacilli and instructions ho^w to use
them in slaying William Nelson Mc-
Clintock his millionaire foster son.
The state contended the defense
could not bring out anything except
"infamous” crimes against a witness.
The defense argument was that
other irregular acts could be indicated
legitimately in Faiman's instance be-
cause be was an accomplice.
REPEATS STORY.
Presentation of the state's case
against Shepherd has been com-
pleted ami further testimony in the
trial depends upon the plans of the
defense •
The prosecution took just one wiek
to give the jury its evidence. Late
yesterday it finished its cross-exam-
ination of Faiman.
Faiman proprietor of the National
University of Sciences repeated his
declarations that Shepherd asked of
him information relative to typhoid
cultures and that he gave the defend-
ant the germs and demanded $250-
000 for his participation in the death
of McClintock agreeing however to
$lOOOOO a compromise figure.
Faiman smooth collected bacteriol-
ogist—tbe witness on whose word the
OLSON SURE M’CLINTOCK’S
FIANCEE WILL GET FORTUNE
By tnlveiw
CHICAGO June 19.—Isabella Rope
will come into possession of the Mc-
Clintock fortune. Judge Harry Olson
chief justice of the Chicago municipal
court believes. ...
No matter how the trial of Wil-
liam D. Shepherd for the murder of
William N. McClintock terminates
the girl will eventually get the fortune
Judge Olson .contended.
Judge Olserf contends that Shepherd
prevented the marriage of Mia* Pope
and McClintock. The civil action to
secure the fortune will start when the
whole case is admitted to bang was
called to the stand Thursday as a
“witness for the court.” He was still
on the stand when court recessed at
5 o'clock and will be recalled when
court reconvenes this morning.
Faiman was a "witness for the
court” because State’s Attorney Rob-
ert E. Crowe late yesterday repudiat-
ed him; said the state would not
stand sponsor for him.
Judge William Lyneh ruled over
Srotest of William Scott Stewart
hepherd’s attorney that Faiman
might testify for the court. Judge
Lynch subjected the witness to direct
examination then turned him over
for cross-examination to the attor-
neys for the prosecution and the de-
fense. State's Attorney Robert E.
Crowe under the rules was the first
to erpss-examine the witness then Mr.
Stewart hud his inning.
Faiman unfolded again the story-
now well knojvn—that he had told in
his confession and later told to the
grand jury.
STICKS TO STORY.
Shepherd wrote a letter to the Uni-
versity of Sciences which be heads
Faiman said asking about a course
in bacteriology. After calling at the
college twice Faiman claims he gave
Shepherd live typhoid germs and later
learned these germs were to be used
to kill McClintock.
“I told him the best way to giv*
typhoid culture was in water” the
witness said. "I told him I ought to
get a couple of hundred grand out ot
the estate. He thought $lOOOOO was
enough so we compromised."
1 Service.
Shepherd trial it ended Judge Olson
»*ld.
“That wedding contract will be held
binding in my judgment” he said.
“She will receive the full rights ot a
widow.
"Con»iderable has been made of the
agreement between her and tho other
heirs to divide the estate 50-50. The
public may got a wrong impression
from the way the evidence was
handled.
“It was out of kindness of her heart
that she gladly agreed to divide the
estate with the other heirs.”
TOBIN SUPPORTS
DEFENSE DAY PLAN
(Continued From Page One.)
Terrell Hai P. Street W. W. Saun-
ders A. L. Hunaday J. A. Braun-
age] J. 15. Martindale D. J. Wood-
ward S. 11. Lowery Dr. F. L. Thomp-
son. Dr. U. V. Labatte Dr. William
E. Luter Dr. J. M. Biggar Mrs. J.
T. Smith Mr*. E. O. Spencer Mrs.
Emma Kime Mrs. C. W. Titus. Miss
Ellen Milla Mrs. F. L. Hillyer Frank
G. Huntress William M. Mclntosh
A. W. Waihser Mrs. W. L. Evans.
Members of the executive commit-
tee are;
Mayor John W Tobin Judge Au-
gusto* McCloskey Brigadier General
Claude V. Birkhead Nat Goldsmith
Lieutenant Colonel W. B. Tuttle
Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Phelps
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Durkee
Colonel J. B. Heidt. Colonel R. O.
Van Horn Charles Sickles and Major
Jack Burke.
FAN FEARS MacMILLAN
MOBILE June 19.—John H. New-
man. Mobile radio amateur is the first
local fan to report “picking up” Com-
mander MacMillan's ship the Bow-
doin just preparing to enter the
Arctic seas on his ninth Polar expe-
dition.
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Our Palm Beach line consists of plain colors
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JUNE 19 1925.
PRORE BURNIN
OF BROARWAI
NATATORIUM
Plot to Ruin Owner Lea
to Investigation of
Intense Blaze.
Investigation that may diaclojaj
ccndiarism is being made by offic]
of the fire and police department
lowing an early morning blaze Fri’l
which destroyed the Broadway NT
torium 2019 Broadway
Belief that the fire was not of;
cidental origin was expressed by her
of the fire department who said w’
first discovered the fire had enguu
the entire wooden structure surron
ing the swimming pool.
So intense was the heat that th
telephone cables were melted ■
400-palr cable and two 200-nair.j
Every telephone on Alamo Hei*
went out including 650 local lit
Every available man was placed
tbe job early Friday and work I
splicing the cables was started.
It is expected that the lines v
be repaired by Saturday night. J
A dance hall annex recently 4
destroyed by fire. M. Vieweger ow>
who lives next door at 2021 Brql
way discovered the fire when 'I
light of the flames through his I
room window awakened him.
OWNER WEEPS. i
He turned in the alarm and tl
clad only in bla night clothes hel
firemen battle tbe blaze. I
Mr. Vieweger said the loss was
covered by insurance and was
more crushing because it came w
his season was at its height.
Belief that the natatorium was f]
by an incendiary was strengthened
the minds of fire department offia
by the fact that misfortunes have]
fallen Mr. Vieweger too freqiently
It appear* they said as tho
someone was trying to put hits I
of business.
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The San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 152, Ed. 1 Friday, June 19, 1925, newspaper, June 19, 1925; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1631450/m1/2/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .