The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-02-07
The Shooting of Woodland at
Panguitch.
TERRIBLE ACT OF NECESSITY.
Sheriff Pace Kills a Drunken Char
actor who Wanted to Break
up a Dance.
PANeUIrcH, Garfield County,
January 31st, 1885.

S~ASANS@AASAAH
Both by the shooting and instant killing
of F. ]. Woodland, by the constable,
James w. Pace, both residents of Pan
guitch. The particulars are as follows:
Our people are managed in their dan
cling parties by committee of four in
number, appointed and chosen by the
people to conduct the dances during the
winter season. On the night in ques-
ton dance was going on in the Re
lief Society Hall, when the deceased
the influence of liquor, and demanded
the manager of the dance to sell him
ticket, that he might participate there
in. He was sternly refused the ticket
on the grounds that ne was debarred
from dancing, and had been for the
past two yeaIs. A fact that he, the
deceased, was well aware of. He per-
persisted in remaining in the house,
with the intention of dancing, or, to
use his own words, break up the dance.
The manager then dispatched a mes
senger for constable, J. w. Pace, to ar
rest this intruder. In the mean time,
+. ]. Woodland went home, and in
about ten or fifteen minutes came
back to the hall, mounted upon a pony,
and learning that officer Pace was in
the room, commenced a TRADE of vile
abuse towards the constable, who, after
standing the abuse Tor some time, and
being again requested by the manager
of the dance to arrest the offender,
accordingly left the room for this pur-
pose, having deputized William Cam
eron and John B. Allen to assist in
making the arrest. Upon the constable
stepping outside, he met Woodland, evil
into the house. He ordered Woodland
to arrest him Woodland replied, "All
right, Just wait till l light
my smoke" referring to cigarette
he then held in his fingers
After dropping the match, he instantly
| sprang upon the officer, Selling him
with both hands by the throat, and
commenced to tighten his grip, he being
large powerful man, and the con-
stable, being rather small in comparison
| to Woodland was in his hands seemingly
powerless to protect himself He again
reqested Woodland to throw up his
hands. which was answered by Wood
ard, You son of b-ch, I'll make you
bite the dust" Pace then fired his re-
volver at his antagonist, without effect,
the revolver being in the scuff1e knocked
to one side. But he instantly fired
I a second shot, which undoubt-
, eddy had the desired effect, hit
ting Woodland just back of the
right ear, killing him instantly. The
dance. as a matter of course, was dis
missed. 4 jury was Immediately en-
pannelied and the body removed inside
the Society Hall and an inquest was
held upon the body, and upon the evil
rendered the following verdict: That
the said f. J. Woodland, whose body
was there lying dead, came to his death
| by pistol ball in the hands of Con-
stable ]. W. Pace, and fully exonerated
the officer, who was acting in the line
of his duty and fully discharged the
same The deceased leaves vile and
four children, who have the entire sym
pathy of the community. J. M. d.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
PANQuIToH, February /. 1885.
To the Editorof TIE HERALD:
A most exciting scene took place here
on the 5Oth ult., this was the killing OF
F. ]. Woodland by Constable James w.
Pace.
The deceased was well-known ruff
fan who had somewhat run the town
ever since he came here. On the night
of the Both he went to a social ball and
there commenced a disturbance Con-
stable Pace was sent for, who came i'm
mediately on the spot. Not knowing
with whom he had to deal, he came I'M
prepared for the arrest, and therefore
| I, .la,,E oAa
! When Woodland saw the constable, he
cursed him fearfully from the time be
left till his return.
When the officer came back, he
stepped into the ball room and there
deputized two men to assist him in ar
resting the man.
On his return, Woodland called him
names too foul to write. The constable
drew a revolver on him, and com
manded him to throw up his hands.
Woodland said. "Wait till 1 light my
smoke" The constable told
him again to throw up his hand
Woodland then lighted the match, but
instead of lighting the cigarette he
grasped for the revolver in the hand of
the constable, but failed in this, his
hand falling on the officers shoulder
With his other hand he seized the officer
by the throat.
A close struggle now ensued, in which
Constable Pace fired, but missed his
aim. At this Woodland drew the con-
stable closer to him, to prevent his
shooting.
Constable Pace at this moment
threw his arm around over the man 8
shoulder. placing the barrel of his re
volver near his head and fired, the ball
ia l.iucy afFoot ;,o,n adj a teIty acE ~ Wood
ards left ear, killing him instantly.
Although it was late, Justice Myers
Immediately empanelled a coroner 6
: jury. At 1870 O'Clock they commenced
an examination, and at go O'Clock in
the morning they gave in their verdict;
, generating Constable Pace from all
, crime.
The deceased was buried to-day. A
) large number turned out insrespect to
his widow. s*