El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-08
TRAGEDY
LAST NIGHT
Ea-Brakeman Clifford killed
By Officer Rayner
HE RESISTED ARREST
The officer After a Preliminary Ex-
animation Is Held For The Grand
Jury.-ResuIt of Quarrel and
Discharge.

Jury.-ResuIt of a Quarrel ant
Discharge.
Last night about eight o'clock Ham
u;ol Rayner, the special officer for th'
Southern Pacific railway company, sho
and killed J. d. Clifford, who until yes
terday morning had been q switchmar
In the G. q. yards at this place. L
seems that Clifford had been switching
the west bound Pullman In the morn
ing and had handled IL in such q way
as to cause q woman to be thrown from
the platform OF the train. Superin'
tendent Carley OF the Pullman com
pany is alleged to have reported Mr..
Clifford to Superintendent w. r. Mar
tin, who discharged him.
This happened In tbe morning, and
last evening Clifford is said to have
one down to the s. P. to see Carley
about the matter. When Carley came
mp, Clifford. according TO the evidence
introduced In the Inquest this morn
ing, assaulted Mr.. Csrley, who went
to Mr.. Rsyner to arrest Mr.. Clifford.
Clifford refused to be arrested, and they
had fight, when Rsyner fred the
sh OF that killed Mr.. Clifford.
Mr. Rayner surrendered to Officer
Nit chell and was placed in the county
jail without bond where he remained
ali night. This morning he had bis
preliminary trial before Justice
Spencer, and Was bound over to the
grand jury for the October term OF
the district court In the sum of $500,
secured by Chas De Croft and Al
Ho vard.
THE INQUEST. .
Justice Spencer held the Inquest on
the death of ]. D. Clifford this morn
dea from Q bullet fired by Hamilton
Ray ner.
CHARGED WITH MANSLACGHTER.
Hamilton Ray ner. charged with
manslAughter, WAS given . preliminary
hearing this morning before Justice
Spencer, and the evidence Was deemed
enough TO bind him over to the grand
jury. TIE evidence was substantially
Ms 70 rvs:
\. -. Burkholder WAS the fret wit
ness placed on the stand. he laid:
"IatEend the restaurant In the Sor- n
ern Pacific depot here In Ell Paso. 1
saw the trouble between Mr.. X ,yuer
aud Mr.. Clifford last night between s
and 9 o'clock. L. started in front of
the lunch counter in the derot. MIR
Rayner came up to Mr.. g ford, who
was talking to me on some personal
matter 1t the time. and told Gih0r d
tba. be was under arrest, or words TO !
that eff ct.
"Mr. Rsyney took him by the arm
nd wanted him u go with him TO stl, |
but he rstused aud said that he woulI |
not &C. Whereupon Mr.. Rayner said L
v i'll ges my gun and make you CO.
Mr.. Rayner left and went to the
baggage room and got his gun, bit
before be returned Mr.. Clifford stepped
outside the depot and stood along the
0 orth eide of the building, about 6 or
feet west of the door.
II climbed over the counter and
vent to the door. Mr.. R.yner return
I'd with his gun in his hand and took
Clifford by the arm and said, Come on
several timee, bus Clifford still refused
Ind ssill said be would not GO.
Then Rsyner hit him over the eide
II She head with his gun and still he
would not 60, and Rayner his him
gain and struck 81 him several times,
,us Clifford warded OF the blows tn
linn arm and then assaulted Rsyner
nd they scuffi ID all the way across
he platform for a distance Of about
hirty feet.
"Rsyner was in Q crouchipQ positi, q
vheu he fred the shot. Giff)rd fell
nd said, You've shot M, Rayner."
rne assault that R,yner made WIS
long the side of the building where
} ford Was standing. Clifford bit Ray
er on the shoulder; Rsyner staggered
ack and Clifford followed him.
II did not see Reyrer strife at min
ny more they were in a general
c. fle until just before the shot was
r ed, when they seemed To break .
way and were ABOUT four or FIVE feet l
part when the shot was fired.
Clifford by this time was near the {
ars. Rayper had assumed q crouch ,
NC position Is they broke away from {
be sen file. u wss about ten or fifteen 1
econds from the time q ford bit Ray
er until Rsyner shot him." I
Upon cross examination by Judge
Temp Burkholder stated:
81 saw the assault Clifford made on
DR.. Carley. It started on the north I
!de OF the depot and Terminated on