Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-02-20
PENALTY SOON PAID.
RED-HANDEO MURDERER SHOT
WITHOUT CEREMONY.
Swift Retribution Overlook a Bad
Mexican in the Wild west-Harm-
less Looking Red Headed Man Acted
Quickly When Right Time Came.

Il don't Ike to see one man kill an
other in cold blood and then walk of
without an attempt being made on the
part of witnesses to the crime to catch
the killer" remarked Peter Gallagher.
while the subject of homicides was un.
der discussion at Butte recently.
Il once knew a man, 'MeXican Lou
he was called, whose ambition was to
kill some one. He was an expert driv-
er of oxen and followed his occupation
between old Fort Pierre, on the Mis-
souri, river, and Deadwood. 5. d., be-
fore the advent of the railroad into that
country.
Lou was wicked looking Mexican,
and was just as wicked as his appear
ance indicated. He took special delight
In cracking his oxen with the twenty
five-foot whip he carried when there
was no need of 1t and committing 9th
er offenses in which the very essence
of cruelty was discernible.
But Lou finally reached the end of
his string. One time lie went to place
called Woodville, station on the lit
tie narrowgauge railroad built by the
Homestake Mining Company for the
purpose of securing wood for use in Its
mills, and took command of the town.
He seemed to have = grudge against
every one and gave 1t out cold that he
intended to start a graveyard for the
new town.
There was little store at Wood
vile where timbermen bought their
supplies. About two weeks after Lou
arrived in the place he decided that the
ripe. Showing a large knife up the
right sleeve of his coat. he entered the
store and endeavored to pick a quarrel
with woodchopper who was an entire
stranger to him and with whom he had
never before had word.
The woodchopper was not a fighter
and avoided the Mexican as much as
possible. The keeper Of the store no
ticed his endeavor to keep out of trou-
bic with the Mexican, and advised him
to watch the latter and not allow him
to get too close, as he had knife and
was bent on murder.
There were several persons In the
store at the time, among them a little
man with reddish hair. The woodchop-
per was purchasing goods, but when
told to look out for the Mexican's knife
he grabbed a pick handle with which
to defend himself in case of attack.
THE greaser saw the move, and kept
his distance for the time being, but In
few minutes he saw an opening and
rushed at the woodchopper with his
knife drawn.
with the look of demon on his
face he plunged the blade of the weap-
on into the woodchopper's body, then
withdrew it and ran out of the store.
The woodchopper fell dead.
After getting outside, the Mexican
started to run across an open space,
his intention being to reach the timber
at the opposite side. but he never
reached it.
Behind the counter of the store was
Springfield rife loaded and ready
for business. The little red-haired man
had seen the fatal blow struck and
without waiting for further ceremony
he promptly seized the gun, walked to
the door, dropped to STOPPING posi-
tion, took deliberate aim at the fleeing
greaser, and fired.
The bullet struck the greaser square
ly in the center of the back and pass
ed through his body, killing him in
stantly.
''The red-haired man was at the in
| quest which was held in Lead. few
miles away" said Gallagher, in conclu-
sion, according to the Butte (MOnt.)
| Inter Mountain. but when the jury
returned verdict to the effect that tue
Mexican had come to his death at his
hands he coolly walked away without
molestation from the officers present.
"They did not want him"