The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-07-28
MURDERER
OF BEN
TRACY
He Has Been Returned for
Trial
Lane County Murder Case TO
Be Heard in October


who is accused of numbering and rob
bing Benton Tracy the barkeeper at
Junction City, during the night of
May 10, 1902 At the last term of the
circuit court, held in Eugene last
month, the grand jury called upon
County Judge II. II. Kincaid and
earnestly requested that the county
use every means possible to capture
the man who murdered and robbed
Benton Tracy at Junction City, and
should authorize the necessary eXl
pense. In addition to their verbal rec
ommendation they filed with the county
Judge, in order to justify the expense
of making a thorough search in other
states the following written special
report
In the circuit court of the state of
Oregon, for Lane county.
Special recommendation of grand
jury to county court of Lane county:
The grand jury finds that Benton
Tracy was shot down in cold blood in
Junction City, Lane county, Oregon,
during the night of May 10. 1902.
After hearing the evidence we have
concluded and say that the killing of
Tracy was a commercial transaction;
a brutal, calculated murder Of a man
for the money in his possession.
The criminal has escaped from this
county and state, but we believe, from
the evidence before us, that he can
yet be captured and brought TO JUS
! ticc.
That we believe that Lane county
should assist its officers in the pur-
suit of the fugitive beyond this state,
and we recommend that the county
court of Lane county defray the eX-
penses of the sheriff in searching for
| the said murderer within other states.
Dated at Eugene, Lane county, Ore
gon this 18th day of June, A. D., 1902.
E r. Redford, foreman of grand jury;
Henry Gates, James A. Stevens, S. n.
Schrimpf, H. j. Streeter, c. n. Me.
Lean, II. G, Veatch, grand jurors,
This report was submitted TO Coun
ty Commissioners Edwards and Hill
and, after due consideration, the
county court authorized Sherin w W
Withers to go at the expense Of the
county and make a thorough search
as long and as far as he could find any
trace of the murderer, until he sue,
ceeded in capturing him, or should
consider his capture improbable. After
a long and tedious chase the sheriff
succeeded in running the rascal down
at a little station on the Central Pa.
cifc railroad in Nevada He then had
20 get a requisitlon from the governor
of Nevada before he could bring the
prisoner TO Oregon, which detained
him a few days longer OF all the
sherins Lane county has ever had
Withers has been the most successful
in capturing and holding prisoners. nI
this particular case he has accom-
plished what 10 most people, seemed
impossible. After the criminal had
been out of the state more than al
month he traced him for more than a
thousand miles and captured him. The
name Of the man who Is accused Of
the murder Of Benton Tracy is Bert
Heaton, alias Bert Ray Sherin With
ers is expected 10 arrive in Eugene
with him, Friday, July 25th
What Is Known Of Ray
Heaton alias Ray formerly lived |
at Corvallis, and was well known al |
Cottage Grove and points south OF !
Junction. lie had been around juno
tion about ten days before the shoot |
ing, and had been playing out Of luck. |
He had put in most of his time al the
Monogram saloon. of which Tracy was
marager They had no trouble until
the night Of the shooting, when Hea
ton tried 10 rob the till Tracy had
closed al midnight. aud when an the
habitues Of the place were gone out
he went 10 the rear Of the saloon 10 |
close the doors. Heaton, who had
been pacing up and down outside the
saloon whore he was watching. cn.
tered and pulled open the till. which
was not locked. and contained about
$3.50. he next pulled open the cash
register. 10 get about 500 more. This
rung the bell and Tracy few bach
and caught Heat0n Ia the act Of rob
berry Al this Heaton Jumped up on
he bar counter and as Tracy was ln |
bis way Of escape shot him down
The bali entered his abdomen a. his
satch pocket ON the right side. and
anne out the opposite way below
Tracy fell 10 his knees. got up and
vent behind the bar 10 get his gun
gent 10 the door aud fired several
ihots Of alarm. as Heaton had fed
vent behind the bar for shells. and