The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-14
POLICEMAN
CHARLES FORD
SHOT TO DEATH
Masked HOIdupS, After Rob-
bling Albany Saloon, Fatal
Iy Wound Officer.
GLANDS UP" SAID ONE,
WHILE OTHER SHOOTS
BANDITS QUICKLY DISAPPEAR
JOHN OWEN, Ex-coNVIcT, AR
RESTED AN HOUR LATER.

Policeman Charles Ford was shot and
fatally wounded by d highwayman at 2;3O
O'Clock this morning at the corner Of
Fifth West and Second South streets. The
man who did the shooting and a compan-
ion had just held up the Albany saloon
and were escaping when they encountered
the policeman. After Policeman Ford
was wounded, he fired two shots at the
bandits. His bullets went wild and the
two highWaymen disappeared.
Policeman Emil Johnson and Fred
Clough, members of the plain clothes
squad, detailed to look for burglars and
bandits, were in the neighbOThoOd- They
had just entered the National saloon at
5S2 West Second South street to report to
police headquarters. Hearing the shoot
Ing in the street, they ran out in time TO
see Policeman Ford sink to the sidewalk.
Realizing what had happened they gave
chase to the highwaymen, but both of
the fugittves got away in the darkness.
although their tracks were for time
plainly visible in the freshly-fallen snow.
Policeman Ford was one Of the new po-
licemen appointed last Tuesday He was
patrOling his beat at the time the attack
was made upon him and did not know Of
the saloon hoid-uD.
Begins With Saloon Hold-Up.
The two robbers entered the Albany ss-
loon about 2:0 o'clock One was masked
with a red handkerchief. which covered
the lower part of his face. The other had
his features concealed with a blue hand
kerchief Both we're armed with reVOlV-
ers. They were roughly clad.
There were four men standing at the
bar when they walked into the place. A.
J. Buckley was just serving the drinks.
Throw up your hauds-everybody.'
yelled one of the robbers
The bartender and the four patrons Of
the place turned and, seeing the menaC-
ing weapons in the hands Of the intruders
all Obeyed except John Dempsey, an old
man who is deaf and dumb. He did not
hear the men enter the saloon and did not
hear the command to raise his hands.
With a bound. one Of the robbers leaped
upon him and knocked him down with the
butt of his weapon.
Then, while one man stood guard over
the men in the place. the other went be
hind the bar and opened the cash register,
taking SIS.
When this work was done. the robbers
backed out Of the front door. As soon
as they were in the street they made a
dash toward the north side intending to
run nOrthward in Fifth West street The
falling snow prevented their seeing PO-
iCeman Ford standing on the opposite side
Of the street While they were in the sa-
loon the policeman had reached the cor
ner in patroling his beat.
Ford Is Shot Down.
Seeing the men dart from the saloon,
Policeman Ford turned in their direction.
They, seeing the blue uniform and the
flash of the star, paused an instant. One
man shouted:
Hold up your hands,
Tt was a phrase Of his profession and
must have been uttered through force of
habit
At the same instant the other man fired
a shot The bullet from his revolver en-
tered Policeman Ford's left breast in the
region Of the heart. Stunned and Keeling.
the policeman drew his own weapon and
returned the fire. The three shots caused
men in the surrounding saloons TO empty
into the street. A crowd quickly gathered.
Dill. nHHmm ana#r mNnaH
tional bar, where he was cared for until
the patrol wagon arrived and took him
to the emergency hospital at police head
quarters.
Sergeant Roberts and several policemen.
who accompanied the patrol wagon to the
scene of the shooting, at once took up the
hunt for the robbers. The policemen di-
vided and secured the surrounding dis
trict Nothing came of this hunt The
bandits had by the time the pursuit be
gun, found a hiding place.
Bullet Penetrates Chest.
Policeman Emil johnson, who was one
of the first to reach FOrd's side after he
dropped to the sidewalk. said: The bullet
entered FOrd's left breast in the region Of
the heart. When j reached him he seemed
to be near death Just as soon as We had
him cared for, we took uD the hunt for
the robbers. We ran through the saloon
and made an effort to head off the fugi-
tives. thinking that they would turn east
ward and try to gain the center of the
city. We were unable to get sight of
them and at last returned to meet the pa
troll wagon and furnish information to
those who were to aid in the search.
When Ford was shot he was not ex-
pecting an attack. The hold-up men en-
tered the Albany while he was in another
part Of his beat They must have been
in the saloon five or ten minutes. In that
time, Ford reached the corner Of Fifth
Continued on Page 2.