Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-11-30
BAD MAN SHOT
BY OFFICER LYON
Notorious Thief and Ex-Convict
Killed While Beating a
Policeman.
ACT WAS IN SELF DEFENSE.
Thug knocked Onicer Down When Tie
Tried 10 Arrest Him When Latter
Drew Revolver and Fired

The notorious career OF Joe smith,
aged about 20 years, thief. ex-convjct.
saloon loafer and all around bad man
was ended last night by n bullet hred
into his body by Police officer J. NJ.
Lyon. The body OF Smith Is now az
o'Donnell's undertaking establish
ment. on Monday an inquest will
probably be held by Justice Dana r.
The shooting OF Smith occurred at
9.45 last night In the Lone Star ss-
loon. 80 west South Temple street.
This place was formerly known as the
Black Cat and is one OF the worst
dives in the city.
Officer LYON shot Smith 20 save his
own life. Had he not fired, the prob
abilities are that ne would have been
most seriously II not fatally injured.
smith had knocked the officer down
and was beating him viciously when
Lyon drew a revolver and fired. The
bullet pen etrated Smiths abdomerl
ranging upward in the region Of the
heart. The man lived about 10 min
utes after his arrival at the emergency
hospital In the city iali.
officer Lyon Is now NJ his home.
l0f4 south Ninth East street nursing
a number Of bruises and cuts about
the face and head a blow frlm
Smiths fist cut Lyons lip through TO
the teeth. Lyon has been on the po-
lice force for about two years and IS
regarded as an energetic and palms.
taking officer.
BROUGHT OWN DEATH
Smith brought death upon himself
aud The wonder is that he was not
J. iINHl long a ID
tho tenderloiu inmates and known as
q bully. He was arrested MANY times
Tor various offensss Including fighting.
battery, petty larceny and burglary.
He seems 90 take special delight in
putting up a fight on an officer whom
placed under arrest, and recently made
threats that he would get Serg.
Hemple. II was therefore not sur
prising % those who knew the man.
" hen no resisAd officer Lyon last
night when the latter placed him I'M
der arrest.
The officer entered the Lone star
saloon iu search of a man named
Bobby Laws lie saw Smith standing
a. the bar and asked him n he know |
the whereabouts Of the man wanted. |
Smith told tha officer that Laws was /
in q roominghouse near by Lyon !
went out but was unable 10 ind Laws.
When be returned TO the saloon |
ed information that led him 10 believe
that Smith was implicated IN the theft
Of n suit case and ne decided 10 ar
rest the man. Raley Milo, the bar
tener, told the officer that Smith was
in a room upstairs with woman
known to the police as Violet Brown.
THUG STRIKES OFFICER.
The officer went TO the room ana
told smith TO accompany him TO the
police station Smith went downstairs
with Lyon to the bar room and then
refused to go any further. Lyon
placed his hand on the fellows Shout
Ter and ordered him 20 come along
Without a word OF warning the thug
struck Lyon fearful blow in he
ACE. cutting his Lip open. Lyon was
Knocked to the floor ana smith Inn
nodiately pounced upon him and be-
ran to beat him brutally. Lyon tried
o use his club. but smith lodged .he
low and struck the officer several |
flows on the face and mead. Lyon
vas on the floor trying 10 get up but
Is Smith was a powerful man the OF
icer was at his mercy smith got
ne arm around the officers neck and
vas punching him when the officer
rev his revolver and hred,
SMITH DIES FROM SHOT
with a shrek OF terror and pain the
bug let 80 his hold and ran out OF
he saloon, pursued by Lyon Smith ran
) an alleyway north Of the saloon,
here he staggered "a moment ANA then
EN-. face downward. lie lapsed into
nconsciOusne. ga few seconds. The
mcer quickly summoned the patlOl
-agon and smith was taken TO police
ana placed on the operat-
lg table in the emergency hospital.
fifteen minutes later he dad without
gaining consciousness. DIT. Paul was
ummoned and found that the bullet
al entered the stomach at a point be-
,w the heart The bullet severed an
rtery causing the hemorrhage that
rought on death.
LYON SENT HOME.
when Onicer LYONS injuries had been
Z the shooting. chief Pitt sent him
ome. The CHIEF and capt. Burbidge
ltde a careful investigation Of the ar
air. and stated 90 the News" last night
hat. from an accounts. Lyon Was JUS
fled IN taking The course he did
SHOT IN sELF-DEFENsE.
There wcro several witnesses 10 the
hooting and their accounts DO not dis .
gree They an said that Smith made
rutsl attack upon the officer and that
Won had 90 shoot 90 save himself Tho
artender said that when Smith had
Won on the floor De- took revolver
rom behind the bar nnc threatened 20
boot m smith did not stop beating
son. Al this instant the officer fred
he fatal shot
nan DrrusAr nan nfaer