Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-05-21
EL PASO EDITOR
KILLS REPORTER
Shocking Tragedy
in the Border
City
SLAYER PROMPTLY ARRESTED
Proprietor Of Evening News
in Jail on Charge Of
Homicide.

El paso, Tex, May 2l.--Monroe NJ.
Harrell. formerly Of Oklahoma City.
but for number of years connected
with newspaper work in El Paso. was
shot and killed here last night by J.
f. Mitchim, proprietor of the FL Paso
Evening News. Mtchim is locked up
for safe keeping In the county jail.
where he was removed soon after the
shooting and upon the request OF his
counsel. He claims that Harrell had
threatened to take his life.
Policeman Witnessed Shooting.
The shooting occurred on the side
walk in front Of the News office at
10 o'clock last night. According to the
statement of Patrolman Hord, who
is the only witness to the killing. Har-
rell passed him near the News Office
entrance, and a minute later called
"Mitchim. The policeman turned Just
as Mitchim pulled revolver from his
pocket and fired once.
Harrell fell to the sidewalk and as
''e patrolman came running to the
sp. Ms.chim again covered the pros
trate ms'. He gave the gun to the
officer AM vas taken Immediately to
the city Jail
Victim Died in Few Minutes
Harrell died after being placed on a
stretcher from the ambulance at
hospital. In statement made just be.
fore he lapsed into Inconsistencies,
he said: 'I am murdered"
The dead man was 30 years old,
thirty-second degree Mason, q Shrtner
and has a mother and sister living Il
Oklahoma
According to the statement Of Pa
trolman William Hord, who made the
arrest, and who stood within thirty
steps of the two men when the fatal
shot was fired. Harrell came from
South Stanton street TO Missouri, pass
Ing the officer at the corner Of tbs
Apex bar. He spoke to the patnima1
and passed west on st. Louis street,
toward the News Office.
Details Of Tragedy.
A minute later the patrolman heard
Harrell call, "Oh, Michim" and turn.
ed just as he heard a pistol shot. Har.
rell fell to the sidewalk on his back.
and as the patrolman ran to within
ten steps Of the scene. Mitchim sec.
ond time covered the PROSTATE man
with smoking revolver.
"Give me that gun," shouted Hord.
as he prepared to draw his own weap-
on. Mitchim sided along the walk close
to the wall, and handed over the pts,
tol. AS he transferred the revolver ta
the officer. Harrell's right arm "Sell
back, and Mil shim stepped behind the
patrolman.
Harry w. Cammell, standing at St
Louis and Mesa avenue, heard the
shot and ran as rapidly as possible to
the scene He lifted up Harrell's head
from the sidewalk and asked: "Bill.
what is the matter?"
"T am murdered" answered the d.
ing man, and, replying to another Ques
ton, said "Mitchim did it. Then no
said II am done for" and lapsed into
unconsciousness..
Counsel Makes Statement.
r. V. Bowden, M. ". Stanton and
Dan M. Jackson were immediately;
summoned and held a conference with
the prisoner. Following this confer
ence, M. w. Stanton dictated the fol,
lowing statement to Times report
er:
might before last the News took
a picture Of the Favorite dance hall.
On the following day Mr.. Harrel1 came
into the News Office and went behind
the counter, up to where Mr.. Mitchim
was. He stated to him: Are you 60
ing to run that picture In the paper
that you got last night?'
"Mitchim said: Yes; why?' Har
rell then said: T am in that picture
and do not want it run
! "Mitchim's reply to this was: did
not know that you were In the pic
ture. and did not know that you were
there at all am going to run the
Ipicture.'
"Then Harrell said: c. D.
you. I will shoot your head or and
Mitchim's answer to this was: You
don't want to do anything like that,
You are unreasonable
"Harrell then told Mrs. Fitzpatrick,
a reporter on the News, that he would
kill Mitchim IL he put that picture in
the paper. He told the boys IN the