The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-11-20

Was KILLED
BANDIT HOLDS CROWD AT BAY
FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS
Finally Goes to Sleep and Young
Garrett Makes his Escape Thr
The Window--The Finn Lives few
Hours after Reaching Nampa

Hours after Reaching Nampa
w. H. Fleming, son of Chief of Po-
lice w. B. Fleming of this city, and
employed as a nightwatchman in the
Oregon Short Line yards, was shot
through the neck this morning
about $3.50 by an unknown man,
who was beating his way through
here on a freight train. The wound,
while very painful, is not considered
serious unless unforeseen complica-
tions should set In. The shooting
was done with a revolver and the
bali passed through the right side Of
Fleming's neck.
Fires Without Warning.
The shooting occurred at the east
end of the yards, according to the
meagre details which were given by
the wounded man before the arrival
of the physicians. A long, west
bound train had just pulled into the
yards and the Waterman was walk
ing alongside the train, watching for
hoboes and suspicious characters. A
man was discovered climbing from
an empty box car into a car of mer-
chandise. Fleming accosted the fell
low and asked him where he was go
ing. The man replied that he was
going to Pendleton. The fellows
evident haste and desire to get away
from the officer aroused the latter's
suspicious and he ordered him to wait
a minute, meanwhile continuing to
approach him. 1t was then that the
shooting was done, the unknown fir
ing without a warning and at close
range probably eight or 10 feet. It
was evidently his intention to kill the
officer and Fleming's life was spared
only because of the asailant's poor
craftsmanship.
When shot, Fleming fell to the
ground, and was unconscious for sev-
eral minutes. On regainig consciou-
ness he manged to walk up through
the yards to the pump house and was
taken home from there in a cab.
Too Dark for Identification.
The night was rather dark, and on
this account the Waterman is unable
to give very definite description of
his assailant. It is very probable
that the latter continued his way
westward for short distance at
least, but he would not be liable to
remain on that particular train,
knowing that the officers all along
the line would be Immediately noti-
fed of the shooting.
The officers are inclined to think
that the man who did the shooting
was not a common hobo, but more
probably some of the many yeggmen
who have been operating in this sec
ton for the past six weeks. That
he was afraid of capture is apparent
from his ready use of the gun.
From one of the brakemen on the
train fairly good description of the
man has been obtained, and it is
thought that by this he may be
traced. The fellow is a Greek and
the brakeman had put him OF the
train at Mountain Home, but he got
aboard again. 1t is also reported
that two boys tried to enter the same
car in which the man had taken ref
uge and that he fred two shots at
them previous to the shooting of
the watchman.-Nampa Leader-Her-
aid.
After shooting Officer FleminA Ihe
Finlander made kis way west from
Nampa to the Franklin wagon road
and followed that north to the Geo.
Calkins ranch on the Franklin
school road, three and q half miles
north of Nampa. He arrived there
about 6 o'clock Thursday morning.
He went in and demanded breakfast,
which was given him by Mr.. Carrot
and his two sons who were patching
there. Seeing some neighbors coming
up and thinking they were after him,
he drew his revolver and ordered
Tom Garrett to follow him upstairs.
The Finlander went up backwards
keeping his gun on the boy and the
boy between him and the others.
The Louise is a six-room house, four
rooms down and two upstairs. The
man occupied the room on the left. He
notified the people present that if any