The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1912-04-04
ALLEN M'CRAW IS
KILLED At WHITNEY
Ex-MarshaI Of Heppner is
Shot to Death in Saloon Of
Baker County Town.

IhllEOdu bOLno beIl luil1E lIOiu DuIHptGE
No we'll authenticated report of tht
shooting reached HcpDner, however
until the arrival of the remains OF
W. dnesdav evening accompanied BY
the mother and a brother of tht
deceased.
The following account. of the shoot
ing is from the Morning Democrat Of
Tuesday and contains the facts al
gathered by the Baker pauer and fur
nished us by Mr.. ] r McCraw, who
states that it is a fair account Of the
shooting and the events leading up tc
it:
" If you are going TO shoot me shoot
now" we're the last words ever spok-
en- by Jacob Allen McCraw for at that
instant shot from a SO caliber Colt
automatic r, volver in the hands of
John Irvine pierced him in tho right
eye. two shots were fred into his body
as he fell and the remainder of the
chambers Of the weapon emptied into
his body as he lav on the floor. Death
was caused bv the first shot
The tragedy occurred in Whitney
saloon Sunday forenoon, the murderer
being employed as bartender at the
place 1t followed an argument
between the principals, because Nc
Crsw had bought drink and had no
money to pay for it at the time, hav
ing gone out and borrowed the price
and returned to the saloon where the
murder took place. McCraw was a
Heppner man secured by the Whitney
authorities to act as town marshal,
AMI he came recommended by the
sheriff of Morrow county as fearless
officer. He was to have assumed his
official duties yesterday. The MUIR
derer is lumberiank who has been
about Whitney and was sometimes
employed as a bartender.
Preceding the last argument be-
tween the two, they had quarreled be-
cause MCcraw had admonished a man
for attempting to strike an old man.
The hangerson about the saloon twit-
ted him with being a "hired watch
dog employed to spy upon their ac-
tions. Nj tCraw was man % years
old, 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighed
235 pounds. "Yes,'' he is alleged to
have said, ~ got that fellow and I'll
get some others before / am through
with this town" When he came
back with the money to pay for the
drink he had bought, Irvine refused
to take it, making insulting remarks to
the other Throwing back his coat
McCraw dared him to shoot, telling
him lie knew he had gun concealed,
but Irvine did nut take the care at
that time, but few moments later
when McOraw tried his bluff again
he pulled his gun and shot him down.
1t developed on Investigation that
the bad element in and around Whit
ney had put several officers out of
business, and that MoCraw was hifed
for the purpose of general "clean-
ing up" he having a reputation for
such work in Morrow county. He
was bluffing good and strong when
the shooting took place and the mur-
der was nothing more nor less than the
calling" of the bluff. The murderer
is a native of South Carolina and the
same type of tacitufn, sullen noun
taineer as George Scissor, the Ten
nessean who shot and killed John
Thomas in the Diamond bar.
After the shooting Irvine called up
the sheriff's Office. informed Deputy /
NcCord of the crime and asked if he
should come to this city to be placed
lnder arrest. Sheriff Rand however,
happened to be at Sunpter so he went [
% Whitney and brought the man to
his city Sunday afternoon. The body
# the victim was brought here last
ivening following the inquest, which I
vas held by Coroner West at Whit
ley. The mother and brother, j. r.
IcCraw, arrived here yesterday and 4.
yill leave for Heppner with the re-
lains of the victim this evening.
An Investigation of the crime was 4
iade by the district attorney yester- n
az and q number of witnesses we're
They came to Baker yes
srday afternoon and will sppear be-
pre- the grand jury which will take a
p consideration Of the case this I
forming. d
Allen MeOraw was marshal Of Hepp- b
er for q number Of months and prov N
] himself an efficient and fearless 6