El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-20
OFFICER VICTIM
Of ASSAULT IN
ROOM Of HOTEL
Patrolman J. F. Caplinger Is
Severely Beaten by James
Gillespie, Of Maria.

! When arrested at the Hotel sheldon
Z shortly after o'clock THURSDAY morn
I ing by patrolman j. f. CapIinger' aLleri
! II is alleged. he had forced an ehlIdnGS
{ INTO a room occupied by IofnleI Fl p
I Paso girl who was registered at the
i hotel from Roswell. James Gllesple'
I Of Maria. Texas, grabbed slXshooter
from his pocket and beat the oIIlcer
over the head, knocking MN 10 Ine
floor in a semi conscious condlIlOn. he
/ then jumped on the officer according
| to witnesses and started beating him
I over the head with his gun.
Guest Goes to Rescue.
Hearing the commotion, Nell Womer,
mining man from AleNlco, VINO was
sleeping in a room on the opposite side
of the hall, opened his door and saw
Gillespie. according to his statement,
sitting on top Of the patrolman, bearing
him with his gun and the terrified girl
running from the room. he rushed 10
Caplinger's assistance and succeeded IN
taking Gilespie's gun away and pull
ing him off the officer
Caplinger then struggled TO his feet,
and in a dazed condition grabbed his
club and struck Womer terrific blow
on the head knocking him to the
floor. Gillespie recovered the revolver
and after again knocking Caplinger
down fled from the hotel
DOcketed for Deadly Assault.
Early Thursday morning he was
found at the Alberta annex by patrol
men Carson. Henderson and Finley and
is now lodged in the city jail. Gillespie
Is docketed on a charge Of assault with
intent TO kill
Officer Caplinger was removed to his
home at 5431 Bliss street. and DR..
Frank Lynch was called. The officer
IS IN serious condition. His face and
head are badly cut by the blows de-
levered from the butt end Of the gun
one, eye Is closed and it is feared that
he has sustained internal injuries.
Gillespie Well known Here.
Gillespie came to FL Paso from Maria I
several days ago and registered at the I
Hotel Sheldon He is well known in
this city, where he has relatives whom I
he often visits He is the scion of one 4
OF the Oldest and most prominent fami- I
lies IN Texas
The young woman into whose room I
II Is alleged Gillespie tried to force his 4
way, arrived in FL Paso from Roswell /
w ednesday night en- route to Los Ange-
les She formerly resided in FL Paso
picture theaJer on South FL Paso street
WOmer Tells of Trouble.
When Womer was interviewed al the
police station he gave the following
account Of the trouble; Il was awak- I
ened by hearing noise across the hall I
from my room and could hear a bell Z
boy trying TO persuade q man 10 leave /
III
opened my door TO find a man sitting
astride a police officer beating him |
over the head with the butt end of a I
revolver. I ran to the officers assist
ance and took the gun away from the
nan VINO was striking him on the head
Inc man then got to his feet and I kent /
mold on the gun The officer .struE-
sled 10 his feet and in his dazed .condf-
ion struck ne a hard blow on the
head with his club and I was staggered
BY the blow and dropped the gun The
nan VINO had been striking the officer
recoVered his gun and after again /
'tIlklng the officer took flight through
Girl Called for Help.
There was young girl in the room I
Ehere the trouble had taken place and
ne SAID that the man had tried TO force
IN entrance into the room and she OBJ /
ecteq that she had called the office and 1
, Dell boy tried to get the man to leave !
ne room The officer then appeared
N the scene and tried to get the man
o leave, but~ instead Of SO doing he /
Iarted assaulting the officer"