The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-09-14


George Zant, who was shot TO death ,
while he slept in bed in his home |
two miles southeast OF Tucumcari, on
Wednesday morning Aug. 30, confess
ed to shooting Zant at 4:30 a. m. The
confession was brought about after
Il series Of attempts by the following
method;
When il was found that Iant had
been murdered by a person, evidently
we'll acquainted with the immediate
surroundings, Sheriff Ward and Dep
uty Winter began to weave their net
so closely that escape was improbable.
Different clues were worked, but not
until the arrival Of II. Heron, deputy
sheriff Of Shackleford county, Texas,
were they in II position to draw up
the net.
After the killing, Lee Anderson, "A
brother of the murdered mans wife,
was suspicioned and ever movement
was watched. He became anxious to
find work and in order to keep him
near Sheriff Ward sent him TO his
ranch southeast Of town and put him
to work.
IL
Albany. Texas. having been sent here
by Zant's brother. He strolled leisur-
ally around town asking questions
about first one thing, then another.
He was sure he could lay his hand on
the guilty party, but was mistaken.
He then took up another trail and
believed he was on the wrong one. At
ter deciding there was nothing doing
so far. there was only one more place
To find the murderer. Mr.. Ward then
made arrangement for him TO reach
his ranch with his camping outfit ana
ask To be allowed to camp over night.
. Sheriff Ward was nj the ranch Wien
Heron drove up and asked 10 camp,
which he permitted and made II n
point that Anderson would accidentally
meet Heron. whom he had known for
several years. They recopni.cd each
other and Heron asked him now he
came to be in this county? How long
he had lived here and how he liked it?
Anderson told him his sister lived near
Tucumcari and she and her husband
Geo. Zant) liked it fine. Heron said
he never mentioned his mission here
but went to bed believing he was or
the right trail.
The next morning he arose early
and met Anderson again. Then he
told Anderson that he was here at the
request of Joe Zant, the dead mans
brother. to find the murderer and he
had found him. He then asked An
derson why he did not tell him that
George Zant had been killed, but An
derson was surprised at the statemen,
of his old-time friend and was un'
shaken in his determination to know
nothing of the case. He told Herror
hc did not like to talk about the death
of his brotherinlaw Then the deputy
put forth his every effort to make the
Young man confess. He told him th'
officers knew he killed Zant, that hi
thumb print was on the clock which
was at the head of the bed and moveo
to the shelf in the room. He also tol'
him as further evidence that he Can
derson) was the only person who knew
the exact location Of the gun and tn
place where the shells were kept.
Mr.. Heron worked hard and wa
about to give up the proposition whe
Anderson gave up and confessed nj
He was brought TO town and repeate
his confession before n stenographe
and notary public. II was copied an
after he had read same he willngl
signed il as his free act and deed. Tn
confession was in substance, about a
follows:
The killing happened about four
the morning. ! killed Iant. | wer
TO his room and killed him on Wednel
day morning at four o'clock, Aug. 3
After | killed him | throwed the gu
on the bed and went back and la
down on the cot again. II was fe
minutes before Mrs. Iant called
me. She told me George had kill'
himself, then ! went in and put o'
the fire on the comfort. The stat
ments made by me heretofore n
false, and this is true. The reason f
me killing Iant was because hi
had trouble with him about three yea
ago. When asked if he slept well du
ing the night of the killing, he sal
81 slept pretty well, and had only be-
awake about thirty minutes before
went into the room. thought won
kill him. had IA pretty good id
where the gun was and it was alrea
loaded"
He was asked "When Mrs. Hant ca
ed to you you were awake, but let
that you were asleep and let her C
two or three times before you answ'
ed?" He answered, ayes sir"
What was the idea when you thr
the gun down on the bed; did y