El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-13
PISTOL JAMS;
OFFICER KILLS
j. F. McCracken Shot After
Attempting to Fire at Po-
lceman; Was Drinking.

the witnesses Of the tragedy. Nc
Oracken is said to have drawn his
plstoi ana pulled the trigger twice, the
cartridges failing TO explode. Searle
then fired two shots.
McCracken had started down tho val
ley IN an automobile driven Inv Z A
Reynolds. and, according to his sons
statement at the preliminary hearing
poth AlcCIaGken and Reynolds had been
drinking. Residents of Alameda ave-
nue. heard shots fired as the automo-
bile drove down the street toward the
cemetery and McCracken is said TO have
been firing his pistol in the air.
Car Hits Sidewalk,
As the car rounded the turn at
Evergreen cemetery the car struck the
sidewalk and some canned goods which
was in the back seat were thrown ONT
and McCracl1en is said TO have had the
car stopped and started picking up
some cans when officer Searle over
took the automobile in another car.
He had been notified that an automo-
bile had been speeding down Alameda
and that one Of the occupanfs Of the
car had fired his pistol in the air. The
officer lives on Frutas street and he
started in pursuit. Communicating an
ing followed.
To County Hospital.
The body Of McCracken was taken
to the county hospital and then re-
moved to the J. J. Raster Undertaking
co. parlors. Officer Searle and a num-
Der Of witnesses then went to the
courthouse where justice Of the peace
J. J. Murphy held a preliminary hear
ing and fixed Searle's bond at $1,000
pending the formal hearing Thurs
day A formal charge Of murder was
filed against the officer At this hear
ing Thursday morning Searle was held
to the grand jury and his bond left at
$1,000
Searle Showed star.
Searle is a mounted officer on duty
after II o'clock at night and he was
at his home when the neighbors noti-
fled him that a car had passed down
Alameda with the occupants firing a
pistol. Searle ran up Frutas street
and jumped into NJ. II. Rosner's auto
mobile to follow the McCracken car.
Rosner's statement made at the pre-
liminary hearing was as follows.
He got into my auto and we start
ed TO look for him. We found him
near Evergreen cemetery. 1 pulled
out to one side Of the road and Scarle
jumped out OF the auto. Searle ran
up to the deceased and showed his
star. McCracken pulled his gun and
then the officer pulled his gun. Nc
CraclSen snapped his gun twice, and
then the officer fired two shots. One
OF the shots missed him. When the |
second shot was fired McCracken !
dropped his gun"
Son Says Father Drinking.
Noel McCracken, the 20-year old son |
Of John f. McCracken. was the next |
witness TO make a statement. At the !
time Of the shooting he was several /
blocks distant. having made the trip !
rom Ysleta on a pony. His statement (
vas; The last time ! saw my father /
ne was at the East III Paso fire station.
did not see him any more until after !
he was shot / did not see any Of the
rouble. The gun showed me belonged !
% my father When ] went out L !
vent down Alameda avenue. The man
hat was driving the car was intoxi-
.ated My father was also intoxicated.
rhe body OF my father was on the
sidewalk near the car when / got
here
Driver Held.
j. A. Reynolds. driver Of the car
occupied by McCracken. was held as
witness in the case, and fixed his
'ond at $1,000. which was not made. /
reynolds was then taken to the county
all by deputy sheriff James Fulgham.
Examination Of the automobile re-
ealed that McCracken had two pis-
OILS, both OF which had evidences Of
aving just been fired. One Of the
istols contained five shells, three OF
which had been discharged. The sec
nd contained but two uneXplOded
bells, and these are evidently the ones
racken pulled the trigger twice, and
he gun failed to discharge. The gun
arried by Searle had been fired twice.
ccordlng to officers.
Lived in YsIetn.
McCraclen is well known in FL Paso
nd Ysleta, having lived at the latter
lace for several years. At the time
T the shooting he was under an in
ictment in the district court charging
i'm with swindling OF property Of over
he amount OF $50. He came TO Ell !
asO about seven years ago from !
dessa, Texas, where IL is stated he ,
wned a restaurant. He is survived ,
y one son, Noel, age 20, who was with
i'm about an hour before the shoot
*.
p. L. Searle has been a member OF
be police department since January |
During that time he has shown |
imself to be an efficient officer, ac-
)rding TO chief Johnson.
Witness TO Shooting.
s. x. HarshaW, superintendent Of
vergreen cemetery, was witness 10
he tragedy. Il saw an automobile 1
IN Up to the fence" he stated, "and ,
J fear that another machine had gone ,
trough the concrete enclosure Of the
'metery, hurried to the spot I found
he machine, small truck, resting on =
Re sidewalk. Some canned goods were
altered on the ground. As / looked
!
ter shot picking up some cans. 1
sked him what the trouble was and
2 started to hurl a can at me.
mcCracken Drew First. r
The officer said, Il want you ad- Z
-essing McCracken. and showed his
idge. In answer McCracken drew a
stol and tried to fire. His gun failed (
)wever, and the officer then shot him. i
don't know whether two or three I
lots were fired. II McCraclSen's gun Z
I'd responded he undoubtedly would
I'VE shot the officer The officer shot !
self defence.
The men were no farther than four
'et apart when the shooting took Il
ace. stood between them on the s
'posite side OF the fence" S
"Was Crazy Drunk
In the examining trial held before 4
suce j. J. Murphy Thursday morning, u
a. Reynolds who was with Nc
'acken, told Of coming to III Paso U
ON Ysleta and getting some supplies.
We went to two different saloons, !
continued, and when we started !,
-ck at $500 p. IN. McCracken was :,
azy drunk. He wore a pistol and "
ID my gun under tho cushion. He (
ok my pistol out and shot two or 8
rec times. 1 left the car at Ever
cen 20, nj ar a !