The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-28
KILLING OF CHIEF
IS HELD MURDER:
CITIZENS STIRRED
Slain Man Known AS One of Most
Fearless and Able Officers
That Ever Served.
As Results of His Efforts He Had
Cleaned Up Dawson Springs and
His Life Had Often Been Threat
cned Before.

I Dawson Springs Ky, July 27-The
murder of Chief of Police *. II. Reach.
on the streets here by Mack NJ. Lo-
gan, following of Dick Rodgers by the
chief, has caused the greatest indigna-
ton.
Reach was known as one of the
ablest officers that ever served in
this community. and had practically
cleared the town OF hootleggers, who
have flourished here for some time,
AS the result of his efforts to up
hold the law Chief of Police Reach
had incurred the bitter enmity of the
lawbreakers, and his life had fire.
quently been threatened. However,
he paid no attention to these threats
! and refused to be swerved from his
! path Of duty.
| In describing the shooting and the
events leading up to it the Dawson
Tribune of this place says:
/ Many conflicting stories are cur
rent as to the cause OF the double
murder but we shall try to give the
plain facts, and our opinion based
upon facts that resulted in the lament
able tragedy.
/ ISttiEtTS Up.
Two or three weeks ago Chief
Reach received a capias from Mad
sonville issued against Dick Rodgers
and arrested him and locked him up
in the city jail pending the arrival OF
the sheriff. After Rodgers was
locked up he became very abusive TO
MIR Reach. and claimed that the Off
Ger hit him with mis- pistol Rodgers
was taken to jacksonville and served
his sentence. returning here Tuesday
morning, going then before MaEis-
trate Franklin, where he swore out a
warrant against the chief, charging
him with assault and battery.
The warrant was placed in Con
stable W II. Fergusons hands, and
he, according to MS own statement.
! believing Reach a dangerous man,
deputized Mack Logan and Dick
Rodgers, two known enemies OF the
+ dead officer, to assist him in making
the arrest
The constable and his deputies,
a few minutes before o'clock on
| Wednesday afternoon, came upon Mr..
Reach on Main Street, and Ferguson
read the warrant TO him. 1t Is said
that the chief told the constable he
would go, but would not surrender
his arms: then Rodgers. Just some
how pulled his pistol and fired hit
ting Mr. Reach with no bad effect.
whereupon the marshal fired, striking
Rodgers right close TO the heart.
Shot To Death
At this juHcture y. r. Trihbls
era bhed Mir Reach around both arms
aod while in this handicapped posi-
ton. Mack Logan stepped up from
behind. put his pistol almost against
the chiefs head. and fired the huge
bullet penetrating the lower right
side about an inch and a half to the
left of the right ear the wound caus-
Ing instant death
"Abont the time Mr., Reach was
grappled in Tribhles arms. policeman
l3lttiCk was trying to aid his chief
after he was shot. when Tribhle, with
the chiefs pistol. let 1t go off acct
dentally, as he claimed, narrowly
missing Mr.. Bittick. After this Fer
guson compelled the policeman TO so
with him to the city Jail, where he
locked Mr. BttiCk up.
When Ferguson and Tribble lock-
ed up the policeman Tribble cursed
and abused him and threatened to
xii the ~oliceman If he opened his
mouth This is according TO Bud Ro>
bard's testimony at the Investigation
OF course Mr.. Bittick was released
Immediately after the county officials
ascertained the outrageous and high
handed manner In which he had
been subjected
1T seems remarkably strange that
Consta BILE Ferguson would summon
not only three bitter enemies of Mr.
Reach, but the Identical man that
swore out the fluke' warrant 10 as
slst him in arresting the chief
How came NJ. NJ, Logan and Dick
Rodgers armed with great big revolv-
erS at such tiy,,ar WIN.
dld Irlhble grab MIR. Reach from be-
hind and hold his arms?
Tragedy Dcplored.
The tragedy is deeply deplored by
every good citizen in this city and
county. and pail of gloom hangs over
the entire community from the fatal
shooting, expressions of regret and
sorrow coming from everyone who
loves law and decency.
Mr.. K. n. Reach was appointed
chief Of police at the Council meeting
January 3, this year, and during his
term OF office has made one of the
most diligent impartial and fearless
/ officials in Kentucky, never faltering
at any duty. Through his untiring eff
forts he put all the bootlegger Joints
In the city out OF business, ana
cleaned the city up in every way, for
which the good people owe a lasting
gratitude to his memory
"Of course his strict enforcement
of the law naturally turned all this
bootlegging and violating ele-
ment against him, and the longer he
waged his relentless efforts in sup
pressing vice. stronger grew the en-
nifty of the lawless clique"
Fifth Membership Social.
The NTH membership social of the