Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-21
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Rincon, n. NJ, Feb 90. 0.-DWight
w stephens sheriff OF Luna county,
and Joe Cranson, who was serving a
Jail sentence for vagrancy, are dead
Deputy sheriff Buck SEWER is pain
fully but not seriously wounded, and
i. o. starr. awaiting trial for bur
elary, is in the Dona Ana county jail
with a bullet in his shoulder as the
result of Il desperate battle fought y
mile and a half west of here shortly
after noon today The battle follow
cd daring Jail delivery in Dcming
early this morning in which five pris-
oners escaped and made dash for
liberty in an automobile.
Marshal Tabor, of Deming, one of
the posse pursuing the fugitives, gives
the following account of the battle
which resulted in the death of Ste
phens and Cranson ana the woundng
of SEWER and Starr:
I'VE ran onto the bandits, just over
small but steep hill about mile
northwest Of Bireon We saw thai.
the road narrowed to mere trail
and were doubtful Of getting the car
over the hill.
"l went up to the top Of the hill
and saw the bandits beside their car
which WAS stalled, eating lunch
They opened fire on me. stopped
long enough to call the rest of the
posse and then returned the fire Just
how many shots were exchanged be-
fore my three companions came up, /
do not know Buck Sewer arrived
first. Sheriff y. B. stephens next and
Deputy Sheriff John Kelly third.
Surprised by Bandits.
They came running and like me
We're surprised by the neamess Of tho
bandits. don't believe they were
more than ten PAGES from where We
stood.
Throw up your hands you yelled
SEWER.
He fired one shot and fell Sheriff
stephens never fired shot, falling
dead with his hand half raised TO
shoot Deputy Sheriff Kelly arrived
ana shot the boy who had been forced
to drive the car for the bandits.
stepped behind the hill to reload, The
fugitivcs were already in fun flight
Sheriff stephens came up in such Il
way that he was but few feet from
tho man that shot SEWER The bandit
stepped over and secured stephens
gun and used it until he fled. | saw
l. I t.t. .lA
from behind the hilltop. He was just
topping a rise. fired twice at him
and he fell.
we found aftorward that he had
been shot in the leg. one Of the BAN
dts made off In the general direction
of FL PasO The other two fled to-
ward Grama, n station northeast of
RincOn. | followed the two with
Wayne Estes We took a car to bring
and Buck Sewer We were startled
on our return to find him sitting up
with the blood streaming over his
face. He was not bady injured, hav-
ing only slight scalp wound
Marshal Tabor wired Demng for
assistance upon reaching Rincon after
the battle. Help began to arrive
about two hours after the fight and
has been coming in a steady stream
ever since
Fifty Deming citizens, including a
detachment Of Company l, n. NJ. N.
G.. under the command Of Lieut.
clyde Earl Ely, are searching. Large
patrols are out over the country trail-
ing the fleeing bandits
All trains are being met by the
state troops al Rincon and thorough
" searched. Peace officers in every
direction have been notified.
Sheriff Felipe Lucero of Dona Ana
county is due to arrive from Las
Cruces at 1910 p. m. with posse.