The Clayton news. (Clayton, N.M.) 19??-1954, 1917-09-01

diiu uhOdAiCu AOl oAAoh tAoI AAhOA
county has ever known was the
murder Saturday afternoon of Dep
ty Sheriffs Pablo Bacca and E. r.
Gentry at Mosquero, in the south
part of the county, by Ernest Long,
a man who lives near that place.
According TO the story Of two eye
witnesses whose names we were un-
able to learn, Long entered the
saloon at Mosquero and without
any provocation began shooting up
the place, his especial target appear
ing to be new typewriter and the
furniture in general. Mr.. Bacca, VIII
wos in charge of the place at the
time. demonstrated with him, and
they finally grappled, Mr.. Bacca
hol ling him by ;he pistol hand. Long
pulled another gun from the hip
pocket and shot Bacca through the
stomach, the unfortunate man dy-
ing almost instantly. When the
shooting began, Deputy Gentry was
in a store across the street making
the purchase of new shirt. He
immediately started for the scene
of trouble to perform his duty as
an officer of the law. He opened and
entered the door of the place just
as Long, after having shot Bacca,
was arising from the prostrate form
of his victim. Without word he
turned his gun on Mr.. Gentry, the
first shot passing through the right
lung OF the officer Mr.. Gentry drew
his gun and advanced on Long, who
retreated behind the bar, assuming
a kneeling posture and keeping up
the fusilade at the officer but with
out effect Mr.. Gentry advanced to
the point where Long was behind
the bar, and stepping upon the iron
railing and bending over the bar,
fired twice almost straight down at
Long. One shot missed its mark, but
the other entered the bad man and
murderer just above the. right nip
pie and passed clear through him.
Gentry looked the situation over,
probably deciding that peace was
restored, and then walked out of the
place, crossing the street to the no
tel, and told the proprietor, Benz. F.
Brown, that he was badly shot; that
he was going to his room and to call
a physician. About half way up the
stairs he collapsed and had TO be
carried 10 the room and placed in
bed After that he was only con-
scious long enough TO ask for his
eldest daughter, Lena, girl of
Ffourteen years, that he might see
her before dying and instruct her
in her duty to her younger sisters.
There are five mOtherless and faith
erless little girls, Lena being the
oldest. Mr.. Gentry lived about five
hours after being shot, dying three
hours before Sheriff Sutton, who
had been notified by telegraph, ar
rived on the scene with the little
daughter Of the murdered officer.
After MIR. Gentry left the place
Long managed to arise and also went
10 the hotel and was put to bed and
physician summoned. The physi-
clans have but little hope Of his re-
.oovery. He was still alive yesterday
Sunday afternoon when Sheriff
Sutton left Mosquero. He refuses
10 talk of the killing, further than
10 say that he shot Gentry in self
defense, a fabrication pure and
simple according TO the story Of
witnesses. Long has reputation
ia that part of the county as a
worthless individual and undesir-
able citizen, and no one dares or
desires TO express sympathy for him
him. He was in the habit of carry
ing gun and making demonstra-
tions with it, but no one consider
him really dangerous.
Cl plo Bacca, the first victim Of
nurder, was sixty-one years OF
'4e%St Stnd bora An enVifable reDuta-