Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-08
URBAN BALCOMBE
IS MURDERED At
HEALTH. RESORT
Omaha Man Shot Through ths1
Heart and Instantly Kill
by Bee Smith at Exc
sior Springss
NO REASON FOR SHOOTING
Commences Firing as Balcombe
Walks Toward His Place
of Business.
BULLET PIERCES HEART

At Excelsior Springs, Mo, yester-
day afternoon, where he had gone for
his health the day before, Urban B.
Balcombe, 3222 Webster street, Oma-
ha, was shot and instantly killed by
Bee Smith, who conducted candy
stand in the Auditorium building,
where Mr.. Balcombe was at the time.
Smith was arrested and taken to the
office of some attorneys and later in
the day removed to Liberty, Mo,
where he is now in jail, charged with
murder. The inquest will be held at
10 o'clock this morning.
Word from Excelsior Springs last
night was that by his attorneys Smith
had been instructed not to make any
statement and moreover no one aside
from the officers was permitted to see
him.
Balcombe left Omaha Tuesday
morning and went direct to Excelsior
Springs, reaching there that night, in
tending to remain several weeks. He
had been going there for years and
always looked upon this trip as his
vacation, at the same time drinking
the waters and taking treatment for
some minor ailment
Two Shots Are Fired.
From what could be learned last
night, shortly after 2 o'clock yester-
day afternoon Balcombe entered the
Auditorium building and walked over
to the candy stand, not ia from the
entrance. Bee Smith, rs years of age,
who operated the stand, seeing Bal
combe enter the building and walk
over toward him, reached down and
drawing revolver commenced to
fire.
Two shots were fired, the first strik-
ing Balcombe in the left breast and
passing through the heart. The other
bullet went wild of its mark. Bal
combe fell to the floor and died in
stantly. He was identified by D. {.
Callahan, a police officer OF Omaha,
who was in the building at the time.
Before being arrested Smith made
statement to bystanders, asserting
that last fall when Balcombe was at
Excelsior Springs he was in his
(Smith's) place aid upon several oc--
casions helped himself to candy and
chewing gum from the showcase; that
he did the same thing upon his arrival
Tuesday night. Aside from this, what
he designated as pifering, he admitted
that there was no cause tor the shoot
ing.
Old Resident Of Omaha.
Omaha had been Mr.. Balcombe's
home since July 5, 1865, and he was
a member of the Douglas County
Pioneers association. He was born
February "a, 1852, at Elgin, ILL.,, the
son of St. A. D. Balcombe, who was
at one time editor of the Old Omaha
Republican. During 1927, U. b:
Balcombe was reporter, foreman OF
the news room and business manager
of that paper. Casper E. 4ost sue
ceeded him. :.
Travelling and city craftsmanship
was his work for nine years after ne
left the Republican. From 1887 to
1908 he was in city or county posi-
tions, being secretary OF the board
of public works, 1891; deputy city
clerk, 1925; sidewalk inspector,
l894-95; city treasury clerk, 1896 1900;
street work and sidewalk inspector,
l9Ol-O3, and chief deputy assessor,
l9O4-O7. Since April, 1908, he had
been engaged in real estate work, part
of that time as retail manager with
Reed Bros. in The Bee building.
Always a Republican.
In politics he was a straight re-
publican. He is said to have had no
religious affiliations. He was mem
Der of Triangle Lodge, No. 81,
Knights of Pythias, and of the So
ciety of Veterans OF that order. He
also belonged to B. and NJ. Camp, No.
945, Modern Woodmen of America,
Mr.. Balcombe, AL Sorenson and |.
w. Miner were known as the oldest
resident ex-newspaper reporters. Mr..
Balcombe and Harry Haskell were
known as the oldest resident printers.
Mr.. Balcombe was graduated from
Iowa College, Grinnell, with bach
elor of master of arts there in 1875.
His wife's maiden name was Cora
Turner, whom he married at Missouri
Valley in 1890. They haa<ffo children.
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