New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-01-18
TWO SOLDIERS KILL
CHAUFFER over A
CRAP GAME LOSS
ARRESTED IN A FREIGHT
CAR ON ARRIVAL AT Ell
PASO, MEN MAKE STATE
MENT CLAIMING KILLING
WAS IN SELF DEFENSE
lei Paso Haraldl

Douglas, Ariz,, Jan. l6.-TWo SOL
diers are believed TO have murdered
P. E. Burke, chauffeur whose body
was found yesterday afternoon in
the road about five miles north of
Rodeo, New Mexico. His throat was
cut.
Burke left Douglas in an automo-
bile Monday night with two soldiers
whom he was to take to Rodeo. He
was last seen in Rodeo at midnight
Monday night. Th. car is missing.
Luna County Sheriff Search
Deming, N. NJ. Jan. l6.-Sheriff
Simpson, of this county. sent two
men to the neighborhood Of Separ,
N. NJ. after the soldiers reported
to be wanted at Rodeo, N. NJ, but
they made fruitless search until
after 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
This is said to be the ninth murder
in Grant county since the last term
of court.
Arrested In Ell Paso
Ell Paso, Texas. Jan. l6-John Will
son and James Smell, said to be SOL
diers from Douglass, Ariz.. were ar
rested by deputy sheriffs Ivy Finley
and John Boone in freight car in
the local Southern Pacific yards late
Tuesday night. following 60 mile
run of the officers for the men, who
are said to be wanted at Rodeo, N.
M, in connection with the alleged
murder on Tuesday of P. T. Burke.
automobile chauffeur, who was said
to have been shot to death on the
road between Lordsburg and Rodco,
N. M.
Ride Out To Meet
Receiving telephone message that
the two men were on a freight train
bound for Fl Paso, the deputies left
on westbound Southern Pacific pas
senger No. 1Ol and after riding about
30 miles alighted and boarded the
freight. They searched the train
thoroughly and found their men in
a refrigerator car when FL Paso was
reached They were in possession
of a razor and their clothing was
bloody. the officers said.
Brought before Justice J. M. Dea-
yer on charges of being fugitives
from justice, the men each made vo-
luntary statements Wednesday. Smell
said he and Wilson started from
DOUGLAS to Rodto in the automobile
of Burke and were to pay him S35
and he was to get them some liquor
at Rodeo.
Crap Game At Rodeo
We got into a scrap game at Ro-
deo and lost our money" the state
ment reads, adding that they start
ed from Rodco and Burke started
to ditch the car. An argument en-
sued and Burke drew a gun, accord
ing to the statement, which adds
that then my partner shot him, and
we came down this way. I got blood
on me. We put him out of the ma
chine in the road"
Killing Is Admitted /
Wilson's statement was as follows.
in part II desire to say anything but
that | am guilty When we got to
Rodeo we asked for some whisky
The driver refused to get it." An ar
rument followed then over the car
hire. the statement said. and Burke,
said the prisoner, leaned over the
steering wheel, and "put his hand
back of him to his hip pocket. and
when he did knew what that meant.
was standing on the running board
and drawea my gun and shot. He
fell over Smell. We throwed him
out of the car" The car was finally
eft bv the men about IS miles from
Lordsburg. Wilson said. "We intend
ID to desert the army" the state
nent concludes. Wilson said he was
n the pennsylvania volunteers"