Imperial Valley press., 1919-02-18
DEP. SHERIFF
WOUNDED IN
BAT TIE
NEAR BORDER

Posses of citizens, led by officers
of the Holtville district, were today
spreading a net around the border
region to procure the capture of Ben
Espinoca, alleged Mexican bad man,
following the shooting early yester-
day evening OF Deputy Sheriff Frank
Mcclellan.
The deputy sheriff is confined to
a ward in the Holtville hospital suf-
fering from severe revolver wound
as the sequel of the Mexican's daring
break for liberty after his arrest on
suspicion of cattle rustling. The bull
let entered through the back of Nc
Clellan's neck. took an upward course
and came out Just below the right
eye.
The fugitive, who made good his es-
cape after a sensational gun battle
with several men who were at the
Bonds Corner grocery, although he
is believed to have been wounded by
a bullet from one Of the posses guns.
He was trailed through underbrush
and friends for a distance of more
than two miles by drops of blood
apparently coming from wound.
The shooting took place between
Z and 8 o'clock last night at a point
but a few rods distant from Bonds
Corner. Taking advantage of the
intense darkness Of the evening at
a time before the moon had come up
,ver the horizon, the man, said to be
Espinoca, made break from the Of
ficer.
The Mexican has been under sus
picion for some time as the leader of
small but daring and active band
of cattle thieves, who have driven
scores of sleek cattle from American
ranches to a secret camping place
few, miles below the border.
After he had slipped over the line
last night he was halted at the point
of Deputy Sheriff McClellan's gun
and surrendered himself to arrest.
The officer placed handouts on his
prisoner, but failed to make a thor
ough search of the mans clothing,
according to reports reaching here.
The officer then headed his prison
er for the grocery store, preparatory
to bringing him to this city for in
generation.
Suddenly the wiry Mexican broke
loose the hold of his captor and drew
a gun, firing at close range. Only
one bullet hit the mark. He hen
broke for cover as the foungers at
the grocery store. ran into the night
to the rescue of the fallen officer.
Unable to see their mark in the
darkness, the members of this has
tily improvised posse fired at the
flash of the Mexican's gun and not
until lanterns were brought did they
know that they had succeeded in
winging him.
While part of the posse rushed
the wounded officer to the hospital,
the remainder took up the unsuccess-
full search, continuing their man
hunt, with the aid of reinforcements,
until early this morning.
The Mexican authorities have been
appealed to and have promised CO.
operation in running down the gun
wielder. They declared they knew
Espinoca's camping place and prom
ised his arrest the minute he showed
on their side of the line.
Today it was said that the pursu-
ers were confident the fugitive was
still on the American side as the four
mile long blood trail led to the north
away from the line, although re-
Gently found trail heads toward the
border at Allison's Heading.
The attending physicians state that
unless infection or other complica-
tions set in, Officer McClellan's
wound, while painful, is not serious
and that his rapid recovery is ex-
pected.