The Raymer enterprise., 1919-06-12
POLICEMAN PETR|E
KILLED ON DUTY

the night police force, was shot and
almost instantly killed by an un-
known person. supposedly Mexican,
at 1880 o'clock this morning, at the
point where the Colorado and South
ern tracks cross Carey avenue The
murderer and two other men who
are believed to have been In the
custody Of the officer, fed and escap-
ed. The police and sheriff at once
set dragnet for all Mexicans and
35 suspected were in Jail at 2 o'clock
this morning.
There was no witness OF the TRACE
dy, other than the men supposed to
have been implicated. SO far as the
police have knowledge. Petrie died
In the arms of E. c. Williams, who
ran to the scene upon hearing the
shot and the dying mans cries with.
In thirty seconds of the time the
shot was fired. Wildman had Just
lifted the officers head and should
ers fom the ground when Petrle
gasped and expired.
Less than minute before the fatal
shot was fred Petrie had been seen
by 0. J. Dougherty. Union Pacific
fireman, talking to three Mexicans
at the Intersection OF Carey avenue
and Fifteenth street, half a block
south OF the scene Of the shooting
Dougherty had walked less than n
block northward when he heard the
shot and the cries OF the officer He
turned but did not see anyone run
ming from the scene of the crime at
the east side Of the avenue. other
persons are reported to have stated
that they saw one man walk across
the street, Immediately after the shot
was fired and, as he reached the west
side of Carey avenue, break into a
run, proceeding westward. Within
a minute of the time Of the shooting
a crowd of considerable proportions
had gathered about the body OF the
officer. Within five minutes patrol
men were searching for suspects and
within fifteen minutes the first Mex
lean suspects had been brought to
city Hall. -sssa..s--,-.s4s.-z
Petrie left City Hall about fifteen
minutes before he met death. He is
said to have been informed at the
intersection OF Carey avenue and
Lincoln'way that three hard look
ing" Mexicans had just been seen on
Fifteenth street. He started toward
Fifteenth and 1t was only a few min
utes later that Dougherty saw him
talking to three Mexicans at Fiji
teenth and Carey. Dougherty SUP
piled the police good general des-
cription OF the Mexicans.
That Petrie was dead was not as
certained until after his body had
been taken to st. Johns hospital,
to which 1t was rushed on the sup
position that life yet remained Al
the hospital cursory examination
revealed that the officer had been
shot in the center Of the back. just
below the shoulderblades. 1t Ia be-
lieved that the bullet struck his
spine. The body was taken from the
hospital to Coroner Clyde Early's
undertaking establishment.
1t is assumed by the police that
Petrie, after questioning the three
Mexicans and deciding that they
should be taken to police headquar-
ters, started up Carey avenue with
the prisoners and that one OF the
prisoners dropped behind and shot
him before they had proceeded sixty
yards. The escape Of the murderer
and his companions probably was
by way Of the alley paralleling the
Colorado and Southern tracks. That
Petrie was shot without any warn
ing was indicated by the fact that
he had not drawn his revolver. 1t
was found in its holster when his
body arrived at the hospital.
Wildman was standing at the in
tersection of Carey avenue and Lin
coin Way waiting for car, when
he heard the shot and the ensuing
cries of the dying man. He ran TO
the scene Of the shooting, arriving
simultaneously with several others,
and lifted petrie's head and snould-
ers from the ground. As he did 80
the officer expired without uttering
a word.
Petrie had hcen a memb.r OF the
police force only five days lie ioin-
ed the force June 2nd and was as
signed to a night beat In the busi-
ness sectioi. Formerly he was en-
ployed by the T.. P. as a fireman. He
Is survived ~ a widow and six chill
dren. the ,ll.s. IL years OF age. re-
siding at M 4117 Madison street