The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-03-18
HEART TROUBLE
KILLS R. I. LEWIS

Because he was 50 we'll Known here.
the following, clipped from the Stan
farG. XIV, Journal Of Friday. February
27. telling Of the sudden death Of Rob
eTt I. Lewis, formerly city marshal
here, WI.i be Of interest 10 Hood River
peoIle
aaford was the centre Of much eX
citenent Thursday morning when at
the reports Of pistol shots people rushed
into tie steerts to see what was the
occasion for such and found that Virgil
Rowland, of Kings Mountain. pris-
oner. had broken away from Deputy
Sheriff Robert I. Lewis and was max
Ing his escape. Rowland hsd been ln-
dlted by the grand jury on Wednesday,
for striking Champ Francis, Of Kings
Mountain. with intent to Kill. but was
rot brought to town until Thursday
morning Deputy Sheriff Elmer Gilh-
land. Of Naynesburg, brought him here
and on reaching the courthouse Mr..
GillIland was So cold that Mr. Lewis
offered TO take the prisoner To jail
Rov land said "a am not going to
that cd d-n Jail. and when he said
this Mr. Lewis took hold of him and
told him that he was. Row land then
tried 20 release himself and struck Mr..
Lewis two fearful blows I'M the chest
and managed to get his release, run.
ning toward the city Jail. When he
did this Lewis drew his gun and fired,
bat Rowland then sought his escape
by climbing the Hill in front Of the
Menefee home. bat while he was
going Up this hill there were some
four or five more shots fired hy the Of
fcer. but to no avail MIR Lewis fol-
lowed him on up the hill, climbing the
steep flight of steps, and on reaching
the tou after taking few steps In
the direction the prisoner was last
seen, he dropped dead. There were a
number of people standing on. the
street watching him. and when he fell
they did not know what to think. Jail-
er George DeBorde, who was at the jail
at the time the shots We're fired and
Immediately rushed out TO see what
the commotion was. had statred to fol-
low his co-Worker, and was almost up
the steps when Mr.. Lewis fell. He
rushed to him, but there was no life in
the body. He was taken to the Meme
fee home. where all that was in medI-
cal power was done The remains
We're taken from there TO the home Of
his cousin, kindrick Aleorn.
Almost as soon as it was learned
that the prisoner was fleeing from the
officer other officers began to search
for him. Bloodhounds were sent for
and put on his trail.
H., /,
his family had gone to Danville to
take the train for st. Petersburg,
Fla, was notified of the death of his
deputy He Immediately returned to
this city and began in earnest the cap
ture Of the prisoner. There were some
four or five cars that left town with
the bloodhounds. After trailing some
distance the dogs seemed to lose the
trail so the posse proceeded to track
him in the snow, walking some ii
miles. Rowland had not gone 10 his
home in Kings Mountain, but was
making his way towards Back Greek.
He was captured by Squire Henry
/ Hall, j K. Morrell and a Mr.. Griffith,
of WayneSburg, who had been notified
boy officers here, and they We're bring
inc him this way when met by the
posse, who took charge of him and
brought him here and placed him in
jail. There was not county officer,
as well as a number Of citizens. who
did not do his best to capture this ban,
dit. who had caused SO much sadness
here
Rowland is also a deserter from the
army, having escaped from Camp Nc
Clellan, Ala, so he will have to serve
term in federal prison before he is
again a free man.