East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-06-15
Crazed Farmer Opens Fire on
Asa Thomson and Joe Bla-
kelly and is Killed by First
Shot From Thomson's Rifle
HAD MADE THREATS
TO FIGHT TO DEATH
Unusual Case Brought to-
Tragic End While officer and
Echo Citizen Were Striving
for Peaceful Capture.

Making good his threat that officers
| of the law would never take him alive i
w. IL. Smith, Echo farmer. was shot
and killed yesterday afternoon while
resisting arrest by Deputy Sheriff Joel
Blakley and Asa b. Thomson. of
Echo. Smith fired two shots at Thom-
so'i, which were answered by one shot
by Thomson, instantly killing the man.
A coroners jury at Echo last night
exonerated Thomson OF any blame|
for the killing and declared that II was|
done in self defense. The jury, called
by Coroner ]. 4. Brown. consisted of
Frank Spike, j. Frank Spinning, Will
liam Nixon. George Coppinger, II. Cl
Branstetter and Isaac Gobbell. Dep
nty District Attorney C. y. Randall
algo attended.
Secs Man Coming: Shoots
Smith, possessed of n desire to kill
Joe Ramos, had previously frightened
away thr Echo marshal when nc wasI
cent to arrest the man. He was "a
work in box near a gate in his irri
cation ditch whom Thomson. armed
with a high powered rifle. approneh i
ed followed by the deputy sheriff att
one side, The men were agreed on al
poaeeable arrest hut Smith. looking rp|
20 see Thomson approaching. grab
he'd his reVolver and shot. Just as|
9e fired his second shot. Thomson|
fired his rifle. The bullet struck the|
fugitive above the eye and shattered
| his skull. The men were not more|
than 40 feet apart, Mr.. Randall said
today.
Not word was spoken by cithcr|
of the three men, according 20 testi
pcny Of Everett T.. Thompson. emil
loved On tho Smith place. at tho in-|
| rueSs last night. He was in tho field
nearby and saw the incident MOI
shots were fired by Deputy BIakciy,|
The exchange of bullets hcing SO rapId|
that he could not get Ms gun out of
the holster.
Smith was unmirried and thought
Ia have been about c. years old. He|
has lived in the vicinity Of Eche for|
number Of years and was opcrating|
the Spike place under lease. No trere|
nr any relatives had been found last|
Wight in looking through his papers.
His body was taken Ia charge by the|
coroner and turned over to the un-|
iertaker at Echo for burial.
The events leading up to the drama-
tic killing. of Smith moved with ]ightn-|
ing speed. Smith developed desire|
on Wednesday 20 kill Joe Ramos, who|
shpred the canal serving their places|
with water, and who regulated the
gates He went to town, purchased
The Colt special revolver and cartridges
and then went to Ramos place. He
demanded $40 for damagus TO his land
and s43.Go as payment for the gun
and cartridges. He held the gun
against Ramos while he wrote out the|
cheek FOR S53Gn
Smith threatened Ramos with in
slant death II he told the police or
attempted to stop payment on the
check Then ne told Thompson. his
hired man. that he had nothing TO i've
for and Ramos. a young man, hap
everything TO live for. He said they
would not take him alive.
Tried to Dissuadc Smith
Thompson, on the witness stand.
said that no argued both on Wcdnes-
day and Yesterday to Smith TO forget
his desire to XIII Ramos and TO give
himself up To the officGTs. Each ume
the old man declared he would have
10 lie taken dead.
Ramos was shielded in Echo yester-
,ay. upon his return from Pendle'on
with tho information filed by the dis
rict attorney. He and others in town
'enev that Smith meant busincsa Tho
manner in which the old man resisted
capture Strengthens their bcliot thar
he had gone insane.