Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1920-01-30
George E. Rogers Killed by
Mexicans

vicinity several years ago. He
owned a 60 northeast of the city
and farmed while here. Some
years ago he landed at North
Platte, Neb. and finally became
an employee of the U. P. rail.
way company. According to the
story which we have received
from reliable source, the law
and order element Of North
Platte had a name second to but
few of the western towns, given
the city by the. vicious and un-
scrupulCus element which had
congregated there. Holdups,
burglaries, gamblers of a low
order, lewd women, dives and
renegades to fill them prevailed
over decency, and to find men
who would undertake the haz-
ardous proceeding Of ri1ding the
city of all such was a difficult
matter. Backed by the respon-
sible and orderly citizens, the
pioneer who consented to run for
mayor was elected and proceed.
ed to establish a different repu-
tation for the city in which they
had to live and rear families.
This move crystalized in the
spring of 1919 and the appoint
ment of a former passenger
conductor, S. c.. Mecomser to
the office of police chief and Geo.
E. Rogers as assistant chief was
quickly followed by moves of
these officers against bawdy
houses, gambling dens, dives
and dangerous loafers and the
city began to feel cleaner. The
chief of police and his first as
sistant had a number of deputies
under their direction and disor-
der was mot with peremntory
law, the mayor and respectable
citizens standing firmly behind
the chief and his squad in their
action against vice. Many for
eigne-s drifted to the city and a
swarm of negroes and many
Mexicans, all more or less turbu-
lent. Negroes went on the ram.
page over some act of the police
and were sent on their way to
some other and more healthy
spot for them. Mexicans began
to be troublesome in spots and
suspicious characters among
them were closely followed and
watched by the police. January
Is chief Mecomber and assistant
Rogers were shadowing three
Mexicans whose actions aroused
their suspicious. The Mexicans
went into a grocery store con-
Quoted by a Greek named Mich
Chiros. Knowing them to be
armed. the chief and his assist.
ant determined to take their
shooting irons away from them
if they found no other course to
pursue with the three suspicious
characters for other law viola.
tion. The officers went into the
store and to avoid attention
walked leisurely to the rear
where the Mexicans were seated
at a table. When near the
greasers the chief had his side
towards them and Rogers facing
them. Without a flicker of hes
itation the Mexicans arose, drew
their guns and fired five shots at
the officers. Two shots went
wild, one went thru the chiefs
head from behind his ear and
another thru his body and heart,
the other bullet went thru the
heart and body of George Rogers.
Both officers were instantly kill
ed. The Mexicans ran out, two
at the front and one at the rear
of the building. One of them
took a shot at Chiros as he was
getting towards the front door
and Chiros reached under a
counter, procured his gun and
shot one Of the Mexicans in the
neck, and he dropped his gun as
he ran. Cbiros gun was jammed