Imperial Valley press., 1921-07-07
Fl CEN 7 R 0
N A n SHOT
DEAD BY
POSSE
Former Hospital Attache
Killed After Sensational
kidnapping Affair. Infatu-
alton for Pretty Nurse Is
Cause of Trouble.

Luther Pagan, former ambulance
driver for the Imperial county hos
pital, was shot to death near Hood
River, Oregon, last night after he had
kidnapped Mrs. II. j. Miller, Miss Pearl
Miller, aged 20, and 10 year old boy.
after he had shot and seriously wound
ed Mr.. Miller at the family home. I'm
requited love for Miss Louise Wat
kins, daughter of Mrs. Miller, is said
to have been the cause of Fagan's
crime.
Miss Watkins was employed at the
county hospital here as nurse III
January, 1919, when Pagan obtained
employment as an ambulance driver.
He became infatuated with the girl
and on frequent occasions forced his
attentions upon her, it is said. His ac-
tions around the place became obnox-
ious and he was discharged in about
two months and later obtained en-
pl0yment with local trucking COM
pany. Miss Watkins left Ell Centre
in April, 1919, and went to Hood
River, Oregon, where Watkins fol-
lowed her and continued to force his
attentions upon her.
When the girl continued to repulse
his advances he assaulted her and IN
December, 1919, he was convicted and
sentenced to the pententiary for a
period of not more than ten years. He
escaped July IL, 1920, but was re-
turned to the prison II days later. He
received a conditions pardon on De-
cember 4, 1920, on condition that he
return to Oklahoma and retur nto OK
lahoma and provide for relative who
was dependent upon him. Nothing
more was heard of him until recently
when he appeared again at Hood
River,
Soon after he reached the place he
called at the Miller home and asked to
see Miss Watkins. Her step-father, T.
]. Miller, told him she was away, but
Pagan refused to believe him, and in
an alteration that followed Pagan
shot Miller N the side, inflicting q
flesh wound. Mrs. Miller attracted by
the sound Of the shot, ran from the
house to find Pagan standing over hel
husband with pistol in his hand. The
i exsconvict ordered her to call a doc
tor, sfnSaMwhen the latter arrived he
told FagIn that Miller needed hospita
treatment, to which Pagan consented
Immediately after the doctor lef
with the wounded man Pagan forceG
Mrs. Miller, her daughter Pearl, ant
the boy to get into Millers' automo
l~:Jo ,rl,;ob bo Jroya tbopo into tht
woods in the direction of Mount Hood
When the physician and Mile
reached town the alarm was given aa'
gitive and his captives. .aFgan wa
feared to rush him believing that IL
might kill his captives, btu one o
their number succeeded in crawlin.
close behind the ex-convict and sho
him to death with shotgun. TIL
captiyes were found unharmed n skor
distance away.
Roth Mrs. Miller and her dap%hte
suffered q nervous collapse after tn
shooting, but both are recovering to
day according to press dispatehe
from Hood River.
Persons who became acquainte
with Miss Watkins and Pagan durin
their brief stay in this city, describ
him as a moral degenerate and a ma
whose presence would be repulsive. t
any good woman of Miss Watkins
type. He annoyed more than on
woman in this city, it is said, but Ger
tered his attentions upon Miss Wa
kins. II is said that it wa principal
to ecape Fagan's unwelcome compan
that Mss Watkins left her positlo
here, where he ability as a nurse Ws
highly appreciated by the hospit
authorities.