The Mena weekly star., 1921-08-25
THEN. DESPITE A FRACTURED SKULL. HE HANDCUFFS TWO
 AND HOLDS TILL HELP COMES.
BURIAL FOR ONE, TWO
 REST IN COUNTY JAIL
Following Discovery of Moonshine Cache, Special Officer Was Attacked While on Duty by Grant Bell and Warden Dunnigan, With Bill
 Johnson Looking On.

What is believed to have been de- liberate organized attempt by law breakers upon the life of John Shorter, special law enforcement officer and cattleman, occurred at Bog Springs late Wednesday night, and ended in the killing of Warden Dunnigan, the wounding of Shorter and Grant Bell, the latter also being a member of a quintet that attacked the official.
 The affray, which was staged near the dancing pavilion at the Bog Springs hotel and resort, was one of the most desperate of the bloody en- counters recorded in the history of that section. While a hundred of more of summer guests danced in the moonlight at the pavilion, Shorter fought for his life against heavy odds and won. By the time the shots and sounds of blows exchanged in the en- counter had been replaced by silence, the frightened merrymakers had fled from the scene of the struggle and the festivities were ended for the evening.
 Injured Officer Handcuifed Two.
 Tho dangerously hurt Shorter did not overlook his duties as an officer of the law, and after Dunnigan had fallen mortally wounded, he placed Bell under arrest together with Bill Johnson, another of the attacking party. After snapping the handcuffs on the pair and calling upon members of the hotel management to help guard them. Shorter collapsed from loss of blood, but did not lose con- sciousness nor lessen his vigilance. Deputy Sheriff c. w. Tolle, who lives not far from the Bog Springs hotel, was called and he took charge of Bell and Johnson, taking them to Wander voort, where they were turned over to Sheriff j. A. Thornton and a posse summoned from Mena.
 According to the report brought to Mena by Deputy Sheriff Tolle, who se- cured his information from Shorter and others at the resort, the attack took place shortly after II o'clock while Shorter was engaged in conver- sation with Alb Ashford. The two men were sitting on the edge of the dancing pavilion when three men stepped up out of the shadows of the forest
 Umcer round MOOnShlne.
 Previous to this moment, Shorter. who had been engaged by the hotel management to act as a special peace official at the resort, had found a hid- den cache of moonshine liquor not far from the hotel. While watching this to apprehend it's owners, Shorter ex- changed shots with men on horseback, who are believed to have known the hiding place of the liquor and hoped 70 secure some of it. The cache con tained three half-gallon fruit jars filled with white mule." After this encounter the officer realized there was no further chance of the liquor being visited that night, and he went to the hotel.
 Wednesday night is the customary time for dancing at the Bog Springs hotel, and there was an unusually large turnout for the weekly event. In days gone by it has not been unusual for some of the men of the hills to come to these dances and engage in such playful pranks as shooting out the lights, and conducting the affair according to approved mcuntaineer standards. Shorter, himself, was once one of the widest of these, but in re- cent years has seen the error of his ways and is now enrolled with the forces of law and order. Because of his previous experiences and his known courage he is considered an ideal official to keep peace at the re- sort.
 Five Men in the Attack?
 About week ago Shorter was giv- en a special commission as peace off, cer at the Bog Springs resort by Sher- if J. A. Thornton. This was done, Sheriff Thornton says, at the request of Host Jones, who is trying to make the hotel a real one this year. It was in performance of his duties as spe- cial officer that Shorter was at the dancing pavilian and on guard, when attacked.
 While five men are said to have par ticipated in the attack upon Shorter, only three have been identified. T''ese three are Dunnigan, Bell and John son. all of whom live in the hills not far distant from the hotel.
 Bell Is said to have admitted to the officers that he was the first one to strike Shorter, and claims to have used nothing more deadly than chair. But while Bell was using the chair to distract the officers attentions Dunnigan is said to have made a flank attack and started striking Shorter over the head with the butt of an old fashioned six-shooter. Johnson and the others stood by. 'tis said. ready to help when needed.
 Think Intention Was to Kill Shorter.
 The local authorities believe 1t was the intention of tho attacking party te overpower Shorter and Kill him with his own gun to make it appear the shooting was an accident If such