The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1922-03-24
CONVICT SHOT WHEN
MISSILE IS THROWN
At GUARD DAVIDSON
Guard Who 0uelIed Prison Riot
At WaIla WalIa, BY Killing the
Noted Felon, Tiger Johnson.

James Ogle, Oregon penitentiary
convict serving life sentence for
the murder Of j. N. Burgess and
George Peringer Of Pendleton at the
Claremont tavern near Portland, on
the night of November 21, 1919, was
shot and instantly killed by penlten-
tiary guard John Davidson Tuesday
morning, when 0gle heaved rock
at the guard. barely missing David
sons head.
Davidson. who is absolutely fear
less and trusted guard Of 10 years
experience, shot the prisoner when
he reached for a second missile to
throw. The bullet entered the left
shoulder and Ogle soon expired. The
shoot ing took place from the wall Of
the s'bull pen," in which Ogle had
been confined since he attempted to
make his escape from the prison
about year ago.
Some time ago penitentiary off
cials warned the guard to watch Ogle
closely, as he had made threats to
"get somebody" and then make
break for liberty; and when he threw
the rock at Davidson, the guard be-
lieved the convict was bringing his
threat into execution.
The day following the murder Of
Burgess and Peringer, Ogle, David
Smith and dutch" Herman were
: trailed to a rooming house by posse
; headed by the late Til Taylor. who
/. happened to be in Portland at the
!. time. The murderers were given a
\ life sentence on pleading guilty, and
q in 1920 Ogle. saying he wanted to
!; come clean in the matter, admitted
J. to Warden Compton that he did the
:, killing.
y, Ogle had prison record before be-
+ ing sent UP for the Claremont MUIR
is ders, having served time at Deer
Lodge, Montana, Walla Walla and
u Monroe, Wash. He was "a years Of
u age. His father resides at Boise
he Idaho.
at John Davidson, penitentiary guard
formerly resided in this community
ne where he engaged in farming and il
h highly regarded by all who know
him. He has two daughters living il
he Athena. Mrs. Fred Pinkerton AM
re Mrs. Alex Mcintyre.
When "Tiger" johnson. one OF tn
he most desperate criminals ever con
es fined in the Washington penitentiar.
i'll ct Walla Walla, staged his daring
attempt to escape, it was the coolnes'
,n of Davidson, then guard at the in
lg stitution, that prevented genera
t. prison delivery. The guard shot
johnson dead, at once quelling the
convict insurrection.
In writing up the Ogle shooting
:, Portland papers gave garbled ac-
N count of the shooting of A. L. "Hog'
Berry. mountain recluse. by David
Mt son 80 years ago.
I'd Berry, an ill-natured and domineer
u ing old mountaineer, had words with
In Davidson over the use of a well To-
st Gated on the Davidson place, during
the dry season, when there was
lie water only sufficient for Davidson's
II, stock. Berry held grudge against
n Davidson and had made threats
he against him to others. During tht
P. winter following he borrowed a rifle
a from neighbor, ostensibly to xii
ne hogs, but lay in wait for Davidson
b. at gate near the roadside.
Returning from Weston on horse
in back, Davidson saw Berry approach
of ing, and as he dropped off the hors,
,rs to open the gate, Berry fired at him
lst Davidson then shot Berry, went t.
ed his home short distance away, AM
he that night came to Weston and CAV
lin himself up. A coroner's jury drov
le- to the scene Of the shooting in tw
NO feet of snow, and the tracks made b.
It Berry and Davidson were conclusiv
its evidence to the jury that Davidso
had acted in self defense.