Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-05-06
LIQUOR FIGHT
NEAR HIDALCO
ENDSM DEATH
Customs Guard Mcconnell Is
Slightly Wounded When
Attacked In Dark

Dick w. Mcconnell. United States
customs guard. recently engaged in "a
hand to-hand battle in tho darkness near
lIilaIgo with two liquor smugglrr,. Kill.
Ing one of :hcm. the body floating down
the Rio Grandc. according to a copy of
II report to Deputy Collector Ed To-
iulla at San Antonio. The fight was
Witnessed by McConncl,'s wife aud chill
drcn who were in an automobile with
him when the battle occurred.
Mcconnell il his report said that his
own life was saved tn heavy heather
holster which was slung over his left
breast. The holster was cut into rib
bo-,s. and McCunnrlrs face and body
were badly slashed by long knife car
ricd by one nf the smuggleTs, both Of
whom were McXicans. 4 shot pcnctrat-
ed Mcconnelfs hat and caused a slight
scalp wound. After oLc pistol had been
kncclrd from his hand IN the darkness
Mcdonnell finally was able To secure an
other pistol wLirh he carried under hs
left arm and fired three shots through
the brain of one nf his assaianis This
man was struck while standing al the
bank of the swollen river. ald his hndy
slid into the stream and flnatcd away.
The report explains that customs Of
ficcrs had been watching ferry at Iii
,lago for some time and were scouting
along the river the night ~ the shoot
ing. Mcconnell went "a lis home and
picked up his wife and children. They
wcr" {" drop him al u ''haile." The
wife and the childrci. were on the back
seat ~ the car.
We drove back 10 the ferry first"
McC Connell explains in the report. Just
as | got cut Of the ear. there came
flash almost il my face. aud my hat
was Knocked off.
Il icrkcd my gun and returned the
fire while running a; the man who be-
gan backing down tie bank il the
tied his gun and disappeared in the
darkness.
Il ran on down the bank anl was
grabbed hy anrthcr Mexican. Who was
hiding there and had knife.
In the struggle the gun | held was
Knocked out nf nay hand. | was trying
90 draw second 3> automatic that !
carried in holster under my right
arm.
".All the while he was cutting M me
cutting me ia the face. on the loft arm
and ~ the breast. lie cut the hravA
leather h"laer under my arm to pieces.
lie had me hy tine throat. choking
ard cutting me. when | finally succeed
cd IN getting the gun. | fired three times
INTO The man.. head.
"llc fell backward at the edge of the
hnnk and Slid into the water by the
boat. That Was the last | saw ~ him.
Mcconnell then went for more Off
GERS who returned with him TO the sccuc
of the struggle. They found Neon
nelrs hat with powdrr-hurncd bullet
hole in the crown. the gun that had hc-u
knock ed from McCOnnclrs hand. long
bladrd knife ami the smugslcr's hat,
which hnd three bullet holes through the
swaziland Fifteen quarts of tcquila
were discovered in a sack 10y the boat.
Going back to the car. the officers
found where three iI-caiilcr bullets hal
struck tic ear. one penetrated the
cowl aud broke the RIM of the steering
wheel One bullet was found in the bot
tom of the ear.
Is a result of the encounter. Neon
nell sustained a cut extending on the
left side of the face frcm the eye to lac
low the chin. thrce-inrh cut undcr the
right arm ami three III the breast over
the heart The pistol holster under
McConlclls arm had been cut 10 shrcds-