San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-10
SAY ROUTON LIVED
in FEAR OF LIFE
IContinued from page one.)

it was there, although he had been
stationed there for short time last
December.
Residents of Bracken, particularly
those associated with the warrant Of
ficer, believe that the presence of the
| tar trap beneath the trestle and the
| figure on the trestle peering down at
the automobile containing Routon and
his wife and baby, was indicative OF
an aboItive attempt on the life of the
warrant officer and that the same
figure was present when Routon
breathed his last.
Not only do they believe that the
figure was the nemesis of Routon,
but they believe that Routon, himself,
had reason TO believe that his life
IVES in constant danger, especially
after the incident of the tar trap.
Rolled Over and Over.
On the night of the tar trap Incl
dent, Routon, his wife and baby
were motoring from their home in San
Antonio 10 Bracken. As they ap-
tracks near Bracken, Routon noticed
figure on the top of the trestle, the
figure was lying prone. As he ran
the car under the trestle. he could feel
the car skid from side TO side. AS
he passed through the trestle and
turned TO the right, then almost in
the outskirts of Bracken. he whirled
his car about and flashed his spotlight
on the trestle. At the same time
he drew his pistol.
Then it was that his wife saw the
figure prone among the dark shadows
of the trestle. She began to scream,
according TO the accounts Of the neigh
bors who conversed with Routon
few minutes later. If his wife had
not been with him at the time, he
would have shot the man, Routon
told the posse with whom he returned
ten minutes later.
Il am going back to get that
man."
The figure on the trestle rolled over
and over, as if he wanted TO get out
of the glare of the spotlight and off
the trestle without exposing himself.
Went Back TO Get" Him.
Routon took his wife and baby TO
their rooms in the Cole residence.
He Knocked upon the door of the room
in which the Coles were sitting and
calling Frank o. Cole aside, told him.
of the incident. ..
Il am going back to get that man, :,
Routon said shortly
DO you want any help:" asked
Mr.. Cole.
Il would be glad to have your
help declared the warrant officer.
They got into Routon's car and
drove back toward the trestle. On
their way back they picked up Rich
ard Grote. a butcher, and Private Il.
l. Reynolds, a member of Routon's
detachment.
AS they examined the trestle and
the vicinity. they could find no trace
OF the mysterious figure. Under the
trestle they found a substance that
they thought was tar. Ii appeared
as though a two-gallon bucket of tar
mad been carefully poured into a deep
rut, on the inside curve Of the road,
which would be the, left-hand side GO
ing toward Bracket.
Number o Shoe.
From signs visible on the ground.
1t appeared that an effort had been
made 10 cover up the tar. The tracks
OF n man wearing about a number
nine shoe were seen in the imme-
dlate vicinity of the tar pool From
the indications it appeared that the
man had raked earth over the far nv
using the side of his shoe. No con-
talner for the tar was found.
Early the next morning. practical.
ly all members Of the detachment and
the inhabitants of Bracken visited
me scene of the incident the night
Deiore: AT that time, Private keyn-
o,ds found an .45 automatic pistol
cup fllled with cartridges. Accord
ing 10 the theory Of the villagers the
| chp mad dropped from the pocket of
trestle.
| The clip was turned over to Post
master and Deputy Sheriff W. X.
Rosenberg, who brought the clip 10
San Antonio Monday afternoon to
turn IT and other evidence in his pos
session over to officers investigating
the death OF the warrant officer.
Did He Fear Attack?
| =, AFTER the incident under the tres
tle, declared Mr.. Cole, station agent
| Tor the l.-G.-N. at Bracken. at whose
| nome Routon and his wife were quar-
tered while the warrant officer was
~ charge OF a surveying detachment.
houton developed habit that he had
not had before. 1''
Il noticed that in the evenings he
would go TO the front gate and look
up and down the road" Mr.. Cole
stated. He would say nothing. He
would look as if he were expecting
10 see some one whom he did moi
| want to see. He conveyed the impres.
sion that he was spprehensive.
| Routon had an ingeniously rom.
trived bamboo cane by which bc
might shoot 32-caliber cartridge
one evening he showed the cane 10
Mr.. and Mrs. Cole. A spring nv
means OF which The shell was ex-
couple. '0-u 'As
~ must have that spring fixed right