Imperial Valley press., 1925-04-02
Hindu Murders
Pair In Rage;
Third Attacked
CONTINUED from PAGE ~


parently removed the safety catch
and fired, the bullet whizzing past
Thornberg's head and burying it
self i'll the office woodwork. Thorn
berg grappled with Singh, getting
one hand on the latter s wrist and
the other about his throat.
Mrs. Thornberg Helps
He said he tried to throw Singh
! but was unable to- do so. Mrs. Ha-
ger and Mrs. Thornberg, who were
i'll the office, heard the shot. When
she saw her husband graphing with
Singh, Mrs. Thornberg rushed TO his
assistance and fell just as she reach
ed the spot where the men were
struggling. AS she fell, she grab
bed Singh around the legs, the inn
pact, combined with her husband s
efforts, throwing the Hindu to the
sidewalk.
Mrs. Thornberg managed to swing
out from beneath his body and knelt
on the wrist of Singh s gun hand
Bystanders took hand in the melee
and succeeded in getting the gun
away from Singh and took him to
the marshal s office where he was
surrendered.
Thornsberg was still visibly ner-
vous today from his experience with
the Hindu, though lie had himself
i'll complete control.
+. Fisher, who was at the Brad
ford ranch when the murders oc-
CURED, heard some sort Of discus
sion between Singh, Sterling and
Hager, but could not see the actual
shooting of Sterling, several tents
obstructing his view. He heard
Sterling say, "Don It, Parker,
don t, - and then the shot IIager
ran, calling out that the Hindu had
a gun, and Fisher told HIM to keep
on running. Shortly after I[ager
passed, Fisher saw Singh going in
the direction Hager had taken.
Fisher noticed the gun in Singh s
hand, and yelled to him stating that
he wanted to talk to him.
To this Singh replied, warning
Fisher that he di0 not wish to
kill him, but that if he (Fisher)
interfered, he would get into trou-
bic. AS he issued this warning,
Fisher said Singh raised the pistol
in his hand as though he would use
it again and continued after Hager
Sterling was so years old and was
one of the best known men in In
perial Valley especially in the north
end. He had been a resident of the
valley for about II years, being To-
Gated in Brawley before going to
Calipatria. He was one of the
founders of the latter city, and by
curious coincidence, his death oc-
Cured just one day before the town
celebrated its eleventh birthday,
that affair being scheduled for to-
day.
He maintained an office on Main
street, where he transacted real
estate affairs and was also inter
ested in several ranches. He took
n prominent part in the affairs of
the community, and was generally
looked up to as a good type of cit
izen. He was enrolled on the pre-
sent jury for the superior court,
and had sat on the jury in several
cases recently. He was prominent
in Masonic circles, being mem
Der Of Imperial Valley Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons.
Sterling was an ex-newspaperman,
having published the Imperial En-
terprise many years ago. Both he
and his wife were prominent in the
fratornal and social life of the
northcnd, Mrs. Sterling being very
active in club circles.
Sterling was identified with num-
erous projects in the pioneer life of
the county. Among the important
posts he handled was the chairman
ship of the first highway commits
sion in Imperial Valley appointed
by the board of supervisors to agi-
tate the matter of good roads.
Hager Well Known
Hager was about 40 years old and
was known to practically everyone
connected in any manner with the
lettuce industry of Imperial Val
ley, having worked on lettuce deals
here for several years past. He
was familiarlv known as "Pete, "
many of his friends believing Peter
to be his first name, and therefore
did not connect him up with the
shooting, when it was made known
last night that j. B. Hager had been
killed.
He resided at 1880 FL Centre ave
nue., this city, until two months ago,
when he removed to Calipatria, leas-
ing the house which he owned here,
until the lettuce, season had finish