Imperial Valley press., 1925-07-20
One Man Slain,
Another Shoots
Self as Result
lContinRed from page y

(ContlBEed from pdsc -
IN have their duel Trudcn tells in
his letter that he was to count
three. and that on reaching that
number, both were to fire. Kirk
however, shot at two missing
Truden. The latter fired at the
word three and succeeded III
putting a bullet into his opponent.
He then left the place and after
writing the letter which was found
on his person. he went to Jaeum ba.
District Attorney Ctiev thinks the
letter was written at Jacumba.
This morning residents near the
new apartment house at Jacumba
heard shot. and going out to a
large rock nearby, found TrudCn dy-
ing, with Il bullet hole III his head.
Search of his clothing revealed
the letter. also crude map, showing
where Kirk 5 body was TO be found.
District Attorney Utley, who hap
pencd to be at Jacumba, made a
COPY of the letter and of the map,
telcphoning his information to the
shcriff's office. As soon rs this
information was received, Under
sheriff Bert Underwood and several
deputies went to the vicinity IN
which Kirk WAS supposed to be
and though they made a vigorous
search of the country, no trace of
the body could be found
Leave on Body Hunt
With the arrival of the district
attorney shortly before noon, Il
second posse, which included Coron,
er Lemon District Attorney Utley,
IL putty Shcr3iss Harold jiilleit,
George Evans. FIave Kemp and Mar
shals Powell and Harris of Imperial,
left with the map which Truden had
drawn.
They picked up Mack Trentham,
director OF the imperial Irrigation
District at Imperial, ard the search
was divided into three parties.
Water Evans of Imperial, with
, three companions, also joined in the
search ana after looking over the
+ country for half an hor or more,
: the body was discovered lying under
a tree in Il gulch, just as Truden
d stated in his letter it would be found
4 30 ca,ibrc gun with three emp
/ ty shells, was rJund lying beside
I Kirk, his hand being only fet
( inches from II and drawn back as
! though he were shooting at the
! time he met his death. The latter
was caused by a bullet wound
! through the heart.
Kirk and Truden both rooufcd at
the Imperial hotel, and inquiries
there this morning, before Kirk s
Lody was found, showed that both
men had been missing since Friday
/ night. What the trouble was be
tween the two men was not divulged
/ in Truden s letter, though he did
state that it had been Of long
standing.
1 Kirk was employed as driver of
an ice wagon and Truden was a
Z truck driver. People around lmpc-
rial stated they had meyer heard of
any seriOHs trouble between the
two men. aud while they were
known not to be friendly with each
other, there was nothing to cause
belief that they contemplated kill
ing each other.
Coroner Lemon IS planned to hold
an inquest on Kirk s body this aft
eInOon, and owing to its decomposed
copdition, immediate burial was
necessary. Truden 3 body Was tax
Ell to San Diego, his suicide having
occurred in that county.
Examination of Truden s body
a.
the face, also that one tooth was
missing, corresponding with his
story of the scuffle he had with
Kirk over possession of the gun.
! There was q mark on his side, SINH
lar TO one that might be caused by
glaneing bullet. His watch chain
uas also found to be broken, bear
ing out in still more detail his story
Of the fight.