Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-10-12
Head TORN BY
BUCKSHOT AT
CLOSE RANGE
Officers Trail Murder
er to Edge of Rio
Crande; No Clue to
Identity Found

LA FERIA, Tex, Oct. II.
j. G.. "Slim" Billings. con-
stable, was shot and instantly
killed near his home here at
7:30 Monday night by an un-
known assassin who ambush
ed him as he was on his way
from his home to the moving
picture show. The shooting
occurred about 100 feet from
the house.
Three shots were fired in rapid
succession from an automatic shot
gun, the heavy charges OF buckshot
taking effect in the body and head.
The shots were fired az close range
one charge almost tearing the top
of his head off. Several pistol shots
were also heard by residents i'm that
section Of town, but no pistol bull
lets struck Billings. Billings revolt
ver was missing from its holster
when the body was found, and IL is
believed the weapon was secured BY
the assassin.
Immediately after firing the fatal
shots the murderer started running
toward the river. Officers found the
trail this morning and followed IL
through an orchard. across fields
and brushland 70 the Rio Grande-
The footprints were plainly discern
ible in the mud at the waters edge
where the murderer evidently enter
ed the water 70 swim 10 the Mexican
shcre.
Traffic Officer Jesse Rose, who.
heard the shots and immediately
turned his car into the street to
make an Investigation. was the first
to reach the body. lie did not sea
the assassin. who ran in the Pther
direction. and inquiries elicted tbs
information that no resident in that
section had seen the murderer,
though many heard the firing.
Three shotgun shells were found
near the body. Each Of the charges
had taken effect. one striking Bill
ings III the head and the other two
in the body.
Cameron and Hidalgo county Off
GERS were Immediately notified of
the shooting, Sheriff Nichols and
several deputies leaving immediately
for the scene. All efforts TO trail
the assassin proved futile in the
dark. The trail was taken up early
this morning, and the officers had no
difficulty in following il 10 the
river.
One arrest has been made in ths
case. The Officers Investigated
shack near which the assassin passed
on his trip to the Rio Grandc and
found a stock Of liquor. Officers be-
lieve the man found in the shack
may have knowledge Of the crimes
and he was placed under arrest on
liquor law violation charge.
Billings has been constable nc La
Feria several years, and was very
active and courageous officer, taking
part i'm numerous raids on liquor
vendors and rum runners. Sunday
morning he went TO Santa Rosa
where he placed Mercedes Torres un-
der arrest In the fatal shooting cf
Pablo REFS, but officers express
the opinion that this was in no way
connected with the shooting. It was
reported 70 officers last night that
several threats had been made
against Billings ~ result OF his
activities in enforcing the law. and
and these rumors are being inves-
tigated.
Constable Billings was "a years
of age, married. but had no children.
His wife heard the assassin-s Shots
and aappriscd or her husbands
death collapsed. She was taken t0
the hospital at Harlingen. and ia
reported to be IN d critical ccndia
tion as a result of the shock.