Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-10
SLAIN OFFICER

Continued from page one)
the fleeing glimpse Of the escaping
bandit. The bullet struck the horse
in the flank. but the smuggler left
the horse, and escaped into the
brush.
The other smuggler fell from his
horse, got up and ran about a hun
dred steps, and fell dead.
Liquor Seized
As the shooting started Longoria
rushed around toward the front OF
the house, and reached there just as
the shooting was over. Just as he
reached the front Nick Parenti was
starting to come out Of the house, he
said. and he arrested the man.
Johnson died almost instantly aft
err the shooting. and the body was
taken to La Feria, where a Thompson
ambulance was summoned. and the
body taken 10 the Thompson Nor
tuary at Harlingen. II remained
there through Saturday, and Satur-
day night.
The officers made a hurried at
tempt TO head off TIE escaped nag
gler. but were unable 20 do so, and
they went to La Feria. taking the
LIQUOR with them. Four sacks of
liquor. including mescal, beer and
teouila, were seized. The two
horses were also seized
Dead Man Identified
The body Of the slain smuggler
was taken 10 La Feria. and attempts
made TO identify il. but none OF
the Mexicans Of the section knew,
or were willing to identify the man.
He was later identified as Ramon
Weaver. who lived on the bank of
the Rio Grande. on the American
side. Records in the offices of
county officials fail to show any
charges against him in the past.
A posse Of Officers assembled
quickly in La Feria. and long before
daybreak. BY the aid OF flashlights,
and at the risk Of ambush. a group
Of officers set out IN the trail OF
the escaped smuggler.
Luther Snow. sheriff of Willacy
county, and recognized rs an expert
at following a trail. was telephoned,
and arrived quickly, aiding in the
tracking. Dune Wright, chief depu-
" sheriff Of Cameron county, and
George Miller. deputy sheriff. ar
rived soon after the shooting, and
Wright took charge cf the investi-
cation. \
Many Officers In Hunt
Cage Johnson. lieutenant of po-
lice at Harrington, and a long time
friend of the slain officer. was one
Of the first to arrive on the scene
The border patrol officers work
ed during the remainder OF the
night and most Of the day Saturday.
p r. Gay. Jr-, in charge Of the bor-
der patrol force. and Patrolman Roy
and Ed Harrell. Joe and Jack Cot
tingham. Dutch" Schilt. Dave Fer
guson. and others Of the force were
on hand. and helped in the investi-
cation. Traffic Officer L. NJ. Chau-
coin Of the upper end of the county
was also in the party.
The posse followed the trail
straight 70 the Rio Grande. and u
a house where a man named Bartolo
Rosales Is said to live. There the
smuggler changed clothes and left.
Hold Two Others
The officers later said positively
that they know the escaped snug
gler, and they have notified Mexican
officers in the hope that the man
may be arrested. and turned Owe
70 officers on this side OF the Rio
Grande. 80
Iii addition to PARENT, the officers
brought in to La Feria shortly he
Tore noon three other men. One
OF them is Pablo Sanchez, charged
~ the officers with making the deal
with Parenti for tho LIQUOR. and GET
ting the two smugglers 10 deliver
IT, The other two are msn wba
we're picked I'D near The Rio Gran6e
ana who. according 70 officers. had
lGst crossed from tae other side.
Iney were being held for question:
,ng' In nopes that they knew some
tning OF n transactions that went
on before and after the Shooting
the whereabouts of the
smuggler who is being fought.
La feria Armed Camp
= entire posse Of Officers -
turned 70 La Fcria shortly hafora
noon Saturday. the city taking ~
mos the appearance Of an arm
ca camp. Every automobile bristIed
with guns. There was considerable
ieeiing both in La Feria and Har-
nngen' although none of il tool a
threatening turn, as Farenti and
ne otner men we're held there.
me Tour men were brought on
70 brownsville later in the day and
logged IN jail here. The BODY IL
me slain smuggler IL being held At
tEe Cara Funeral Home in Browns
vile.
horace Johnson was one of the
best known. and considered one OF
the most efficient officers in the