Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-09
One ALLEGED
SMUCCLER IS
DEAD FIGHT
Horace Johnson, Dep
uty at Harlingen Is
Shot Dead; One Rum
Runner Escapes

w. Horace Johnson of Harlingen,
aged 20, Cameron county deputy
sheriff, was shot and instantly kill
ed. and an unidentified man. who
is known 70 reside on the Mexican
side Of the Rio Grande, was slain in
a gun battle that occurred two miles
south of La Feria at 1880 Saturday
morning.
Five men participated in the bat
tle-two liquor smugGlers, one on
whom was slain, and three officers,
the deputy sheriff and Border Pa
troll Officers Ramon L0ngoria 90
Harlingen and Roy Harrell Of Mer-
cedes.
One or the smugglers escaped on
a wounded horse. and posses ara
securing the brushlands for the fu-
gitive. The wounded animal was
found abandoned near the scene Of
the battle. The fugitive was identi-
fled by the officers and was trailed
TO his home near the Rio Grande.
where he changed his clothes and ia
believed to have escaped across the
Rio Grande.
Four sacks Of liquor, smuErled
across the Rio Grande, and two
horses we're captured by the Off
GERS.
The slain smuggler Is known to
reside on the south side Of the Rio
Grande a few miles south OF In
Feria. but his identity had not been
definitely established hy officers un
To noon Saturday.
Mexican customs officers dis
patched "a large force of mounted
men to search for the fugitive On the
Mexican side Of the Rio Grande. and
he will be brought to Matamoros If
captured.
-Four arrests were made by Off
GERS Saturday morning, including
the man who resided in the house
where the shooting occurred. an
other who is charged with being con-
nected with the smuggling gang and
~ alleged 70 have been thu receiver
OF the liquor, and two others who
were found near the Rio Grande and
were arrested upon suspicion.
Inc hariingen deputy had receive
cd information that a consipnment
OF liquor was 20 be smurrled across
the river below La Feria, and the
border patrol officers Joined him
in an effort ~ intercept it. As thev
approached the small house twn
miles south Of L. Feria where they
expected the smuEglers to bring
their cargo, Border Patrolman Lon
goria went to front Of the building
and johnson and Harrell o he rear.
They had been there but a few
moments when two horsemen an
peared. As they approached tha
mouse the officers stepped out ard
ordered them 70 surrender. johnson
seized the bride or one ~ the
horses, and as he did ~ the rider
shot h1m with q pistol. johnson
was shot three times, the first bull
let striking him in the arm. the se.-
ond through the chest and the third
through the heart. John was armed
with rifle. and fired Immediately
after the rider had fired the second
shot, killing the smuggler al the
latter fired the third time. John
son reeled back into the arms oFN
Harrell- who tried to bring his gun
INTO action while supporting the
slain dpeuty. The second smurrIer
wheeled his horse, the animal strik-
ing Harrell and forcing him against
the wall, but he did not drop the
body of Johnson. The rider was II
yards away when Harrell managed
TO open fire, wounding the horse,
which the rider abandoned a few
minutes later and escaped into the
i brush.
Longoria. at the front W the build
Continued on page twoJ