Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1929-08-01
COUNTRYSIDE COMBED
FOR MAN THOUGHT TO
Be SLAYER OF NETTLES
Two Shots Entered Elderly Mans Body; Wife
of Dead Negro Says They Fought Over Re-
vOlver and Shot Was Accidental; Absence
of Powder Burns Shows Distance.

On the suspicion that he mur-
dered Sam Nettles, whose dead
body lies at the Las Vegas Fu-
nera! Home pierced with two
bullet holes. Clarence L. Hodge
was being sought by officers
last evening.
Hodge, whose mother, Mrs.
Nettles, wife of the dead man,
asserts that the killing was ac-
cidentll, fled Immediately after
the shooting. Mrs. Nettles stated
10 the Age that she and Hodge
were trying to take the gun
from Nettles when the shooting
occurred
Two bullets from the 38-calibre re-
volver entered Nettles body it was
revealed at the autopsy held yester-
day afternoon at the Las Vegas
Funeral home, by Doctors 2. A
D'AmOurS, C. E. Bulette and Frazer
One OF these pierced his heart, it
was stated.
The first bullet entered the left
side of his chest, and ranged into
his back, while the second entered
his chest, piercing his heart
There were no powder marks on
the dead mans body. the autopsy
revealed, indicating the gun was not
close To Nettles' body when the
shots were fired.
NettleS was killed in his residence
in the presence of Mrs. Nettles and
his StepSon, Hodge, who Immediately
took flight in his Dodge car.
Nettles for four or five months
had been under the care Of Dr.
DAmourS because of cardiac as
thma, acute pericarditis and general
anasarca, doses of codine having
been used by the patient, according
to the doctors.
The taking of these relief doses
often was followed by his becoming
very abusive, according to Mrs
Nettles, who stated yesterday that
she had feared for some time that
he might get out his gun and do
some shooting. Accordingly, she
said, she had tried to keep the gun
hidden.
Just before the shooting, the two
men had been sitting in the eating
house conducted next door by Mrs
NettleS, and got into an argument,
according to Mrs. Nettles. They got
to threatening each other, it seems
and both made a run for the house,
Nettles going in the back way, and
Hodge in the front, followed by Mrs
Nettles.
Mrs. Nettles said the two men
Wrestled about the room in their
struggle for the gun, and that the
shots were accidental, occurring
during the struggle. The revolver
was left on the table after the shoot
ing, the two bullets missing.
Asked why Hodge had fled if it
was an accidental shooting, Mrs.
NettleS stated she guessed he was
scared, and that was why he left.
UnderSheriffs r. G.. McCubrey
and Tony Martiletti started at 4;20
p. m toward Salt Lake City in
search of Hodge, in the county'S
Buick car. having heard the fugi-
tive had fled in that direction.
City Police Chief Percy Nash and
Officer Fred Northern searched the
roadWays nearer Las Vegas for sew
eral hours.
Then, on a lead furnished by Of
ficer Joe May. a party of city Off
GERS started out for a point not far
from the city to which it is believed
he was likely to have gone The
city officers are working on the
theory that he did not go far, ano
will be found somewhere near Las
Vegas.
The corOner's inquest will bt
held at 10 a. m. today, at the La!
Vegas Funeral home, Judge Roger
Foley. eX-ofGicio coroner, AN.
nounced yesterday evening.
NettleS was 40 years old, and haC
lived in Las Vegas for about twelv,
years. Hodge, who is Nettles step
son, is the son of Mrs. Nettles by
former marriage. and lives with hi
wife i'll the house just south of tn
Nettles home He is 81 years of age
DR.. D'Amours arrived at the seen
Of the shooting at 1850 not lon