Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15
TOWN !
WITH MARTIAL LAW
Gov. Moody Of Texas Orders
Probe into Staying of
Berger Court Official.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BORoER, Tex, September IA
threat Of martial law hung over Berger
tonight ass Texas Rangers pushed an
investigation into the assassination tof
County Attorney John 4. Holmes. who
was shot and killed from, ambush as
he was about to enter his home last
night. -
Gov. Dan Moody, who appointed
Holmes to once . year ago; announced
at Austin that every effort would be
exerted to capture and execute the
SLAYER and he said martial law would
be declared IL his Investigators founo
conditions warranted such actions.
Capts. Prank Hamer and Tom Hick-
man and three other Texas Rangers
were ordered here by the governor VINO
also requested the district attorney at
Amarillo and Pampa to assist In run
ming down the killer.
THE naartiaI law threat recalled sew
eral other occasions in the brief and
tumuItuous history Of this mushroom
oil town when Texas Rangers nave
taken charge of affairs In a ruthless
campaign to stamp out murders, gen.
eral lawlessness and vice.
Ola Evidence Missing.
Discovery today that important evil
denee In 0 murder case, growing out
of the Staying Of two deputy sherlns
here in 1927, was missing gave In
yestiRators q clue which 1t was thought
might have an important bearing on
the assassination of Holmes.
1t was announced that a deathbed
statement made by Roy Harmon, who
was fatally wounded in an attempted
bank robbery at Wildorado, Tex. last
year. could not be located in Holmes
files.
In his statement. Harmon Is alleged
to have implicated William J. tWhitey)
walker, notorious bank roDoer, IN the
killing Of the deputy Sheriffs. Walker
is in Jail awaiting trial on charge OF
murder and Holmes had planned TO use
the statement in the trial.
John r. Suckley, law partner OF
Holmes. said he had learned that
Holmes was seen with the Harmon
statement several days ago. InveSti-
gators expressed the belief that the
county attorney, known rs fearless
prosecutor, may have been killed In an
effort to cover up the possible theft
CT the Harmon statement.
Personal and official files Of Holmes
were being examined in the hope that
they might disclose evidence pointing
to the slayer.
Retains Special Counsel.
Gov. Moody announced he would re-
tain special counsel to prosecute the
assassin, once he is arrested, Il shall
ask that he be given the death penalty
Texas juries still have one left the
governor said.
Holmes, the executive added, had
been 'fearlessly prosecuting the Grim
inalS who had been making life min
cradle for the good people Of the border
for some time"
Business men here started . cam
paign to raise 81 500 for the arrest and
conviction of the slayer. Gov. Moody
offered $500 reward and S250 was
posted by the Texas County and Dis
trict Attorneys Association.
Holmes was shot down as he emerged
from his garage after driving home. No
description OF the killer was, obtained.
The coroner's Investigation developed
little that was not already known and
Juatice of the Peace Walter Broomhall
returned q verdict tonight Of death from
gunshot wounds inflicted by persons
unknown.