Imperial Valley press., 1932-12-30
GRAzED NEGRO
SOLDIER STAYS
FOUR PERSONS
Army To Probe Ft. Huachuca
Tragedy Which Cost Lives OF
Two Captains And Wives.
MOTIVE FOR ACT MYSTERY
Slayer Shot By Another Soldier
When Provost Guard Attempts
To Capture Him.

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz., Dec.
80. W.P)-Military Investigations of
the Staying of two army captains
and their wives by crazed Negro
private who later was killed. was
started today by Lieut.. Col. M. c.
Thomlinson, commander of the
fort.
Thomlinson'S attempts to deter
mine a motive were blocked by
the death of the four white per-
sons and the Negro, Private James
Aberneathy.
The fort commander sought to
find a possible grievance the slay-
er might have held against
Captains Joseph Wesley and David
Palmer and their wives.
Disposition of the bodies was
halted pending word from rela-
tives. The war department at
Washington was requested to noti-
fly next of kin as no records were
available here. The five bodies
were taken to a Bisbee, Ariz., un-
dertakers establishment early to-
day.
Lieut.. Harvie Matthews of Cha
pei Hills, Tex, who was first re-
ported seriously wounded by bull
let's from Aberneathy's revolver,
was not in critical condition, army
surgeons reported. The bullet en-
tered Matthews leg, coursing up
wards to lodge in his stomach.
FORT HAUCHUCA, Ariz., Dec
80. W.P-The flag over this army
outpost fluttered at half staff to-
day as military funerals were pre-.
pared for two captains and their
wives who were shot down by a
Negro private, suddenly beserk.
The soldier, James A. Aberneathy,
was. killed by sentry after he
had wound up his murderous ram
page by seriously wounding a
guard officer.
The victims were Captain and
Mrs. Joseph R. Wesley and Cap
tain and Mrs. David A. Palmer,
killed instantly, and Lieut.. H. r.
Matthews, seriously wounded.
Col. r. S. Knox, commandant OF
the 25th infantry, headed an in
vestigation board of officers, seek
ing a motive behind the shootings
which rocked the garrison from its
usual lethargy late yesterday. The
Negro was afflicted with disease
which may have caused him to 90
suddenly insane over some fancied
grievance, they said. He recently
had asked for a transfer to the
Philippines.
The tragedy started when Wes-
sely drove up to the supply depot
and ordered Aberneathy, an at
tendant, to fill up his gasoline
tank.
without word of warning, the
Negro drew his revolver and fired.
AS the captain fell. mortally
wounded, the Ntgro leaped into
the car and sped to the officers
small cottage. Mrs. Wesley was
taking a siesta when the Negro
burst open the door and shot her
before she could rise.
Guards were being mobilized
when the insane murderer slipped
out of the house and made for
Palmer's house on foot. On the
way, he encountered another Off
Ger. He paused for moment, then
said:
''I'll let you live"
Children Overlooked
Before the surprised officer could
question him, Aberneathy dashed
to the home of Captain Palmer.
The officer was at vl,rk in his
garden when the Negro appeared
and without q moments hesitation
opened fire. Mrs. Palmer and her
two small children were inside the
house. The maddened trooper
forced his way in and felled the
woman with another bullet. The
children, cringing in another room,
apparently escaped the attention
of the gunman.
With the smoking revolver in his
hand, Aberneathy> paused on the
threshold as the provost guard, led
by Lieutenant Matthews, surround
ed the cottage.
The Negro glared wildly for a
moment at the detachment and
then fired point blank at Mat
thews. He started to flee and
wheeled about for a second shot
Just as Corporal Peter Hardly
dropped him with a bullet through
the heart.