Tales from the Morgue

1966: Marine Captain Tells Morehead Students He’s Proud Of Them

January 12, 1966

Students of Mrs. Olivia Moe’s 7A reading class in Morehead Elementary School received a pleasant surprise upon their return to school after the Christmas holidays in the form of a letter from Marine Capt. Richard P. Capatosto in Viet Nam.

Mrs. Moe said that the captain is a friend of the father of one of her students and the class had decided to send a Christmas letter to him, telling him of their support of U.S. fighting men in Viet Nam and that they were proud of him as a U.S. representative. The class has been studying current events.

The letter from Capt. Capatosto a member of the 2nd Light AA Missile Battalion, H and S Battery, is dated Dec. 28, 1965. It says:

“Dear Students of the 7A Reading Class,

“When I received your warm and delicately expressive letter, I could not help but flush with pride at being a member of a family of Americans who care enough to express their patriotic beliefs and to comfort a Marine half way around the world with words of assurance concerning our common cause. I shall treasure your letter for the priceless gift that it is.

“As I reflect upon the tone of your words, my thoughts drifted back to my own school days and in particular to my sketchy recollection of ancient Greek history. There one can relive the tale of the greatest warrior of that time, Achilles. You will recall that Achilles, while being held by his heel, was bathed in sacred water, which was to protect him from all harm. And so it did for many battles. Achilles, however, was eventually killed by an arrow in the heel, the one place not covered by the protective ritual.

“I am sure you will agree that our America has also been blessed with a sacred cloak. This evidenced by the nature of our founding, by our heritage, and by the high status we enjoy among the nations of the world.

“The pessimists among us are quick to parallel our present state with that of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Roman Empire and the Babylonian Kingdom who were equally progressive and militarily unconquerable in their day. Each of these nations eventually declined, of course, and historians point to their pitiful display of unity, of that intangible inner strength required of true greatness, as their Achilles heel.

“Through letters like yours, I am thoroughly convinced that this weakness of other nations is the very cement that binds successive generations of Americans into a cohesive, united people.

“The Christophers have an expression which reads like this, ‘It is better to light just one little candle than to curse the darkness.’ There are a few who perceive our current efforts as a ‘corridor of darkness.’ I disagree and wish to thank you and the many like you, who have taken the time and effort to write us of your support. Each of these letters is a ‘light’ and collectively they comprise the torch that is held high by that ‘Great American Lady’ who stands so majestically in New York harbor; a symbol of our cause, our purpose.

“Keep up the good work. We are proud of you.”

1962: 15,000 Students Take Part In Physical Fitness Parade

November 21, 1962

Juarez youth paraded Tuesday in huge and impressive showing of the Mexican government’s physical fitness program in schools.

Some 15,000 students from the city’s 52 private, state and federal supported schools, took part in a 2 1/2 hours sports parade in observance of the 52nd anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. Similar parades were staged throughout Mexico as the country paid homage to its fallen revolutionary heroes.

Taking part in the parade were student sports units from the 3rd and 19th Federal School Zones, and 21 units from the 4th and 20th State School Districts.

Thousands of residents, enjoying the national holiday, thronged the line of march from Borunda Park to the municipal Palace and applauded all the smartly-dressed students and their sports contingents.

From the balcony of the Municipal Palace, Mayor Felix Alfonso Lugo, and Gen. Raynaldo Hijar Molina, Juarez military commander, reviewing the parade and applauded the marching school units.

However, attracting the attention of the crowd were the units from Escuela Secundaria y Preparatoria.

As part of their physical education program, students are trained in the art of self-defense.

A group dressed in dark sweat shirts and trousers with the word “commandos” stenciled on their shirts, gave realistic exhibitions of hand-to-hand combat.

Light gymnastics and calisthenics were performed along the route.

A fencing team halted occasionally to give the parade viewers a fencing exhibition.

Included in the group from the Juarez Technological School was a mixed team of ju-jitsu performers who gave exhibition on judo tricks. The boy and girl students were dressed in the regular Japanese kimono used in this sport.

Students from elementary schools, dressed on their respective school colors, staged rhythmical movements with dumbbells as they marched side by side.

Some formed human pyramids and others exercised on horizontal bars carried aboard a huge trailer.

The final unit in the parade 2was a float from the Juarez garrison, showing Mexican soldiers in field combat, and a rifle-squad from the 1st Infantry Battalion under the command of Maj. Noe Garcia Segura.

After the parade, Mayor Lugo was host at a luncheon to a group of Juarez Veterans of the Revolution. The day’s festivities ended with a literary musical program at the Teatro Seguro Social.

1909: Official Program For President Taft's Visit

October 16, 1909

The President train will arrive shortly after 8 o’clock this morning, and will be stopped at the St. Regis hotel, corner of Main and Oregon streets, where the party will detrain and proceed to a breakfast to be served at the St. Regis hotel.

Program at St. Regis – Members of the committee will meet the president’s train at Hotel St. Regis upon its arrival. The school children will be massed in San Jacinto plaza. The 19th infantry band, stationed at Fort Bliss, will occupy the band stand. It is requested that all members of committees will retire to their respective places of duty immediately after the president enters the hotel and not crowd the corridors of the hotel and assist in every way to keep others from doing so.

No person will be admitted to the breakfast to the president except invited guests and citizens holding admission cards.

At 11 o’clock the president will proceed in his carriage to receive the school children in San Jacinto plaza. The children will sing the American national anthem as the presidential party leaves Hotel St. Regis by way of Main Street to Mesa Avenue; to St. Louis Street; to the chamber of commerce building. At 10:35 a.m., a committee composed of the mayor of El Paso; at the same time the mayor of Juarez city and two councilmen will meet President Taft at Hotel St. Regis and extend to him the hospitality of Juarez.

Secretary of War to Meet Diaz – Shortly before 11 a.m. the secretary of war, accompanied by Brigadier General Meyer, with his staff, two squadrons of cavalry with the band and the three batteries of field artillery, shall proceed to the point where the president of Mexico, attended by his personal suite; an escort of twenty men, and a detachment of cavalry, will enter the territory of the United States. The secretary of war will drive in the carriage with the governor of Texas. The secretary of war will act as the personal representative of the president of the United States to receive President Diaz on the boundary as he descends from his carriage to enter the carriage which will convey him to President Taft. The governor of Texas, and his military staff, and the mayor of El Paso will likewise accompany the secretary of war to the boundary.

Governor to Extend Welcome –Upon the arrival of President Diaz at the place indicated, the secretary of war and the governor of Texas will proceed to President Diaz’s carriage and the secretary of war will shake hand with President Diaz and in the president’s name will extend an appropriate welcome. Thereupon the governor of Texas will extend a welcome in the name of the state of Texas, and the mayor will welcome the president in the name of the city of El Paso. The band will then play the Mexican national anthem. The secretary of war and the governor of Texas will escort President Diaz to the carriage awaiting his reception on the American side. As President Diaz steps into the carriage, the appropriate salute of twenty-one guns will be fired by the American batteries. The secretary of war will ride with President Diaz, sitting at his left; the personal aide to President Diaz will sit on the opposite side of the carriage.

The Mexican troops, which have escorted the president of Mexico as far as the boundary, will wait on the Mexican side the return of the presidential party.

The Diaz Escort – The escort will then proceed to conduct the president of Mexico to the president of the United States, in the following order:

Brigadier general and staff,

One squadron of cavalry,

President Diaz’s carriage

Carriage and personal escort of President Diaz

The governor of Texas and staff

One squadron of cavalry and the field artillery.

Lines of Travel – Proceeding north on Santa Fe street to Fifth street, east on Fifth street to South Seventh to San Antonio street, east to Campbell street, north to Myrtle avenue, west to Stanton street, north to Texas street, west to Mesa avenue, north to St. Louis street, and past San Jacinto plaza, where the school children will sing the Mexican national anthem and wave the flags of both nations as the president of Mexico passes San Jacinto plaza on his way to meet the president of the United States at the chamber of commerce building.

The infantry shall be drawn up in proper position near the chamber of commerce building, where the two presidents will meet, and will salute upon the arrival of the president of Mexico.

The aide of the president of the United States will meet the carriage containing the president of Mexico upon its arrival at the chamber of commerce building and will assist in conducting President Diaz to the president of the United States.

The secretary of war and the postmaster general will stand immediately behind the president of the United States.

Taft’s Welcome – President Taft will then welcome President Diaz informally in a few words and the president of Mexico will reply briefly. The whole character of the meeting and its keynote is to be the conspicuous yet informal celebration of the cordial relations existing between the two countries. The persons composing the respective suites will then be introduced. Light refreshments will be served.

Admission to the chamber of commerce building will be by card.

After having received the welcome of the president of the Unites States, the president of Mexico will withdraw, about 11:30 a.m. in the same manner in which he arrived, returning to Juarez by way of South El Paso Street, and receiving the same salutes as he received when he first crossed the border.

Taft to Juarez – At 12 o’clock noon the president of the United States will go over to Juarez City, where he will be received in a building to be named by the president of Mexico. On the occasion of this call the president of the United States will be escorted to the border by the same troops that escorted the president of Mexico to El Paso, and in the same order, attended by an escort of 20 men and a detachment of cavalry, over the same route taken by President Diaz upon his return to Mexico.

The governor of Texas and the president’s aide will ride in the president’s carriage as far as the border. The secretary of war and the postmaster general will follow in carriages immediately behind that of the president, and other carriages in appropriate order will contain the other invited guests.

Program Repeated – Upon the arrival at the border, the president will be welcomed by a personal representative of the president of Mexico. The president will descend from his carriage, and, accompanied by his aide and the personal representative of the president of Mexico will proceed, surrounded by the Mexican escort, to the building set aside for the reception. The governor of Texas will ride from the border to Juarez City in one of the carriages of the invited guests and will leave his military staff on the American side.

Having also descended from their carriages, the invited guests will enter the Mexican carriages allotted to them and will follow the carriage of the president of the United States.

The ceremonies and procedure of the meeting of the two presidents will be the same as during the previous meeting at El Paso.

Soldiers Not to Cross Line – The American military escort of the president of the United States will remain on the American side of the boundary and will escort the president, upon his return, leading the military and civic parade as follows:

Course of Parade – From Santa Fe street bridge on South Santa Fe street, east on Fifth to South El Paso street, north on South El Paso street to San Antonio street, east on San Antonio street to Campbell street, north on Campbell street to Myrtle avenue, west on myrtle avenue to Stanton street, north on Stanton street to Mesa avenue, north on Mesa avenue to St. Louis street, west on St. Louis street to Oregon street, north on Oregon street to Franklin street, west on Franklin street to El Paso street, passing by the reviewing stand at the entrance to Cleveland square. After reviewing the parade, President Taft will be escorted to the speakers stand and introduced by Mayor Joseph U. Sweeney. Address by the president. Presidential party will take carriages on Santa Fe street, going south on Santa Fe street to San Francisco street, east on San Francisco street to the Sheldon hotel.

No one admitted to speakers stand except by card.

Military escort to meet President Taft at Sheldon hotel at 5:30 p.m. and escort him to Juarez City via south El Paso street over the Santa Fe bridge, and he will be received in the same manner upon his return to the United States.

The presidential party will leave El Paso at 8 p.m.

1962: Alfonso Diaz Takes Derby Honors Over Field Of 63

July 16, 1962

In a pulse-quickening climax to an afternoon of thrills and spills, 13-year-old Alfonso Diaz, of 5725 El Nido Court, rode his lucky No. 11 Soap Box Derby entry to victory Sunday over a field of 63 cars.

Young Diaz’ riding skill earned him a $500 Savings Bond, a winner’s plaque and a trip to Akron, Ohio, where he will compete Aug. 4 in the 25th annual All-American Soap Box Derby. He was sponsored by the White House sporting goods department.

Diaz defeated the Class B – for boys 11 to 13 – champion, 11-year-old Joe Chitwood, of 3125 Hamilton St., in the final event – a neck-and-neck event to the finish wire. Diaz’ racer was clocked at 37.4 or 26.9 m.p.h. Chitwood was sponsored by Whitfield Transportation Co.

El Paso’s new Soap Box Derby Champion also picked up honors for the fastest race – running the course in a whizzing 36.4 seconds in close finish in the Class A, for boys 14 and 15, semi-finals with 15-year-old Danny Chitwood – Class B champion Joe Chitwood’s brother.

Running second in the Class A race was Gaylor Reeves, 13, of 1208 Howze St., sponsored by El Paso Natural Gas Co. Second in the Class B event was Jimmie Stroud, 11, of 4505 Clifton Ave., in a car sponsored by Gibson Fixtures and Plastics.

About everything that could happen in a race of this type did happen at one time or another, before a crowd estimated at 6,000.

Gary Cummings, 11, of 4223 Kemp Ave., won his race in the first round but smashed his car when his brakes failed and could not continue. Another car hit an unidentified spectator. Several others rammed into bales of hay placed back of the finish line but were able to continue until eliminated.

There was one dead heat. Cleve Voiers of Deming, N.M., and Kelley Webb of 1811 N. Mesa Ave. ran a tie in 37.6 seconds in the first heat of the Class A events. Webb eliminated Voiers in the runoff, then won the third round and finally lost to Reeves in the quarter-finals.

Cars in lane No. 2 seemed far and away the luckiest in winning, a point that brought about some protests from the losers. Some claimed the race was won or lost in the drawing at the starting line that determined the post position.

It was El Paso’s first Soap Box Derby since 1957. It was cosponsored this year by the El Paso Optimist Clubs, Lone star Motor Col, Rudolph Chevrolet and the Newspaper Printing Corp.

1927: Girls Throw Hero Kisses

September 25, 1927

Flowers Also Are Tossed At Car, and Throngs Shout Greetings.

__

Pelted with flower, recipient of honeyed phrases and adoring feminine glances, Col. Charles Lindbergh made a triumphal entry into El Paso yesterday afternoon. For real down-right effusiveness, it is doubtful if any other place the colonel has visited surpassed El Paso’s demonstration in his honor.

Young, lovely matrons, noted for their spirit of reserve, melted to the extent of enthusiastically exclaiming; “Isn’t he a darling? Isn’t he adorable? I do not blame other girls for wishing to kiss him. I would like to kiss him myself. He is wonderful!”

If the expression, “he looks exactly like his picture,” was heard once, it was heard thousands of times.

One man, standing along the route, perhaps voiced the most original sentiment. “He is more ‘extraordinarier’ than I am,” he said, but just exactly what he meant was not figured out by a member of the reception committee who overheard the remark.

“Oh, he saw me,” cried an excited, pleased woman, who was holding up a small son so that he could see the colonel, “and he saluted Billy.” That must have been the name of the boy.

El Paso was tensely excited over the colonel’s visit, excited and somewhat awed. The latter, perhaps, explained the reason why there was not more cheering and applause. It was overwhelmed by the boy who is a world idol. This is the way one man accounted for what he thought was a lack of a noisier demonstration.

There were some men who apparently were so excited by seeing the colonel that they forgot the ordinary way of clapping the hands together to make applause. These stood transfixed, pounding one fist into the palm of the other hand. There wasn’t a sound.

An impressive touch to the occasion were the orderlies stationed at specific intervals on the grounds of the William Beaumont hospital. These stood at attention as the car, Bearing Col. Lindbergh, approached and when it was opposite, the orderly executed a proper and smart military salute. Riding in the parade, the Colonel did not return the salute. However, he has a salute all his own, which he applied in response to the cheers and applause of those along the route. It seemed somewhat mechanical, a methodical raising of the right hand to the forehead. He looked straight ahead while doing this.

“He doesn’t pay any attention to anybody,” were the complaints of a number.

While the sight of the colonel brought joy to many, entirely missing him was the source of many plaintive mournings.

“I didn’t see him at all,” wailed more than one young miss.

“Bless his heart,” said a woman, “he sits up so everybody can see him.”

This was when Col. Lindbergh moved from between Mayor Thomason and Capt. Emilio Carranza, and sat on the top of the rear seat.

One little girl on Montana wasn’t going to be disappointed by not seeing the colonel. She came out on a pair of high stilts. A boy, in a home made airplane, sat gazing adoringly at the greatest aviator of them all.

Three boys on bicycles sped along Montana street near the colonel’s car and their joy was complete. A motorcycle cop turned back and spoiled things for them by making them get out of the line.

“Hello, Slim,” “hey, Charles,” were frequent salutations on the part of boys.

There was only one place along the parade route where there was a shower of confetti. This occurred shortly after the turn was made on South Stanton street on the way to Seventh.

1943: Billy The Kid Killed 62 Years Ago

July 28, 1943

Billy The Kid Killed 62 Years Ago

1881 Newspaper Story Describes Outlaw’s Slaying

Editor’s Note: Sixty-two years ago a bullet ended the career of Billy the Kid, notorious outlaw of the Southwest: The Rio Grande Republican, in its July 23, 1881 issue, reported the slaying and reviewed the outlaw’s life. The following article including the headline, taken from the Rio Grande Republican, was arranged by Mrs. L. A. Cardwell, of Las Cruces, N.M.

“Kid, The Killer Killed”

“William Bonny, alias Antrim, alias, Billy the Kid, fatally meets Pat Garrett, the Lincoln County Sheriff.

The death of the young desperado known as “Billy the Kid,” who succumbed to the fatal bullet of Sheriff Pat Garrett, of Lincoln County, on Friday night of last week, is the subject of great rejoicing throughout the entire territory, and many are the persons who had incurred his displeasures who will rest much easier with him below than above the ground.

Since he entered the killing business two years ago, the Kid has been a terror to honest, law-loving people, and hence the general feeling of satisfaction at his decease and deep-seated gratitude to the man who marked him for burial.

“Sheriff Garrett and his tow assistants, when they started for Fort Sumner in pursuance of this official duty, took their lives into their hands. It was a death game they proposed to play, with the chances strictly even, but there was no shirking of the task nor flinching from the duty which Mr. Garrett felt rested upon him to accomplish this end.

REPORTS TOWNS MOVED TO ENLARGE REWARD – “It is not to be supposed that the paltry $500 reward offered for the Kid’s life or capture could have been of much influence in instigating Sheriff Garrett to the deed of bravery and we are bound to give credit to his conscientious duty as an officer, but yet it is not to be supposed that the reward offered nor any other substantial testimonial of gratitude will come amiss to him.

The people certainly owe him much, and nearly every town in the territory is moving to show a cash appreciation of its gratitude. All are equally interested and every place should come up with its mite. Mr. Garrett states that it is his intention to resign his office now that he has the burden of this duty off his hands. His retirement will be a loss to Lincoln County. He has, however, achieved a fame which will be undying, and all will wish him all possible success in whatever new undertaking he may engage.

“Meager news of the ended career of the noted young desperado mentioned above was brought to Las Cruces by Dave Woods, who came in from Silver City on Tuesday. However, although the story was not generally credited, the public mind was prepared for the verification of the rumor which came in the New Mexican, from Santa Fe, and the Optic, of Las Vegas, on the next train. From these papers particulars below are gathered:

“Ever since the lad’s murder of and the escape from the guars at Lincoln, two months ago, Sheriff Garrett has kept the work of his recapture constantly in view and has made everything work together to this end. Without acting hastily he has worked energetically for the accomplishment of his object. The task was fraught with the greatest danger and he appreciated it fully.

SHERIFF STARTED MISSION WITH TOW ASSISTANTS – From a letter from Mr. Brazil received by the sheriff, the first definite news was gained that the Kid was at Fort Sumner, San Miguel County, about 120 miles north of Stanton. Immediately upon receipt of the letter, he set out for that place taking with him John W. Poe and T. L. McKinney. They rode into Sumner Friday night and ascertained that Billy the Kid was stopping at the house of a Mexican friend named Juan Chavez. Not deeming it best to swoop down upon him as he was undoubtedly on the alert for danger, the sheriff and his assistants preceded to the house of Pete Maxwell, where Pat at mid-sight entered, leaving his companions at the door, and in a low tone of voice asked Pete if Billy the Kid was on his premises.

He was told that he was not – but not far off. The conversation between the two men had not lasted two minutes when a man in his stocking feet, heavily armed and with a stealthy step, pushed the open door noise-lessly aside and entered.

“Maxwell took in the situation at a glance and whispered in hardly audible tones, “That’s him.” Pat knew what that meant, but had no time to prepare himself for action so he dropped behind the head of the bed and remained in a crouching position until the outlaw approached the bed on which Maxwell was reclining. Kid apparently alarmed at having seen the two men outside for he asked hurriedly of Maxwell. “Who are they?” and repeated the question quickly. Maxwell made no reply, and the Kid then caught sight of Garrett. He did not apparently recognize the man but pointed his revolver at him and asked “Who is it?”

“Garrett had not had time to draw his revolver, and finding it had reached a point at which caution or delay would prove fatal, reached around and got it. The Kid started back, but for some reason or other did not fire. Perhaps this was because he had no idea that Garrett was in that part of the country and suspected no harm. Whatever his reason was his delay proved fatal. With his desperate enemy’s weapon aimed full at his breast at a distance of a few feet, Pat Garrett, with his quickness and precision for which he is famed, pulled down on the Kid and fired. The bullet pierced the heart and in a moment, without the utterance of a word, death ensued. The sheriff fired a second shot before he had time to see the effect of the first one, but in the excitement he missed his mark.

TEXT OF SHERIFF’S REPORT TO GOVERNOR – “Below is given Sheriff Garrett’s report made to Acting Governor Rich, which contains also the verdict of the coroner:

“Fort Sumner, New Mexico, July 15, 1881.

“To His Excellency, the Governor of New Mexico:

“I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I had received several communications from persons in and about Fort Sumner that William Bonney, alias the Kid, had been there, or in that vicinity for sometime.

“In view of these reports, I deemed it my duty to go there and ascertain whether there was any truth in them or not, all the time doubting the accuracy; but on Monday, July 11 I left home taking with me John W. Poe and T.L McKinney, men in whose courage and sagacity I relied implicitly, and just below Fort Sumner, on Wednesday, 13th, I remained concealed near the houses until night, and then entered the fort about midnight, and went to Mr. P. Maxwell’s room. I found him in bed, and had just commenced talking to him about the object of my visit at such an unusual hour, when a man entered the room in stocking feet, with a pistol in one hand and a knife in the other.

“He came and placed his hand on the bed just beside me, and in a low whisper said “Who is it?” and repeated the question he asked of Mr. Maxwell.

“I at once recognized the man and knew he was the Kid, and reached behind me for my pistol, feeling almost certain of receiving a ball from him at the moment of doing so, as I felt sure he had now recognized me, but fortunately he drew back from the bed at noticing my movement, and, although he had his pistol pointing at my breast, he delayed to fire and asked in Spanish, “Quien es? Quien es?”

“This gave me time to bear on him and the moment I did so I pulled the trigger and he received the death wound, for the ball struck him in the left breast and pierced his heart. He never spoke, but died in a minute. It was my desire to have been able to take him alive, but his coming upon me so suddenly and unexpectedly leads me to believe that he had seen me enter the room, or had informed by someone of the fact; and that he came there armed with pistol and knife expressly to kill me if he could. Under that impression, I had no alternative but o kill him or suffer death at his hands.

“I herewith annex a copy of the verdict rendered by the jury called in by the justice of the peace (ex-officio coroner) the original of which is in the hands of the prosecuting attorney of the First Judicial District.”

(The verdict is given in Spanish in Garrett’s report, and upon being translated, is as follows :)

“We the jury, unanimously say that William Bonny came to his death from a wound in the breast in the region of the heart, fired from a pistol in the hand of Pat F. Garrett, and our decision is that the action of the said Pat Garrett was justifiable homicide; and are united in the opinion that the gratitude of all the community is due to said

Garrett for his action and that he deserves to be compensated.(Signed) M. Rudolph, foreman: Antonio Saavedra, Pedro Antonio Lucero, Jose Silva, Sabal Gutierrez, Lorenzo Jaramillo.

“I am governor, very respectfully your excellency’s obedient servant Pat. F. Garrett, sheriff of Lincoln County.”

“The Kid lingered at Fort Sumner, it is claimed, because of a mutual regard existing between himself and a sister of Pete Maxwell, and also for the reason that being among friends he felt safer there than anywhere else. He was allowing his hair and beard to grow and was putting his skin through a coloring process which he fondly hoped would so completely Mexicanize him as to give him a thorough disguise. Had he been left alone there is no telling what kind of an awakening he might have given the people when his plans had matured.

MOVED TO NEW MEXICO FROM NEW YORK STATE – “The Kid was born in New York state and his true name was McCarthy. His mother and stepfather came to Silver City when he was quite young, however, and it was there that he was best known in his youthful days of innocence. His career of crime began some three years ago and since that has so improved his time that he bragged of having killed a man for each year of his age. He was 23 years old. He assisted in murdering Sheriff Brady and Deputy Sheriff Hindman, of Lincoln; killed Burnstein, clerk at the Mescalero Apache Agency, and Al Roberts, who was living at the agency: killed Robert Beckwith and Charles Crawford at Lincoln, July, ’78; William Morrow, Frank Baker and McCloskey, at Blue Water, Capitan Mountains, March, ’78; a half-breed Indian, John Farris, and Grant at Fort Sumner; a blacksmith at Camp Apache, and finally killed Bob Olinger and J.W. Bell at Lincoln County Jail while escaping last time.

These comprise all who are positively known to have been his victims, but here are probably others whom nobody knows of. With the exception of the last two, there was none of the extenuating circumstances attending the crimes of this youth which generally invites misguided sympathy to most noted outlaws. He followed the shooting business as he might have done a more honorable calling, for the money there was in it, and he would contract to kill men at any time for so much a head. His best friend and worst enemy were alike to him when his price was offered. As a consequence there are few who will mourn his loss or who feel incumbent upon them to avenge his death.

In the cemetery at Fort Sumner were laid the remains of the young outlaw with only a simple slab marked ‘Billy the Kid,’ to designate the spot.

1965: Gen. Hobart Gay, Patton’s Chief of Staff, Fought in 12 Campaigns

April 4, 1965

Blinded in his right eye in a 1922 polo match at Ft. Bliss, Lt. Gen Hobart R. Gay (ret) bluffed Army physicians for 33 years to become one of America’s outstanding World War II and Korean Conflict generals.

The eye appears normal and its movements are perfectly coordinated with his good left eye. Retired and residing at 4128 O”Keefe Ave., the general is a trim robust man, about 71 years old. He is an avid golfer and prolific reader.

Gen Gay made his place in the annals of military history by serving as the late Gen. George S. Patton Jr’s chief of staff and chief strategist throughout World War II. He was with Gen. Patton when the famed commander was accidentally killed in 1945.

During the Korean Conflict, Gen. Gay commanded the Army’s 1st cavalry Division which pushed the North Koreans to the Yalu River, and took the brunt of the human tide which Red China then sent into the war.

The general served eight years as superintendent of New Mexico Military Institute. Roswell, N. M., after retiring from the Army Aug 1, 1963.

Gen Gay was born May 16 1894, on a farm south of Quincy Ill., where he graduated from high school. He attended Knox College, Galesburg, Ill.

“When World War 1 broke out I was a senior. A group of us decided to enlist in the Army” he said.

Upon completing OCS at Ft. Sheridan, Ill., he was commissioned as a Cavalry lieutenant.

“I had never seen a McClellan saddle, “he said.

He was sent to Hatchita, N. M. for his first assignment to serve with the 12 Cavalry Regiment.

“I stayed there on the border,” he said. Until I got orders to report to Ft Bliss in December, 1917.

“My heart was broken – I did not know what I had done to get shanghaied away from my outfit.”

He reported to Col. Tommy Tompkins of the 7th Cavalry who said to Gay, “You are rather small – do you know why you are here?”

Played Ball

“No sir,” Gay replied, but he soon found out. A former Knox College halfback, he played on the Ft. Bliss football team coached by the late Gen. Bob Neyland who later coached at the University of Tennessee. “I was never much of a football player, but I became a reasonably good polo player,” he said. He remained at Ft. Bliss throughout World War I until 1923 when he was sent to Cavalry School at Ft. Riley Ken., where he stayed until 1929 when he began moving around Ft. Reno, Okla.; Philadelphia; Panama Canal Zone, and Ft. Meyer, Va.

At Ft. Meyer he served under Patton, then commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment.

In 1940 Patton had gone to Ft. Benning, Ga., and Gay to Washington for more schooling. Patton, commander of the 2nd Armored Division at Ft. Benning, sent telegrams to four officers who had served under him in the 3rd Cavalry at Ft. Meyer, asking them to join him in the 2nd armored command.

“One answered, yes and the other three asked what kind of job – so I (the one) went to Ft. Benning,” Gay said.

The 2nd Armored Division began training near Indio, Calif. In 1942 for action in the pacific – it became the 1st Armored Division. On July 31, Patton and Gay were called to Washington by a Pentagon Official., whose name they forgot and had to spend the day looking for him. He informed them they would make an amphibious landing along the Mediterranean.

“I do not think any of us had ever seen a landing craft in our lives,” Gay declared.

“This was the start of the invasion of Morocco, Nov. 8-11, 1942, by the Western Task Force commanded by Patton – we were fighting the French mostly.”

After the occupation of Morocco and assistance to Field Marshal Montgomery in Tunisia, Patton and Gay returned to Casablanca to plan and command the invasion of Sicily. In January, 1943, the Anfa Conference, attended by the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt and late Prime Minister Winston Churchill, plus Patton, then Col. Gay other U.S, military officials. British Military officials and Gens. Charles De Gaulle and Henri Giraud of the French Forces, was held near Casablanca.

At this conference Churchill argued for the invasion of the “soft underbelly of Europe” the Balkans rather than through France, and to allow the Russians and Germans to fight it out to deplete each other’s men and supplies. The Americans argued against this and made the decision to attack at Normandy Beach.

INVASION BEGAN

On Aug. 10, 1943 the invasion of Sicily – a 37 day bitter campaign – began, and Patton’s Western Task Force “became the 7th Army at one minute after midnight,” Gay said.

After Sicily the 7th Army was moved to England where it was redesignated the 3rd Army. The 3rd moved into France after the Normandy invasion and was headquartered at Nancy, France “when the Bulge broke.” On the morning of Dec. 16, 1944 a concentration of Germans just northwest of headquarters had gone on the radio silence. Patton told Gay to draw plans to move their troops to the east and then to the north.

Despite Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower’s overruling them. “Patton’s staff felt and recommended strongly letting the Germans go about 100 miles into France, so the 3rd could go in behind them and kill them all.” Gay recalled. “I think it would have ended the war right there.” Gay declared.

After the Battle of the Bulge the 3rd Army moved rapidly to the east.

In April 1945, while Gen Omar Bradley were visiting the 3rd Army headquarters, near Frankfort, Germany. “Patton asked Eisenhower: why don’t we take Berlin?

Ike replied “we cannot do it” Patton the asked “What the hell is stopping us? I can take it tomorrow.

Eisenhower than retorted “Well then who the hell would want it.” I think history will answered that.” Patton replied.

The 3rd then moved south to the “Redoubt Area- Southern Germany and northern Austria,” and turned east into Czechoslovakia. The 3rd moved back to the Radlotz, Germany, and white Gay was on vacation in the United States, Patton was accused of being pro Nazi- he and is staff were sent to the 15th Army at Badnaugheim, Germany.

WENT SHOOTING

In December 1945, when Patton was planning to return to America to resign because of the controversy, “on a Sunday Gen. Paul D. Harkins and I persuaded him (Patton) to go pheasant shooting.”

The three Generals were traveling through the country in a limousine, with a jeep escort driving ahead of them.

“Coming down the road towards us was a 2 ½ ton U.S. Army truck – the truck turned across the road right in front of us and we had a slight crash. Patton went forward hitting his head against the glass partition in the limousine. It broke his neck and he died 10 days later.”

Gay commanded the last Armored Division and one of three brigades of the Constabulary of German (occupation forces) before returning to this country in December, 1947 to command the General Military District of Washington which included “the unenviable job of running the presidential inaugural parade in 1947 for President Harry Truman- I had no authority and no one obeyed me.”

In August 1949 I was ordered to Japan to command the 1st Cavalry Division - where I expected to spend a quite two and one half, or three years, but in July 1950 we were moved to Korea,” he said.

“There I saw the bitterest fighting that I had seen in my entire career!”

His forces were pushed back in the Taegu Perimeter and caught behind the enemy lines after pushing forward again. The 1st Cavalry then “fought a running battle all night, until after noon to reach Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s forces who had made the Inchon landing near Seoul – more than 100 miles from where we started.

With the first Marine Division and the 7th Infantry Division, Gen. Gay took his forces to make a landing on the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, after which they took the North Korean capital city of Pyongyang for the first time.

Gen. Gay was ordered home in April, 1951. He served at Ft. Sam Houston, Tex.; Camp Atterburg, Ind.; Ft. MacArthur, Calif.; Ft. Hood, Tex., and the place he took OCS training, Ft Sheridan, Ill. – “The only post I ever served at twice as a private and once as an Army commander.”

Gen Gay married Dec. 15, 1921 the former Alzina Orndorff, a native El Pasoan whom he met while serving at Ft. Bliss. Their daughter Alzina is married to W. D. McNaughton, publisher of the Pekin, Ill. Times and head of the McNaughton newspaper chain. They have four grandchildren. Their son, Air Force Capt. Hobart R. Gay Jr., a West Point graduate, was killed in a 1952 jet crash.

On his Army career – 12 campaigns bringing him dozens of citations from the United States and eight foreign countries – Gay commented, “I think I was very lucky.”

Why? “I never overestimated my own ability.”

1918: Financiers Plan While Remainder OF Town Celebrates Peace Armistice

November 12, 1918

Many Unusual Scenes Enacted During Evening Wind-Up of Peace Festivities.

Girls Set Pace in Maddest Revelry El Paso Has Ever Known.

While the city yesterday was just warming up for the grand demonstration at night that brought to an end 24 hours of mad celebration of the signing of the peace armistice, bankers and business men of El Paso were giving serious thought in planning the part that will be taken by the border metropolis in reconstruction work. Hack of the celebration there was a serious aide, which was realized by the heads that remained cool. In all probability commercial interest throughout the southwest will begin to pick up now that the world is thinking of peace. Then, the trade situation with Mexico is not to be passed over lightly in these early days of reassembling broken bits of business.

GREAT RELIEF – There was another picture yesterday that was as impressive as the financial view. Women war workers, who have been tireless in their efforts, were able to cry a bit in relief.

“It is wonderful to feel that the war is over,” said one.

Drunk with excitement, women and girls set the pace in the maddest revelry El Paso has known. Motor trucks and automobiles became triumphal chariots where disheveled girls rode astride the radiators and on top of the folded tops, regardless of reckless display of silken hosiery, or clung in clusters to the necks of drivers to keep from falling off while they sounded their wild bean of victory over Germany.

CLOSED FOR DAY – It was not alone a peace celebration. It was a celebration of victory over Germany. It was “To hell with autocracy” everywhere.

“We have the Kaiser,” was a favorite sign on dummies seen on many cars.

“Closed for the day, To hell with Germany.” was the sign that appeared in one store window. The stores had to close. The workers had left to celebrate. No one thought of buying anything but noisemakers.

One soft drink place was the scene of wild revelry. Men waved near beer bottles over their heads and smashed them on the bar, while the fearful owner pleaded for moderation.

GENERAL HOLIDAY – City, county and federal officials declared yesterday a holiday, and almost every office in the court house and city hall was closed. The flags of the allies flew from the city hall, and the Elks’ club was decorated in the same manner.

Judge W. D. Howe, in the Thirty-fourth district court, early yesterday morning issued a statement, releasing the jurors in that court for the day and calling them to convene at 9:30 o’clock this morning.

Upon order of the county school superintendent the schools of the county remained closed throughout the day. City schools were closed for the day. Work will be resumed today. At the School of Mines work also will be resumed today.

1943: Need Referee For Mat Tilt

December 3, 1943

Hazard Of Working In Reno-Hallas Melee Makes Job Unattractive

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Wanted: A referee for Tuesday night’s mat main event at Liberty hall. Should weigh about 200 pounds, know wrestling and fighting and have plenty of intestinal fortitude. Man meeting qualifications should apply to El Paso Wrestling association. Good pay.

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From all indications, the El Paso Wrestling association is going to have to resort to the Want Ad columns with an advertisement similar to that above before it finds a referee for the bill Hallas – Joe Reno match Tuesday night.

Promoter John McIntosh last night was casting about trying to find someone capable of filling the bill and referees are very scarce, despite the depression.

In this particular instance, however, the hazard sand not the work is keeping referees away because mat fans who have seen Hallas and Reno in action are confident that everything from mayhem to murder may be committed in the hemped circle before an opponent for Welterweight Champion Jack Reynolds is determined.

Tourny Ends

The Hallas-Reno mat will wind up the welterweight tournament which has brought some fine wrestling to El Paso during the past month. Strangely enough, two of the roughest welters in the game have survived to reach the semi-finals and anything that happens will not come unexpected.

To make the cars what promises to set a record for all-time roughness, Joe Parelli, the Walloping Wop from Dallas, tangles with Jack Weller, El Paso’s favorite middleweight, in a one-fall semi-final.

Francisco Aguayo, Mexican light heavyweight, has agreed to referee the semi-final, McIntosh said, but the problem of a referee for the main event is worrying the dapper Scotch promoter.

In a special event, Mysterious Jack Carson and Tommy Rascon will meet in a mixed match, jiu jitsu and catch-as-catch-can, to a finish.

1923: Pancho Villa, Who Lived by the Pistol and Died by it, Passes Into Mexico History

July 21, 1923

By NORMAN WALKER

PANCHO VILLA, the Robin Hood of Mexico, was a strange combination of horse sense and impulsiveness which made him one of the most unique characters Mexico ever produced. A mountain man whit an ability to ride, shoot and swear, Villa learned his military strategy in the hard school of experience when little more than a boy in the Sierra Madres of western Chihuahua. The story of why Villa turned bandit has many variations. The accepted one is that he sought to avenge a wrong done his sister by an officer high in the ranks of the Diaz federal army. Killing the officer, Villa was pursued into the mountain district of western Chihuahua, where he lived the life of a bandit until Madero started his revolution in 1910, when villa came down with a few followers and joined the little leader from Monterey who upset the old order of things in Mexico and started that county on its ten years of revolution and bloodshed.

Appears at El Paso

Villa first appeared on the El Paso border early in 1911, when Madero showed up opposite the smelter. At that time he was a colonel and attracted no more attention than did Rauol Madero, Garibaldi, Roque Gonzalez Garza, Eduardo Hay and the other Madero leaders. Villa was a colonel in the Madero revolutionary army and had a command of his former mountain men in camp near the old acequia madre on the Mexican side of the river. Villa attracted a little local fame to himself by shooting a deserter who attempted to swim the river and escape and by threatening to kill Garibaldi, commander of the foreign legion, in the Hotel Sheldon lobby. C.E. (Henry) Kelly, then mayor, persuaded Villa to surrender his pistol and prevented a killing in Madero’s staff. Villa took part in the battle of Juarez May 8, 9 and 10, 1911, and was given a major portion of the credit for capturing the town, as he led the hardest fighting in the vicinity of the monument during the three days battle.

Loyal to Madero

With all his faults, Villa remained loyal to Madero to the end. There was a strange attachment between the under-sized provisional president and the big, broad shouldered mountain man who was one of the bravest fighters. Villa prevented a mutiny among Madero’s forces in Juarez after the capture of that won in 1911 by declaring he would attack the mutineers led by Pascual Orozco. After Madero pardoned Villa and permitted him to escape from the penitentiary in Mexico City, this attachment became almost an obsession with Villa. It took the form of a hatred for the “red flaggers” who made up Orozco’s revolutionary forces opposing Madero’s army. He killed all the prisoners he took, placed a premium on Orozco’s head and always was bitter in his denunciation of those leaders as “traitors and cowards.”

When Madero was killed in Mexico, Villa, who was in El Paso at the time, after having been liberated from prison in Mexico City, gain took the field with a few men, five mules and two sacks of flour. He crossed between El Paso and Columbus, N.M., went to the Palomas country of western Chihuahua, where he organized a force and made his first stand at San Andreas, Chih.

Broke and Discouraged

A story that Villa told at the time was generally accepted by his friends. After he reached El Paso from Mexico City and was staying at the old Hotel Mexico on South El Paso street, broke and discouraged, he said he was going to quit fighting and was trying to get a job as section foreman on the Southern Pacific railroad. He said his wife, Luz Corral de Villa, was about to become a mother and he wished to bring her to the United States, take her with him to Arizona or California and settle down to the quiet life of a family man. When the news of Madero’s death reached him, he sent out a rallying cry to his men, then living on the border; crossed the line and started a movement which finally resulted in the overthrow of the Huerta government.

Villa’s character was a peculiar complex. All the stories told of his lust were mostly imaginary. Villa’s greatest weakness was his uncontrollable temper. From a sane man, laughing and joking with his friends, Villa could turn into a maniac at a moment’s notice. His eyes would become blood-shot, he would pitch his voice several tones higher and he would pull his pistol and fire at the slightest provocation. All of the bloody deeds attributed to him were directly traceable to his temper, and Villa often admitted his weakness when talking of his career.

Friend of the Poor

Villa was a friend of the poor. He distributed many thousands of dollars to the poor people of the country over which he ruled like an emperor. When he captured a town, he would open up some of the stores, give the poor people permission to help themselves and would often issue food and clothing to the poor who constantly besieged him at his headquarters for aid. At one time he kept a number of the orphan sons of his former commanders in school and one of the first things he did at Canutillo after taking possession of the ranch which the Mexican government purchased for him was to set up a school house and invite all of the children of his former followers to attend school.

Personally Villa was sloppy in dress, rarely wearing a uniform and then only under protest. He proffered an old, sun faded khaki shirt, a pair of hand-me-down trousers which puckered around his ankles, high-toed tan shoes and a Stetson hat, almost snow white in color. He never wore a white collar and seldom wore a tie. He said they choked him and hurt his neck. When he made a contract with a moving picture company to film some pictures on a fifty-fifty basis, one of the stipulations was that he was to wear a fawn-colored uniform, cap and sword. He wore it once and was so disgusted with himself he never wore it again. When he went to Fort Bliss with Obregon to call on General Pershing, Villa left his hat on in General Pershing’s quarters. He was told to take off his hat as he was in the general’s home.

Keeps His Hat On

“You Americans don’t take off your has when you come to my headquarters, do you? He answered, and left his hat on the back of his head.

That visit to the border was the last one Villa made as person grata. He and Obregon, both Carranza commanders of the constitutionalist army, were making an inspection trip of the Mexican border garrisons, and made the trip in a private car from El Paso to Nogales. They were given reception at every town on the American side and were apparently good friends. Obregon then was a striking looking man and Villa felt ill at ease beside the Sonora leader, who had the polish and training of a well-to-do ranchero. A short time after their return Villa, and Obregon became bitter enemies, Villa declared the Carranza banner for his own revolution, started to shoot Obregon at Chihuahua City, freed him only to regret it a few hours later and started a special train after him as Obregon fled south and escaped. Villa admitted that this was a tactical error, as Obregon later defeated him at Celays and broke the backbone of the Villa revolution.

Denies Columbus Raid

Villa and his leading generals always insisted that he was not present at the Columbus raid. According to the most authentic story obtainable at the time I visited Villa at his ranch, Villa claimed to have been ill at Paloma Springs, below the Columbus border and that Pablo Lopez, brother of Villa’s second in command, led the raid into Columbus which caused the Pershing punitive expedition. I talked to his general at the ranch and on the train and all told the same story, although many in Columbus claimed to have seen Villa.

After the Pershing expedition Villa was very bitter toward Americans. He was approached by Americans who offered to finance a moving picture of him and his men, to be taken soon after the surrender at San Pedro. Villa declared empathatically that he never wanted his pictures shown before an American audience and said he did not want any Americans to approach him on the subject. Later he was said to have reconsidered this ultimatum, but he had ceased to be a front page story and the moving picture company interested in making the picture declined to go ahead with their part of the proposed agreement.

Grows Fat as Farmer

He grew fat after quitting the field and when I last saw him at the Canutillo ranch he weighed more than 300 pounds and lost much of the resiliency he had when as leader of the north, he would outride, outshoot and outmarch any man in his command. Villa liked to eat good food, American preferred, and he said one of the reasons for considering the offer for him to retire was the fact that he could get the kind of food he liked best after a monotonous fare of beans, tortillas and chili in the field.

With the passing of Villa the most picturesque character Mexico has produced in modern times takes his place in the history of the war-torn republic. Feeling toward Villa among the Mexican people is divided. To some he was a hero, patriot and a liberator, while to others, who had lost their families and fortunes at Villa’s hands, he was a bandit of the worst breed.

Hates White Collars

Illiterate, he had a grudge against the order of things in Mexico which deprived him of the education he felt he was entitled to. Hating the white-collar crowd, he took his revenge in killing, looting and slaying. Yet I have often thought that Villa, according to his own lights, believed he was a patriot and that he was doing something for his country. There was no question about his military genius. Whatever Napoleon, Grant and Lee had, Villa had in less degree. He knew instinctively how to maneuver men to the disadvantage of the enemy. Whether this was an heritage from some Aztec ancestor, or whether he acquired it dodging federal troops in the Chihuahua mountains, will never be know. But his gift for leadership was unquestioned, and his record of 10 years in the field as a military leader proves it. What his place in Mexican history will be, it is impossible to tell now. But Villa will live in the hearts of the poor people of Mexico as half saint, half devil.

Pancho Villa lived by the pistol and died by it. Thus endeth the chapter of the most interesting character of contemporary Mexican history.

 

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