SWICK MURDERERS ESCAPE,
LEAVE NO CLUE, ROB VICTIM
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Raton Citizens Join Sheriff
in Hunt Through
Nearby Country
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SLAYERS HIRED TAXI
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Driver's Body Found on Gardiner
Road, Two Miles from Here;
Two States Hunt Men
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From Albuquerque to Pueblo and Denver
the murderers of Charles R. Swick are being sought.
Suspicious characters and possible
witnesses by the score have been examined
by Sheriff Hixenbaugh, but thus far no one
has been connected with the crime and no
arrest has been made. The sheriff has been
assisted by more than thirty citizens of Raton
besides numerous persons living out side the city.
Swick was shot down by robbers who had engaged
his cab last Friday night. Two men were seen getting
in the machine on First St. A few hours later the body of the driver was found two miles
from Raton, in the Gardiner road, lying beside his automobile. The engine was sill running and the brakes were set.
Driver Bleeds to Death.
Whether or not Swick was shot trying to fight off his assailants could not be determined.
The course of the bullet, and the fact that
Swick's cheek was burned by powder, leads the sheriff to believe the driver was held in his seat by one man while the other fired, standing over Swick. The bullet entered his right shoulder
and followed a downward course, leaving the body at the hip. An artery was severed, causing Swick to bleed to death.
Several Raton motorists passed the scene of the shooting shortly after the murder, but none stopped, believing occupants of the car were near by, as the motor was left running.
A Mexican boy passed the car shortly after
nine o'clock and saw the body of Swick lying
along the road. Driving to Raton, the boy
notified Policeman Thomas O'Connor
Crowd Joins Sheriff.
The sheriff then was called, and he
and Patrolman O'Connor went to the murder
scene. Soon after they arrived there,
a crowd of Raton citizens joined them,
the news of the shooting having spread
over the city in quick time. The crowd,
numbering over thirty men formed an unofficial
posse and stayed with Sheriff Hixenbaugh
all night.
Swick apparently had tried to make
his way to the nearest house, but had
gone only a few feet when he collapsed.
A pocketbook, his watch and a gun were
taken from him. In their haste, the gunmen
tore loose the watch, snapping its ring
and leaving the chain in their victim's vest.
Sheriff Hixenbaugh and the crowd with
him followed the tracks of the two men a
short distance, when they were lost.
The men had left the main road and turned south.
Until late Saturday morning the sherif and
posse combed the country for miles around.
Slayers Overlook Second Purse.
Telegrams have been sent to police of
all cities from here to Al-
(Continued on last page) |
SWICK MURDERS ESCAPE,
NO CLUE YET FOUND
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(Continued from Page One)
buquerque and Pueblo and Denver asking them to be on the watch for two suspicious
characters. The stolen watch has a broken ring may lead the police of some city to
finding the men if the murderers try to pawn their loot.
It is considered impossible that the men left Raton on a train,
because the first freight out here after the murder was at 4 o'clock Saturday
morning and no one was on it but the crew when it left the Raton yards. However,
a short distance out of town a man was seen to board the freight, but when the train
arrived at Cimarron it was searched and no one was found. The train was searched
at every station, but no suspect was taken.
Passenger trains were watched at the Santa Fe station an no suspicious
persons boarded any of them.
The slayers overlooked another pocketbook, containing
$15, which Swick carried.
A coroner's jury yesterday was sworn in by Judge Bayne
and as first step in the inquest viewed the body. The jury then adjourned until
called for a final hearing.
The funeral of Mr. Swick will be held at Errington chapel
tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon at 2 o'clock.
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