History Corner

Mesa Gun Fight

The following story comes from the Cambridge newspaper “The News” from 100 years ago this month – the August 28, 1925 issue. All but the second paragraph here is a direct quote from the paper.

“Sheriff Linkous phoned deputy Charles Reed Sunday night to grab a couple of men coming this way in a Nash car that, it is alleged, they had stolen.”

The two men drove through Cambridge unnoticed and went a short distance out Cove Road where they ran out of gas. They walked into town where they obtained the gas in some way and were spotted by local men who called Deputy Reed.

“The men in the stolen car had reached Mesa and were in the act of starting the car after having had the gas tank filled. Mr. Reed drove up and approached the car with the query, ‘Where are you fellows going?’ They answered they were going to the Upper Country. Mr. Reed informed them they were to go with him instead, and one of the men, who later gave his name merely as Arnold, replied, ‘All right,’ and climbed out of the machine from the side opposite to Mr. Reed. When he came into sight he had covered and gave orders to, ‘Stick ‘em up, or I’ll shoot the whole bunch of you,’ according to the story we get from eyewitnesses.

“Right there the fireworks started. The other occupant of the car, Kenneth Walker of Nampa, leaped to the steps of the store at Mesa and all three men began shooting. A shot from deputy Reed’s gun struck Walker in the cheek, ranged down the jaw and was removed from the neck, at the Weiser hospital the next day. Mr. Reed then had but one adversary, but he was a cunning one, and hid behind the car in which the pair had expected to escape.

“The light was a very dim and both were handicapped, but Reed sent one shot that took effect in the cheek. When the other man raised from the place of hiding he came up shooting, and having but three bullets left, Mr. Reed, wanted to make sure of his man. In spite of the fact that his hat had been shot from his head, and that he also had a bullet hole through his sleeve, Mr. Reed waited until the other had shot and then fired. The man dropped, and all was still. Fearing a ruse, Mr. Reed waited a short interval and then asked John Kilgore, night watch at Mesa, who was standing in a place where he could see, if the man was still down. Mr. Kilgore replied that he had run into the grass over the fence and toward the orchards.

“A posse was quickly formed and started pursuit, but were unable to find the escaped man. On Tuesday the man, (Arnold) greatly weakened by the shock of his injuries and the loss of blood, was picked up near Council and from there taken to the Weiser hospital. He had fled after the shooting into the hills and lay undercover during the day until he became so weak he felt that to remain away longer would result in death.

“After lying in the orchards all day suffering with his wounds he started walking to Council. He was picked up by Mr. Hargrove of Weiser, and upon reaching Council, went into a restaurant, ordered and ate his supper and started walking to New Meadows. He had gone a mile or two when picked up by Mr. Selby.

“Sheriff Reed fired six shots and three of them were effective. Sixteen shots were fired by the three. Strange as it may seem, none of the residents of Mesa knew of the affair until they were told later.

“It is thought that neither of the two wounded men were seriously hurt, though word received yesterday indicated that Walker, especially, was not recovering as well as was first expected and may not recover.

“Acquaintances of the Walkers say he (Kenneth) has had a shady career from youth, having served two terms in the reform school and one in the Idaho penitentiary for auto stealing.”

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