Looking back: Teen’s death ruled accidental, fence issue leads to shooting and man escapes State Hospital South
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IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of June 2 to June 8 in east Idaho history.
1900-1925
BLACKFOOT — A 14-year-old boy was found dead near the Blackfoot River, The Bingham County News reported on June 3, 1912.
Richard Lee, the son of a local attorney, reportedly left home Thursday morning and went down to the Blackfoot River. He didn’t return home that evening. The paper said he “frequently made trips around the country,” so his parents didn’t worry until Friday morning when he was still gone. A search got underway for the teenager.
Alva Jordan, a son of J.H. Jordan, was at a ranch about two miles from town. Around noon on Friday, he rowed down the Blackfoot River and looked for a hat he had previously lost, thinking it may have gotten stuck in the willows.
While he was looking for his hat, Jordan stumbled upon Lee’s body in an “almost standing position” in the willows.
He immediately went and got someone, a Mr. Nichols. Nichols went to the body and stayed there while Jordan went to town and notified Deputy Sheriff Kestner. The coroner was also notified. These men, along with a C.F. Hillard, went to the scene with an ambulance.
Lee’s father was in the courthouse at the time the body was discovered. He was informed about the incident and went to the location of the body, which he identified it as his son.
A coroner’s inquest was held, and the verdict came back that the death was caused from an accidental discharge of a 38-caliber Ivers-Johnson revolver. The bullet allegedly entered Lee’s head on the right side above the ear and exited over the left ear, entirely crushing his skull.
Funeral services were scheduled for June 6, 1912. Sunday School children who knew Lee and “held him in such high esteem” were going to participate in the services.
1926-1950
LABELLE — Trouble over a fence led to a shooting, The Rigby Star reported on June 7, 1928.
A warrant of arrest was “likely” going to be issued for Mr. Vivian Clinger of Labelle for battery on Mrs. Marcellus Hutchens of Labelle. Hutchens claimed that Clinger knocked her down and sat on her following an argument about Clinger having left a fence down after watering his horses.
Hutchens claimed that Clinger let her horses out of a field by leaving the fence down, and that he had done this repeatedly. She allegedly told him Monday afternoon that it shouldn’t happen again. She said that’s when he began calling her “vile names.” She said he knocked her down with his fist.
Dr. West was called to attend to Hutchens’ bruises and “nervous condition” following the fight.
Clinger claims that Hutchens grabbed his glasses, and he thew her down. He acknowledged to the sheriff that he sat on her and called for a rope to tie her with.
Hutchens said that Clinger also let his sheep on her grain in the spring, and they did “much damage.” He claimed she placed saltwater down to kill the sheep that might stray on the ranch.
Wm. Smith, Chas. Stout and a nephew of Hutchens went to the scene of the fight. When they showed up, Clinger reportedly went into the house and came out with a shotgun. He told them to “get off the place” and claimed they were armed with a club and piece of iron.
Smith said Clinger then fired at him, noting that at least six pellets struck his leg while some were inside his shoe.
The sheriff’s office was notified of the shooting by neighbors. Sheriff Rhodes showed up on the scene within a few minutes.
Clinger swore to a complaint against Smith and Stout, charging them with threatening him. Mrs. Stella Clinger swore to an affidavit to the effect that Smith and Stout came to the Clinger home and asked where her husband was, threatening to kill him.
A hearing was going to take place in the near future once Hutchens was “able to come to town.”
1951-1975
BLACKFOOT — A 42-year-old man escaped the state mental hospital, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on June 6, 1952.
Clyde Gish fired shots into a bar in Atomic City on Dec. 21, 1951. Edward McEvoy, an Atomic City worker, was killed, and two other men were wounded in the shooting.
In April 1952, a Bingham County jury found Gish insane, and he was committed to the State Hospital South.
Gish escaped the hospital by bolting from the kitchen and fleeing unarmed into the “pre-dawn darkness.” Guards were quickly notified, but Gish was already gone.
“He apparently made his escape plans without any outside help,” said Dr. Charles Sprague, who was in charge of the hospital.
Sprague said law enforcement agencies throughout southeast Idaho had been alerted to be on the lookout for Gish, who police considered to be dangerous.
1976-2000
POCATELLO — A 7-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after he steered his bike into the side of a car, the Idaho State Journal reported on June 5, 1977.
Gregg Pierson was headed south on Euclid on his bike and the driver of the vehicle was headed west on Pine when they collided in the intersection.
Pierson was taken to Bannock Memorial Hospital via ambulance. He suffered a cut on his head and bruised shoulders. No citations were issued.
The bike received about $25 worth of damages, and the driver’s car received little to no damage.
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