Looking Back: Chicken thieves caught; investigation after Rigby High School student killed
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IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Nov. 2 to Nov. 8 in east Idaho history.
1900-1925
BLACKFOOT — Two Blackfoot men caught three people who were in the process of raiding a hen roost, The Bingham County News reported on Nov. 2, 1911.
Joe and Toney Parsons caught the men stealing the chickens at the home of Ed Parsons.
The men chased the thieves about a mile and rounded them up in a bunch of willows along a ditch. The thieves had three chickens in their possession when they got caught.
The thieves were fined $6 each. The names of the thieves weren’t released but one man was from Idaho Falls and the other two from Moreland.
1926-1950
FREMONT COUNTY — Two people were being held in jail for the murder of a local man, The Fremont County News reported and The Rigby Star also published on Nov. 8, 1928.
Chris Jordan and Mrs. Myra Merrick were both accused of murdering A.W. Merrick, Myra’s husband.
At some point, Jordan showed up at the jail and turned himself. A preliminary hearing for Jordan was underway. Mrs. Merrick was going to have her hearing afterwards.
Mrs. Merrick claimed that Jordan killed her husband after a fight. It’s not clear what the fight was over. Jordan claimed that Mrs. Merrick was also shooting at her husband as he ran from the house.
1951-1975
RIGBY — The death of a 14-year-old Rigby High School freshman was underway, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on Nov. 2, 1951.
Betty Hawker was killed instantly when she was struck by a car driven by Leon Raymond, of Menan. She was walking along Highway 48 to Menan from her farm home when the crash happened.
The accident happened about 6 p.m. when Raymond, driving toward Menan, was passing a truck driven by Paul Dutson, of Lewisville, according to the investigating officer.
The pedestrian was killed when Raymond’s car swung into the left lane to pass the Dutson vehicle.
“After viewing the body and visiting the scene of the traffic accident, a Jefferson county coroner’s jury (was) called Friday by Leland Call, coroner,” the paper wrote. “The inquest was called when further investigation revealed information making it advisable.”
It had been announced previously that an inquest would not be held.
Hawker was born July 12, 1937, at Menan. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Hawker. Her mother had died nearly two years earlier.
1976-2000
POCATELLO — Pocatello police were investigating an incident where a man went to a local bar and threatened customers with a gun, the Idaho State Journal reported on Nov. 4, 1977.
Witnesses said a man in his mid-20s, wearing a green Army jacket, went to the Ally-Oops Bar in Pocatello and pulled out a small-caliber pistol.
After threatening customers with it, the suspect struck a 19-year-old man several times alongside his head with the gun. The suspect reportedly then fled on foot.
The victim declined medical attention. The altercation apparently stemmed from a dispute over a pool game.