Salt Lake Telegram | 1930-07-06 | Page 1 | Utahn Runs Amok; Kills Far-in-Law, Wounds Mor-in-Law and Wife in Rage

UTAHN RUNS AMOK KILLS FATHER IN FATHER FATHER- LAW IN-LAW WOUNDS LAW MOTHER LAW MOTHER IN lAW AND WIFE IN RAGE I Slayer Surrenders to Officers After Fatal Pleasant Grove Affray One Woman Not Expected to Recover Recover Re Re- cover Gun Play Follows Quarrel Over Custody of Child Mrs Baxter died at a. a m. m PLEASANT GROVE July 5 Special Special Climaxing Climaxing domestic domestic do do- disputes with a murderous shooting rampage A. A Lee Romero 40 Saturday night shot and instantly killed his father- father law in-law Walter C. C Baxter about 50 critically wounded his mother law Mrs Sena Baxter about 50 and seriously wounded his wife Mrs Josie Romero 31 31 Alter tho the shooting Romero gave himself up to City M Marshal I Ray Winters and was Immediately taken to the Utah county Jail in Provo Tho The bullet which ended Baxters Baxter's life Ute entered his right elbow passed down to the bod body severed se the main arteries leading to the heart and lodged in his back It tore a hole an anInch aninch aninch inch and a half halt In diameter causing instant death Mrs Baxter was shot through the back just above the hips The slug punctured her intestines a arid d she Is la given ghen no chance for fOl recovery reco CONDITION SERIOUS Mrs Romero was shot through the side Her condition is serious but she has a 8 chance for tor recovery recover according to ph physicians at the chi Lehl hospital where both of ot the wounded victims were were tak taken n. n I At a. a in Sunda Sunday physicians reported ed that hat Mrs 1 Baxter wa was very ClOY I low and d could not live ive many hours lr I Within a few v hours after ater the shooting County George S. S convened an inquest t before Justice of the Peace C. C B. B Harper of ot PI Pleasant sl nt Grove The Jury returned a a. verdict that I B Baxter was shot to death by A. A Leo Lea Romero It was signed by Burton H. H Adams foreman Preston R. R Clark and Benjamin Adams Romero according to information obtained by the tho investigating officers officers officers cers came to the Baxter home about p. p m m. asking for tor his wife who recently started divorce action and demanding to see their year old daughter Leora Dean Baxter refused to let him have the child and Romero In a rage rage beat a no ahole ahole hole through the screen en door with his fists Ho He then ran to his own home homo a few steps away and re returned returned returned re- re turned with an old U. U S. S army Springfield rifle model 38 SHOT BAXTER FIRST The best available Information IsI is that he lie shot Baxter first Mn Mrs IrH BaxI Baxter Bax Bax- I I ter was down In iii the tho basement and hearing the shot came running up Into the kitchen Mrs Romero was in tho the berry patch picking berries and also came caine running to the bou house e. e Romero either r fh fired ed two t more shots wounding one of ot the women each time or wounded them both with the tho same samo shot He claims he fired only twice and only two empty shells were found Officers said however that a n. third empty shell might still be In Inthe Inthe inthe the gun but the they refused to examIne examine exam exam- ine me It until after fingerprints have been taken p Tho The motive mothe for tor the murderous outbreak of ot Romero was dome domestic Uc troubles and a n. dispute with Baxter over property according to Information nation mation obtained by investigating of officers officers ot- ot C CAUSED USED FRICTION A court order was watS signed a It week or so 80 ago granting Romero the right to have haye possession of ot his 2 2 year old daughter for a 4 specified time lime each week This it Is reported report report- ed has caused considerable friction between Romero his wife and his wife's parents The property properly dispute believed to tobe tobo f bo be a contributing factor arose as an asa a U result of ot Bac Baxter r giving his son- son law in-law a lot J next ext to the ater home Baxter was aiding In the financing financing- of ot a new home on the lot and Romero recently asked that the property bo be deeded to him But Baxter r it is reported declined to do o th this s and frequent disputes between the two resulted From a n. cell In tho the county Jail at at- Provo Prove Romero gave his own version of oC the tragedy TOLD TO GO TO HOME He said eald that his wife had hod start started d 1 divorce proceedings some Borne time Ume Ago ao I mind mId that the Baxters h had d refused to let him see Leora Leorn Dean pending outcome of the tho case About p. p pm p.m. m. m Saturday he be said Id I 1 went to Mayor told him that the tho judge had signed an order order- permitting me to see Bee the child and asked him if it there was was was' not some way I could make the Baxter family comply compty with the court order The mayor n told me to go goto to th the Baxter r home borne and tell them I want wanted d to see nee the child at 9 S a. a m m. m torn tomorrow If It they refused he lie said he lie would se tho the Judge i in Jn my behalf tomor- tomor to row I r I went to the tho Daxter home stood In the kitchen door and called out ut for tor Josie Josh Joule Jonie wa wasn't t in In Ii so o J 1 told W Walter lter Bolster er that I t must mUlct see fiCO mY myr 3 baby tomorrow Irow He Ho shouted out that C on page page S. ol i. i 3 J. J I j lt t y SLAYER GIVES I SELF UP AFTER I SHOOTING AFFRAY t Continued from pogo page 1 ho he had bad ordered me never to step on his hia property again and struck at me I through the screen door It was as then decided I 1 that I must stand up for formy forms forms' my mv ms' ms rights right and ran over to my place ari and got tho the gun I shot twice and 1 didn't know at the time whether I 1 had hurt any anyone ne Tho The Baxters s have been trying to break me down financially mo morally sand and spiritually Just as they did first husband They havo had mo Tao arrested three times lately on charges and both Baxter and nd his wife have threatened l meI meI me I 1 have been t trying to tu get set Josie to togo go awa away with mo me where wo we could be 6 happy b by ourselves but she Wouldn't wouldn't do It 4 I Z 1 love lo her and md I love the baby I I h would dlo die tonight for tor either one of or them but now Its It's nil alt over I wish 1 we w had we e 1 had gotten otten away before this happened STIFLED DESIRE Romero nomer said that he hc had stifled hi desire desiro to see his child for three months before beCore tho the court order was lined signed but determined that ho lie would d sea seo her after utter getting that privilege lego from the court Marshal Winters reported that Umero ornero came tame to his homo borne told him that he lie had fired two shots into the Baxter after home but didn't know Whether ho he had hurt anyone t The first man to arrive on the tho scene after tho the shooting was Garland Gar- Gar land iland Clark who heard the shot as 9 was vas passing In an auto He re- re Orte that Mr and Mrs Baxters Baxter's Bodies Odle Odle were lying crosswise on the leer ioor when he entered Romero who has been married flee nce c before m mar married a r r l 1 o e d Baxters Baxter's about two years a ago She Sho ihL d had been married married and divorced former husband hubband being Loren Aker of ot Pleasant Grove The rhe Baxters Bl are arc pioneer residents this city and are ar highly respected d. d tier tel ter has for tor years opera operated ted a 1 story storo known as alts alt's Place Ploce I