Robert Moore (1880-1937)

MOORE

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/9/2008 at 07:14:50

ROBERT MOORE KILLED IN GUN BATTLE WITH NIGHT GUARDIAN GEOR. BARKER AND DEPTUY SHERIFF HARRY ECKHARDT

Moore Refused to Allow Dr. Huntley Examine children Exposed to Smallpox. Barker Shot in Abdomen. Sixteen Shots Fired.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE of Robert Moore and George Barker

Tragedy broke upon the peace of this village Tuesday night when one civilian was shot to death and one town official severely injured by gunshot wound.

The dead man is Robert Moore, 57, carpenter and WOA worker, and the injured man is George Barker, night Policeman. Barker’s condition is reported satisfactory with every prospect for recovery unless unforeseen complications arise.

The trouble arose when health physician, Dr. C. C. Huntley, who had received a report that a three-year-old child of Moore’s was suffering from smallpox, in company with night officer Barker went to the Moore home to examine the child about 8 pm Tuesday evening. Moore refused to permit them to enter the house and is reported to have said, “If I need a doctor, I’ll get my own. You’ll have to have a warrant to come in here.”

The men then went to Mayor C.P. Blust, who consulted City Attorney G.C. Wyland. Mr. Wyland drew up a warrant which Mayor Blust signed permitting the men to enter the house for the purpose of examining the child. Anticipating that Mr. Moore might get rough, Mr. Wyland advised them to take Deputy Sheriff Harry Eckhardt with them. Deputy Eckhardt demurred, however, saying that it was a city matter and not his affair. However, he was prevailed upon to accompany them and the three men went to the Moore home shortly after 9 o’clock. Barker again asked Moore to open the door but he refused, and Barker read the warrant, closing with the statement, “We are coming in.” “No, you don’t, “ said Moore, as Barker jerked open the hooked screen, at the same time Moore pulled his gun, a 32 colt automatic pistol, and fired two shots through the screen, one of which pierced Barker through the abdomen.

Barker jumped or fell from the north end of the porch, and Huntley and Eckhardt ran off the south end. Moore came outside and continued firing in the direction taken by Eckerhardt and Dr. Huntley. He fired four shots at Eckhardt, who was standing about 25 feet south of the orch. The sheriff fired three shots, one shot, hitting the home, near where Moore stood, one shot hit a post on the porch and one shot hitting the home near the door. Eckhardt then got behind a tree and Moore took two more shots at him emptying his gun. Eckhardt who shot twice more emptying his gun. Eckhardt went around the Harry Woltmann home and entered the house, reloaded his gun. Moore entered his house and took a handful of shells from a drawer to reload his gun. Sitting down upon a chair, he said to his wife, “I guess they got me” and collapsed upon the floor. Mrs. Moore came outside and told the men Bob had been shot and Eckhardt found him dead when he entered the house. His body had been pierced by a bullet which entered at the right of the back and ranged upward near the heart lodging just beneath the skin on the left side. He had a flesh wound on the inside of the right leg about four inches above the knee where another bullet had struck him.

Although it is no known which officer fired the fatal bullet, it is highly probable that it came from the gun of Officer Barker while Moore was shooting in the opposite direction at Officer Eckhardt, however, the officers were using guns of the same pattern and Barker’s gun had been fired twice.

Barker made his way across the street and collapsed on the parking near the home of Elmer Claussen from the door of which Mrs. Claussen had witnessed the whole affair. Mrs. Claussen, her brother, Jimmy Hough, and Raymond Heesch carried Barker into the Claussen home. The Bust Bros. ambulance was called and took him to the Edmundson hospital at Council Bluffs where he was operated upon immediately. It was found that the bullet had passed through just below the stomach but was not deep enough to penetrate any of the bowels. He is expected to recover.
Sherriff Joe Perry, Deputies William Duff and Jack Wambold, Coroner Tom Belford and County Attorney Bob Organ arrived on the scene shortly before 11 o’clock. The body of the dead man was taken to Blust funeral home, and Coroner Belford named Frank Alexander, Frank Beymer and Lawrence Kelgard on a jury, but did not name a date for an inquest.

There has been a number of cases of smallpox in Avoca and vicinity the past few months and authorities have taken every precaution to stamp out the disease. Robert Moore, 11, had contracted the disease and the family had been released from quarantine only last week, the children re-entering school Monday. Mr. Moore had refused to allow his children to be vaccinated, and the 3-year-old Jerry Lee was reported to Dr. Huntley to have the disease now. It was to investigate this case that the Doctor attempted to enter the house.
Mrs. Moore said she pleaded with her husband to put his gun away and not resist the officers, but he would not listen. The home and family are now under quarantine.

Robert Moore was a son of James L. and Cynthia Harrison Moore, and was born in Iowa, February 17, 1880. He had lived in Avoca fifty-one years except for a short time when he was in Council Bluffs. He was married to Eva Cook, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cook, long time residents of Avoca.

Surviving him are his wife, his children: Robert B, 11; Lois May, 10; Mildred Dean, 8; Clifford I., 4; and Jerry Lee, 3; three brothers, Carl M. Moore of Spokane, WA.; James B Moore, Boise, ID; Arthur I. Moore, Council Bluffs, and a sister, Mrs Luela Haines of Council Bluffs who is now at the Moore home in Avoca.

Funeral services were held at the Blust mortuary Wednesday afternoon with burial in Avoca cemetery.

The condition of George Barker is improving. He will be able to return home in a few days.

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: Avoca Jouranal Herald