A Day of Tragedy

H. P. Traut murdered,

Sheriff Sanderson killed while in pursuit of murderer,

George Phillips seriously wounded. . .

Murderer dies by own hand.

The desperado took refuge in a windrow of hay, where his charred dead body was found, after the fire which had been set to the hay reached him.

A terrible tragedy occurred at the office of the Nebraska-Iowa Grain Co. Wednesday morning, Sept. 16, 1914. Henry P. Traut was shot down by someone whose identity is not established.
News spread rapidly and the feelings were tense with fear.

Mr. Traut had left home about 6:00 a.m. as was his custom, mailed some letters and visited with those he met on the street. He was last seen alive about 6:30 a.m. Henry Lehr, an employee went to get the key to the ice house, and found the dead body in the front room.

Lehr gave the alarm when he found the body and a crowd gathered. Word was sent out to the County Attorney Corey and Sheriff Sanderson at Clay Center of the murder, and Manager Jeffries sent a general line phone ring to be on the watch for any suspicious character.

Coroner Schultz arrived from Sutton, and the officers examined the body and surroundings. Two bullet holes were in Mr. Traut's chest, and one through his wrist. The safe was open and papers had been scattered and a tin locked box appeared to have been tampered with. His long wallet in which he carried his bills and change was between his legs and the contents scattered. There were indications of a struggle.

After the shooting, the bandit evidently went north on foot until he reached the Roy Megrue home in Hamilton County. After a short conversation with him, Megrue became suspicious. When the general phone call came, Megrue notified the officers and got on a horse and started on the trail of the desperado.

Sheriff Sanderson and deputy of the telephone company, George Phillips, pursued him by auto and overtook Megrue near the corner a half—mile east of the George Jacket farm. He pointed to a man walking between the houses of Mrs. Fiscus and George Jacket, about 10 miles northwest of Harvard. They drove their car up to the man and the Sheriff said, “Hello fellow, where are you going?” To which he replied, “Giltner. “ The Sheriff and Phillips got out of the car to take him into custody, but the traveler fired and hit Phillips in the right breast. It hit the lapel of his coat and passed through the clothing striking the rib, coming out from under his arm in his back. Phillips was taken to Aurora to a surgeon.

The desperado then shot the Sheriff through the arm and the back. The fatal shot entered the back on the left side, up and forward through his body and emerging in front of his neck. Several large blood vessels were severed causing death by internal hemorrhaging. Before death, he raised and fired two shots.
The bandit escaped to the draw north of the road. Megrue came the assistance of Phillips and called a surgeon by phone.

Dozens of cars loaded with armed men came to the scene from Harvard, Clay Center, Fairfield, and Giltner.

The bandit was in a hayfield, covered up by hay in a windrow on Mrs. Gray's farm southwest of Giltner. One of the posse on a horse, rode over that spot, and heard a shot. The rider beat a retreat and gave the alarm. The posse went to the top of a the hill and fired a volley into the hay, and the bandit was told to surrender. The windrow was set on fire and screams were heard. After the fire was out the appointed deputies searched the burned grass, found the body and examination revealed a bullet hole through the head of the burned body. He had evidentially shot himself when the rider heard the shot.

There was no identification on the body. His clothes were of good quality and came from different parts of the country. An inquest was held, and the verdict was “death by a self-inflicted wound.” A $10 bill and some change was on the body.

The body of the Sheriff Sanderson was brought to Harvard in the afternoon and post mortem examinations on his body and Mr. Traut's body disclosed the fact that both men had been killed by bullets from the same revolver, affirming previous speculation.

At 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, the coroner's jury brought in the verdict that Mr. Traut came to his death from gunshot wounds inflicted by the suicide victim whose identity remained unknown.

Henry P. Traut was a native of Russia, but had lived in Nebraska the greater part of his life. Some 19 years ago he went to Lincoln, Nebraska from Henderson, Nebraska and conducted a grocery store at 8th and Y street for 3 years. He then moved to Harvard and has been prominently identified with its interests. He leaves a wife, 3 boys and 2 girls. The oldest 22 years and the youngest 3 years, and his aged mother, Lena, a brother, Peter, (section boss of the C.B. &M. R. R.), and a sister, Mrs. John Brehm, all of Lincoln. J. H. Traut of Hastings is an uncle.

Funeral services for Mr. Traut were held in the German Evangelical Church.

Sheriff Sanderson who lost his life in this tragedy was the grandfather of a present Harvard resident, Mrs. Ann Adams. (1973)

Harvard Courier, September 19, 1914 - News Short

Harvard, Nebraska 100 Years + 2,  by Harvard History Book Committee, Harvard, Nebraska  1973  Copyright 1973

Transcribed and contributed by:  Gary Schwarz

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