Criminal Justice Matters: Max Osborne Killed, 1936, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: November 5, 1936 Winn Parish Enterprise L. & A. Guard Is Slain And 2 Men Are Wounded Shotgun Is Used by Unknown Assailants Near Here Max Osborne, 30, of Rodessa, guard on the Louisiana and Arkansas New Orleans bound "Hustler" was killed and E. J. Waskom, fireman, of Shreveport, and F. A. Bacon, engineer, of Shreveport, were wounded Tuesday night, by unknown assailants, who fired with an automatic shotgun into the train as it was headed towards Winnfield between here and Calvin. Waskom was wounded in the jaw and a buckshot grazed the neck of engineer F. A. Bacon. Four bloodhounds were brought here early Wednesday morning from the state penal farm at Angola by Sergt. E. C. Ball. The dogs, however, were reported not to be effective because of the cold, high wind. However, the sheriff reported that signs were found where a car had been parked by the highway a short distance from where the shells were picked up. The distinctive marks on the tracks were followed westward about a quarter of a mile and then showed that the car had turned around and returned toward Winnfield. Further tracking was impossible. The spot where the ambush occurred is about five miles northwest of Winnfield. Engineer Bacon brought the train into Winnfield where Osborne's body was removed and the wounded fireman given first aid. The train stopped a short distance from the depot. Sheriff Sholars was notified and began an immediate investigation. Osborne was struck with several buckshot, one entering the temple and the other the face. Fireman Waskom was taken to a hospital in Alexandria. Night Marshal Oscar Barton of Winnfield found the train engine had been struck by about ten shot. It is believed that the ambusher or ambushers used an automatic or pump shotgun loaded with buckshot and fled immediately after the shooting in an automobile. The body of the dead guard was taken in a McCook Bros. ambulance to Shreveport where it was held pending funeral arrangements. Osborne formerly lived at Clevelant, Ohio, it was reported. The train was delayed here about an hour and a half while a report of the case was made to authorities. Engineer Bacon continued his run to the end of the division line at the Mississippi River. Osborne was riding on the cab of the engine on the side from which the shot was fired. A highway parallels the L. & A. tracks at the place where the ambush occurred. Monday night a reportedly planned move to intimidate "The Hustler" crew was thwarted by the firing of a torpedo signal a few moments before the "Hustler" arrived here. A large crowd of men and women, said to be strike sympathizers, had gathered at the depot. Sheriff Sholars went to the depot and urged the crowd to desist from any violence. Someone placed a signal torpedo on the tracks north of Winnfield and the train did not stop. It was reported that the crowd planned to board the train at the stop and intimidate the crew. Waskom was carried to the North Louisiana Sanitarium in Shreveport after he had first been taken to Alexandria. Waskom said that he was riding on the left side of the engine cab directly in front of Max Osborne, the guard who was slain. One slug struck Waskom in the jaw rendering him temporarily unconscious. Osborne was instantly killed, several shots penetrating his head and brain. One slug grazed the neck of engineer Bacon. The ambuscade menaced the lives of every passenger on the train for had the engineer been rendered unconscious or killed by the shots the train would have continued on, no doubt, wrecking. Engineer Bacon brought the train to a quick stop. Conductor J. W. Barnage and other members of the crew removed the body of the dead man and the injured Waskom to one of the coaches and then proceeded to Winnfield. The injured man received treatment and was taken to Alexandria.