From the Archives (1914) – James B. Chivas of Amisk killed while making arrest
James B. Chivas, J.P. of Amisk, 14 miles from Hardisty, killed by hobo
Police and posses are scouring country for murderer and two companions – Reinforcements sent from Edmonton
Originally published June 1, 1914 – While attempting to arrest three highwaymen that robbed a section house at Rosyth, on the C.P.R. line east of Hardisty on Friday night, James B. Chivas, a justice of the peace at Amisk, a small town 14 miles from Hardisty, was shot and almost instantly killed about eight o’clock Saturday night.
After firing the shot, the robbers immediately took to their heels in the brush, and are at present lost in the country near to the little village. The mounted police at Hardisty were notified, a posse organized to scour the countryside, and Inspector Jennings, Sergeant McBayne, and a number of constables dispatched from Edmonton to take charge of the search early yesterday morning.
The shooting took place in a restaurant close to the C.P.R. depot in Amisk. Chivas went to the restaurant in search for the three men whom he recognized as those for whom he warrants. He called in two young men, Lees and Lawless, who were playing baseball on a vacant lot outside, and instructed the men to throw up their hands. Two of them did so. The third threw up his left hand, but with his right drew a revolver from his trousers pocket and fired a shot at Chivas who was standing about four feet away. The bullet entered his left breast, going almost clean through the heart. The other two men drew guns and escaped through the door, running eastward along the railroad track, and firing an occasional shot back to stop any pursuit.
Burglary Previous Night
The warrants on which Chivas was arresting the three men had been sworn out Saturday afternoon by section men on the C.P.R. Late Friday evening the section house west of Amisk had been broken into and a quantity of articles stolen there from section men who were living there saw the three men going away from the house, and on Saturday morning went to Amisk and swore out the information, giving an accurate description of the three men.
When the three men turned up in the restaurant in Amisk, Chivas had no difficulty recognizing them.
Posse Organized
The mounted police constable at Hardisty was notified of the murder immediately. After notifying Superintendent Wroughton at Edmonton, he organized a posse of men who instigated a thorough search of the countryside. Practically all the male population of Amisk and Hardisty are out searching.
Notification of the cold-blooded murder of the justice of the peace was received by the mounted police in Edmonton Saturday night just ten minutes before the C.P.R. train left for Winnipeg. They were unable to catch the train, but Inspector Jennings and Sergeant McBayne secured and automobile and attempted to beat the train to Leduc in the hope of boarding in there. They arrived at Leduc just as the tail of it disappeared southward. They returned to Edmonton and took an early morning train to Hardisty, where they are engaged in the search.
Believed to be Hoboes
The men who committed the murder are believed to be hoboes who were travelling east along the road. So far as is known they have not been employed on any of the construction gangs in that neighbourhood. The country around Amisk settled mostly with people of Prussian extraction.
Escaped in Wood
Both men bolted for the door and escaped into the bush. They were pursued shortly afterwards by posses which scoured the countryside all night and all day Sunday without success.
Chivas was taken to his home across the street, and physicians summoned from Hardisty and Hughenden, but he expired within two hours. None of the special constables were armed. Deceased was an old timer in the district, and had a wide circle of friends.
Suspect Arrested
Special Bulletin
CAMROSE, May 31 – A suspicious looking character was arrested here tonight at eight o’clock, and is believed to be one of the three who killed J. B. Chivas, J.P., at Amisk on Saturday night. He is being held here and will be taken to Amisk by the early morning train for identification. Detective Webster is expected from Edmonton by the Winnipeg train to take him in charge.
Was Old Timer of District
HARDISTY, May 31 – Dr. York of Provost held an inquest this morning. The late Mr. Chivas was one of the early homesteaders of Amisk district. For some time he was also proprietor of the restaurant in which he was shot. He was also postmaster there for a time. Later he has been agent for the Massey-Harris company and also proprietor of the general store. Constable Jackson and J. Girvin, town constable of Hardisty, have organized a search posse and every avenue of escape is being carefully guarded. On account of the nature of the surrounding country the hunt may be prolonged for some time, but there is little doubt that the men will be eventually captured and brought to justice.
Mr. Chivas was 33 years of age, and leaves a widow but no children. Two men were caught just east of town tonight and brought to Hardisty and put in the lock-up, but it is not known whether they were the guilty men or not. It is not thought likely.
Publisher’s note: while this incident took place over 105 years ago, articles such as these are posted with no revelry. Rather, to illustrate the tough times and sometimes harsh characters that travelled the trains in the early days of our province. The untimely homicide of an early settler to the area was a great tragedy at that time. We have not yet been able to find if the ‘hoboes’ described were found or brought to justice. Articles appear as originally published including any potential misspellings of surnames and archaic language.
