A.H. Berning

ELKO FREE PRESS

August 20, 1942

OFFICER PARALYZED BY BULLET WHICH PIERCES NECK

One Man Held; Posse Seeks 2nd in Chase

… A.H. Berning, Carlin constable, lies in a serious condition at the Elko General hospital, victim of two shots from a pistol of a car thief.

One man is under arrest and a posse of officers is seeking a second…

STOPS CAR-SHOT

Constable Berning was wounded when he attempted to stop a car thief on Highway 40 near Carlin this morning shortly after 9 o’clock. Jailer Ed Kendrick was informed by Elmer Hill of the Horseshoe Cattle Company that his car had been stolen from in front of the A.W. Hesson store.

Kendrick immediately notified Constable Berning and the officer was waiting on the Highway when the car drove up.

CARRIES OFFICER IN CAR

Constable Berning stepped to the door of the car and opened it. As he did so the driver of the car shot him in the chest, the bullet passing through the fleshy part and out again. The officer kept going for the thief in an effort to extricate him from the car. The man shot Constable Berning again, this time in the neck.  Pushing him into the car and closing the door, the driver kept on driving down the highway until he came to the construction work at Emigrant Pass. At that point he left the car in which he was riding and joined a companion in an Indiana car, which was following them…

First aid was given to Berning on the scene and he was then rushed to Elko by Doctor Eastman and George Aiazzi of Carlin…

AUGUST 24, 1942

BERING RITES CONDUCTED IN CARLIN; JURY FINDS THAT YOUTH KILLED OFFICER

District Attorney Wants to Press heaviest Charge

Case may have to Start in Juvenile Court

Shortly after the last rites were conducted at the Carlin school auditorium today for A.H. “Dolph” Berning, a coroner’s jury has brought in a verdict that he had died from wounds inflicted by Floyd Lovelace, 15 year-old escaped inmate from a boy’s institute at Plainfield, Ind.

His companion Dale Cline, also 15, will be turned over to the FBI officials for violating the Dyer Act. He cannot be held as an accomplice as he made Lovelace leave his car when he found out that he had shot Constable Berning.

Plaque Location & Image

Center Wall Column 8 Row F     View The Plaque