George T. Requa
ELKO FREE PRESS
February 23, 1920
TWO BANDITS WHO KILLED ELKO OFFICERS CAPTURED IN WHITE PINE COUNTY — ARE NOW IN JAIL IN ELY
Officer St. Clair Instantly Killed and Deputy George Requa Mortally-Wounded by Bandits Near Cherry Creek Friday Afternoon— St.Clair Funeral Today
Sometime last night thieves entered the garage of the Union Land & Cattle Company at Deeth and stole manager James Russell’s Ford runabout. Constable Arthur St.Clair of Deeth, Deputy George Requa of Wells and Mr. Russell set out from Deeth trailing the thieves. They trailed them to Wells and down Clover Valley and came onto the stolen car near Cherry Creek, stuck in the mud. The bandits were lying in an irrigation ditch and when the officers reached a point of 50 feet, the thieves opened fire without warning.
When the firing commenced, Mr. Russell started back for Cherry Creek and on arriving there spread the alarm and telephoned to Ely for additional help. A posse was organized at Cherry Creek and went out to the scene. Officer St. Clair had been instantly killed, the bullet striking him in the right breast. Requa was struck in left temple and the bullet lodged in the man’s brain. He was alive at last report, but the doctors say that it is impossible for him to live.
Dr. Secor of Elko, who was in Cherry Creek attending the funeral of his wife’s father, accompanied the posse and they found the body of St. Clair in the brush and Requa but a short distance away, still alive. It is believed that the names of the thieves are Joe Bell and A.L. Fristoe, both young, and from the clothes left at the scene, they were recently discharged soldiers.
The Governor was notified and he offered a reward of $1,000 “dead or alive” for the men. Sheriff Harris and Deputy Harbin left for Cherry Creek Sunday and joined the search to head off the bandits in Butte Valley. Bell and Fristoe surrendered and are now in jail in Ely.
Arthur St. Clair was 28 years old and was born and raised in Starr Valley. He attended the University at Reno and was the first Rhodes Scholar to be sent from University of Reno, going to Oxford in 1911, where he gained distinction as an athlete. After returning to Nevada, he married Katherine Reed. They had two sons, the youngest of whom drowned a year ago in back of their residence in Starr Valley. St. Clair had been constable of Deeth for several terms as well as being bookkeeper at the Union Land & Cattle Company. His funeral will be held in Deeth.
Deputy George Requa was a resident of Wells and had lived there many years. The bullet is still embedded in his brain although there is no hope for his recovery.
March 5, 1920
George Requa Dies in Ely Hospital
Sheriff Harris received a telegram this forenoon from Ely stating that George Requa died this morning at 6:20 at the hospital. He regained consciousness a few days after he was shot through the head by Fristoe but has never been able to talk or make a statement of the shooting. He continued to grow better until yesterday morning when he began to fail rapidly and passed away this morning. He will be brought to Wells for burial.
Plaque Location & Image
Center Wall Column 6 Row A View The Plaque