(As reported in the Pocatello Tribune, July 26,1924)
INQUEST HELD OVER BODIES OF SAMUEL GARBETT, SLAIN DETECTIVE AND GEORGE RIVEA, GUNMEN
�Samuel G. Garbett came to his death Wednesday, July 23 through a gunshot wound inflicted by one George Rivea while in the performance of his duty as a police officer of the city of Pocatello.�
�George Rivea came to his death Wednesday, July 23rd through a gunshot wound inflicted by L.A. Lehrbas, Chief of Police of the City of Pocatello, the killing being justifiable homicide.�
These were the verdicts returned Friday afternoon by the coroner�s jury at the inquest held at the chapel of the Shumacher and Hall company. The inquest was conducted by County Coroner Arthur W. Hall and County Attorney R.J. Hogan.
Dr. C.P. Groom was the first witness called to testify at the inquest and he said that he made an examination of the body of the slain city detective and found a bullet wound through the head, the point of entrance being a little below the right eye. The bullet, he said, severed the spinal cord at the base of the skull and caused instant death. He said that in examining the body of Rivea, he found two bullet wounds, one near the heart and the other at the collar bone on the left side. The first wound, he said was sufficient to cause instant death.
Mrs. Artie Smith, colored, stated that she was at her home, 459 North Fifth on Wednesday afternoon when Rivea, who she called, �Africa� called at her place and made an improper proposal to her and drawing a revolver threatened her life if she did not grant his request. She said that she ran out of the house and that when her husband appeared a few moments later Rivea threatened his life if he called the police. Mrs. Smith said she hurried to the sheriff�s office and reported the affair and returned some minutes later accompanied by Deputies Alma Marley and L.J. Moss, and then learned of the gun battle which resulted in the death of Detective S.G. Garbett, the wounding of Chief Lehrbas and the killing of Rivea by Chief Lehrba�s.
Joe Rogers of 525 East Hayden testified that he was sitting in the kitchen of his home looking out of the window facing the west when he saw Rivea walking east on East Hayden. The witness said he saw Chief Lehrbas drive up to curbing and that Detective Garbett called to Rivea who made some remark in return and whirled around and started shooting into the police chief�s car. His first shot struck Detective Garbett, who had opened the door preparatory to stepping out. Chief Lerhbas, he said, was struck by the second bullet from the assailant�s revolver. Chief Lerhbas, he said fired and his first shot went wild while his second and third shots hit Rivea, who fell to the ground.
The testimony of Rogers was substantiated by Walter H. Dean, a miller at the Pocatello flour mill, who stated he was looking out of a fifth floor window at the mill when the shooting took place.
Detective J.L. Balderston was called to the stand and identified the revolvers carried by Chief Lehrbas, Detective Garbett, and the .45 Colts, government model, which was taken from the hand of Rivea by Chief Lehrbas following the shooting.
Deputy Sheriff Alma Marley testified that he searched the room of Rivea following the shooting and found a box of .45 caliber shells and said that about six shells had been removed from the box.
The memorial is the first tribute to officers in Idaho. The memorial is located on the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement grounds in Meridian, Idaho and lists officers who have died in the line of duty since 1904. The monument was dedicated on Friday, May 15, 1998. Governer Phill Batt dedicated the memorial. As Former Gov. Cecil Andrus read off the names engraved there, a steady stream of family members and friend peered into the granite slabs and placed flowers on the memorial.
A motorcycle escort led a procession of several hundred police officers. In their honor, the Boise Police Pipe Band played. Four Idaho Air National Guard Planes (from Mountain Home Air Force Base) cast fleeting shadows across the memorial�s waterfall when they flew overhead. A 21-gun salute was given at the conclusion of the ceremony.
The memorial is made up of 10,000 bricks shaped like a five-pointed star badge surround three 15-ton rocks which hold a disappearing waterfall and a black granite slate. Etched into the slate are the names of 49 officers. The purpose of the memorial is to ensure all officers� sacrifices are remembered, pay tribute to officers who dedicate themselves to the protection of the public and provide a place where survivors can spend time in quiet reflection.
In the picture that the Idaho Statesman ran with their article on May 16, 1998 is Samuel George Garbett�s great granddaughter Kathy Miles making a rubbing.
The police officer�s names are engraved each about 2� high on the two vertical slabs to the right and left of the �Flying Eagle�. Samuel George Garbett is the 2nd name on the right side. It is a very impressive memorial with a waterfall coming out of the center rock/slab.