Pages past - Sept. 9

On this date ...

1970: Two children died after their bicycle was struck by a car, and a Tucumcari man was shot and wounded by police after they tried to question him about the accident. A 9-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl were riding a bicycle in a residential area when a 20-year-old driver skidded 48 feet and struck them, hurling them 140 feet from impact. The children were taken to Trigg Memorial Hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival. After police pulled over the driver, he reached into his car after saying he wanted a cigarette and pointed a pistol at them. Officers shot him in the chest after he refused repeated commands to put down his weapon. The man days later was charged with homicide by automobile and assault with a deadly weapon.

• The Quay County Trap and Skeet Club opened a facility near Cleo Webb's residence. It was charging $10 a year for memberships and planned a meeting at Del's Restaurant in Tucumcari.

• The Odeon Theatre in Tucumcari was screening "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." Starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, the western won four Academy Awards. The advertisement for the movie stated: "Not that it matters, but most of it is true!"