Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-02
THE STORY OF A FATAL FEUD,
A Statement of the Cause of
the LugO killing.
The Matter to Be Legally Inquired
Into Today.
A Row at Ballona Said to Have Been
the Beginning-More Details
OF the Tragic
ARRAY.

A jury was impaneled yesterday for
the inquest over the body of Jose Maria
Lugo, who was stabbed to death last
Monday afternoon by j. Francisco
Figueroa. The jury viewed the body,
after which it was taken to Ballona for
interment. The inquest will be held at
10 O'Clock this morning. Lugo leaves
wife and five children, and Figueroa has
wife and two children. His family
visited him at the receiving hospital
yesterday afternoon. The bullet has
not yet been extracted from the wound.
1t is believed that he will recover.
Additional facts have come to light
which show that the real and immedi-
ate cause of the tragedy resulted from a
difficulty at Ballona several months ago,
between Lugo and Chilian saloon
keeper. Lugo and the saloon keeper
were playing dice; a dispute arose and
Lugo, it is said, threw the dice box in
the saloon keepers face. The latter
hurled beer glass at Lugo, inf1ictirg a
painful wound on the head. Figueroa,
who was present, assisted Lugo to an
other room, bathed his wound and sent
for medical assistance.
Shortly afterwards the HERALD's in
formant states the combatants were
arrested and taken to Santa Monica.
Figueroa was witness, and his evidence
was damaging to Lugo, who had struck
the first blow, or rather hurled the dice
box in the face OF the saloon keeper
After the case was disposed of Lugo
asked Figueroa why he testified against
him. Figueroa replied that he was un-
der oath and consequently was COM
PEELED to tell the truth.
1t is stated by those who recollect the
incident, and know both men, that
whenever the two met the matter was
referred to by Lugo, who still seemed
aggrieved at his former friend, Figueroa,
who had given the evidence against
him.
When they came to town Monday
they were joined by Carlos Cruz, who
sought to reconcile their differences.
For this purpose the three men went
into the card room of the
Reception saloon. AS stated in
yesterdays HERALD, angry words
passed between Figueroa and Lugo in
the card room where, according to Lugo's
statement after they had left the room,
he was struck by Figueloa. This, it ie
claimed, was because he had called
Figueroa bad name. Ithas since been
stated that while they were in the card
room quarreling Lugo said to Figueroa :
"You are armed, and l am not" FL
gueroa then took from the inner side OF
his coat huge bowie knife, and taking
it by the tip end of the blade offered it
to Lugo, SAYING: 81 don's need a
knife" AT this moment Mr.. Schroeder
entered the room, and Cruz handed him
the knife which he had taken from
Figueroa. Cruz alec gave Schroeder his
ownlpstol. The three men then left the
card room and went into the bar room.
Cruz and another friend of the two men
appealed to them to make friends, and
when Figueroa extended his hand in
friendship Lugo refused. Angry words
followed, and when Lugo applied an in
sulting expression to Figueroa, the lat
ter slapped him on the left side of the
face. Lugo then reached back into his
right hip pocket as if to draw weapon,
but did not do SO. A gentleman who
was standing by his side watched him
very narrowly with the intention of
grabbing the weapon and taking
it from him should he draw it; but he
saw clearly that Lugo had no weapon, as
he looked into his hip pocket Figueroa
was also unarmed at the time, his knife
being in the possession of Schroeder. The
men then left the saloon; Lugo walked
toward Market street, and Figueroa re-
meined near the front of the saloon.
Shortly afterward he was given his
knife, and while standing talking to an
acquaintance, Lugo returned, and the
quarrel ended in q tragedy.