Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-03-23
A BORDER ROMANCE.
A Corpse in the Street at LOrdsburg-
Phil Hefey Plays Bad Man, But
Wasn't at the Dance.
A Street Duel in Which Watchful
Father Came Off First Best
A Murderer's Deserved
Fate.

Fate.
The NEW MEXICAN few days ago pub
lished the fact that there had been 8
street duel at Lordsburg on Monday with
fatal results. From the Weekly Liberal
at hand this morning, the details are
taken. On Monday morning, says the
Liberal, a little after 8 o'clock, W. B.
Gov. or put charge of buckshot into
Phil Hefey, under his left shoulder. Phil
reeled fell on his face and never moved
again.
Since Phil Hehey killed Ben Holman at
Shanahan's ranch in January, by shoot
ing him with load of buckshot just af-
ter Holman came out of tho house before
daylight, he has seemed to think he was
the most important man in the country.
On his examination at Wilcox the JUS
tice held he was justified in his shooting.
He went back to the San Simon valley
and there became the cause of the
BREAKING UP OF JOHN DuNoAN's FAMILY.
After Duncan went to Texas and Jess
Henley took charge of the ranch he was
discharged. Since then he has spent
most of his time in Lordsburg, drinking
a good deal and making himself gener-
ally obnoxious.
During the few days previous to his
death he seemed very anxious to pose as
a bad man, and was continually seeking
a quarrel with any one he could. As it
was generally known that he carried 4
six-shooter no one wanted to quarrel
with him, for fight meant death to ono
or the other. During that time two diff
ferent men prepared themselves for a
scrap with Hefey and met him, but he
seemed to know they we're prepared for
him, and he became very quiet and not
at all quarrelsome. Friday night he an
nounced his intention of breaking up the
dance by
SHOOTING OUT TIE LIGHTS,
but in some way he learned that man
was sitting inside the door with two six
shooters within reach of his hand, waiting
for him to make break, and he kept
away from the dance.
He seemed particularly anxious to have
trouble with W. B. Conner, because Con-
ner had forbidden him to come to the
house to see his daughter, and freely an
nounced his intention of killing Conner
before he left town. He intended leaving
Monday morning, and made many talks
Sunday night about Conner.
Cenner evidently came to the conclu'
sion that if he appeared on the streets he
must be prepared for any emergency
and so'when he came down town Monday
morning he carried repeating shotgun
\ Hehey at Charlie Foo = restaurant
TROUBLE BETWEEN THEM WAS SET
..l. Conner gave himself up to Con.
stable Hardin. At 10 O'Clock Justice Nc
Grath, acting as coroner, held an inquest
over the remains. There were severa
witnesses to the shooting and their testi
mony was the same on all important
| points, and was to the effect that HeAey
stood at the door of the restaurant and
Conner was on the outside; that Hefey
first shot at Conner with his six-shooter
that Conner returned the fire; that Hefey
| shot the second time, that Conner then
shot twice and Hefey was dead.
From the appearance of Hefley's body
scattering shot from the first or second
discharge of the shotgun
HIT HIM IN THE FACE
and as he turned he then received the las
charge under the left shoulder, which
must have torn his heart to pieces, caus
ing instant death.
The coroner's jury brought in YER
dict saying that HeAey came to his dsatt
from gunshot wounds administered BY
| w. B. Conner, and that Conner was justi
fed in shooting. Justice McGrath turned
Conner loose on this verdict without
holding an examination. Conner re-
fused TO make any statement regard
ing the affray.
The people all agree that Conner wai
justified in what he did, and he has to
DAY more friends in town than he svel
had before.
Hsfey has the reputation of being .
bad man. A man who knew him in TexaI
said that Holman was
THE SIXTH MAN HH HAD KILLED,
and none of them had any moro chance
than Holman was said to have had. 1t il
certain for the last few days he tried tt
bs bad man and richly deserved hi
fate. A few months ago he was shot il
the shoulder by an Apache Indian whil'
passing from the San Simon valley int
the Animas, a few miles from Chase d
McCabe's ranch. His brother came herr
Tuesday evening from Bisbse. He say
that Phil had been leading wild life fo
tenf years, and his relatives had bee,
vainiy trying to get him to settle down
He was buried Wednesday.
w. B. Conner has lived in this vicinit,
of Lordsburg for many years, and has I
fine family Of children. He has Away
been peaceable man and has borne
good reputation a. citizen, which repu
tation this killing has in no ways hurt.