Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-03-22
BAD KILLIHa OF rHI EEr1EY.

DucksnOJ into Phil Kelley, under his
left shoulder. Phil reeled fell on bis
face and never moved again.
Since Phil Heney killed Ben Holman
at Shanahan's ranch in January, by
shooting him with load Of buckshot
just after Holman came out Of the
house before daylight, he has seemed
to think he was the most important
man In the country. On his examina-
tion at Wilcox the justice held he
was justified 10 his shooting. He went
back to the San Simon and there be-
came the cause Of the breaking up Of
John Duncan's family. After Duncan
went to Texas and Jess Henley took
charge Of the ranch he was discharged.
Since when he has spent most Of his
time in Lordsburg, drinking a good
deal and making himself generally
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 a sixshooter no one
wanted to quarrel with him, for a
fight meant death to one or the other.
During that time two different men
prepared themselves for a scrap with
Hefey and met him, but he seemed to.
know they were prepared for him, and
he became very quiet and not at all
quarrelsome. Friday night he an
nouacsd his intention Of breaking up
the dance by shooting out the lights,
but 10 ONE way he learned that man
was sitting inside the door with two
%sixshooters within reach Of his hand,
waiting for him to make a break, and
he kept away from the dance.
He seemed particularly anxious to
have trouble with w. b. Conner, be-
cause Conner had forbidden him to
come to the house to see his daughter,
and freely announced his intention of
killing Conner before he left town.
lie intended leaving Monday morning,
and made many talks Sunday night
about Conner.
Conner evidently came to the con-
clusion 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 a re-
peating shotgun. He met Hefley at
Charlie Zoos restaurant and all trou-
Bile between them was settled. Mr..
Conner gave himself up to Constable
Hardin. At ten o'clock Justice Nc
Gratb, acting as coroner, held an in
quest over the remains. There were
several witnesses. to the shooting and
their testimony wGs the same on all
important points, and was to the eff
feet that Hefey stood at the door Of
the restaurant and Conner was on the
outside, that Hefey first shot at Con-
ner with his sixshooter, that Conner
returBed the fire, that Hefey shot the
second time, that Conner then shot
twice and He1ey was dead.
From the appearance of Heney'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 last charge under
the left shoulder, which must have
torn his heart to pieces, causing in
slant death.
The coroner's jury brought in a YER
dict saying that HeAey came to his
death from gunshot wounds admins
tered by w. b. Conner, and that Con.
ner was testified in shooting. Justice
McGrath turned Conner loose on this
verdict without holding an examina-
tion. Conner refused to make any
statement regarding the ARRAY.
The people all agree that Conner
was justiasd in what he did, and he
has today more friends in town than
he ever had before.
Heney has the reputation of being a
bad man. A nan who knew him in
Texas said that Holman was the sixth
man he had Killed, and that none OF
them had any more chance than Hol.
man was supposed to have had. 1t 4:
certain that for the last few days he
tried to be a bad man, aud richly dc.
served his fate. A few months ago he
was shot in the shoulder by an Apache
Indian while passing from the San
Simon valley into the Anlmas, a few
miles from Chase s. McCabe's ranch
His brother came here Tuesday even,
ing from Bisbee. He says that Phi
had been leading a wild life for ter
years, and his relatives had been vain
ly trying TO get him to settle down.
He was buried Wednesday.
W. B. Conner has lived 10 the yicin
ity Of L%ordsburg for many years, and
has a fine family Of children. He has
always been a p~eaceable man and has
borne a good reputation as a citizen,
which reputation this killing has in
no ways hurt.
Mrs. Williams of Demiug Is visiting