Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-03-26

Monday morning, a little after eight
o'clock, w. b. Corners put a charge OF
buckshot into Phil Hehey, under his left
shoulder. Phil reeled, fell on his face
and never moved again
Since Phil Hefey killed Ben Holman
at shanahan's ranch in January, by
shooting him with a 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 examination at Wilcox
the justice held he was justified in his
shooting. He went back to the San ST.
mon and thefo became the cause Of the
breaking up OF John Duncan's family.
After Duncan went to Texas and Jesse
Henley took charge Of the ranch he was
discharged. Since thon he has spent
most of his time in L%ordsburg, drinking
a good deal and making himself general
~ obnoxious.
During the few days previous to his
death he seemed very anxious to pose a:
a bad man. and was continually seeking
a quarrel with any one be could. AS il
was generally kgown that he carried
sixshooter, no one wanted to quarre
with him, for o fight meant death to ont
or the other. During that time two dif.
fereut men prepared themselves for {
scrap with Heiley and met him, but be
seemed to know they we're prepared fol
him, and be became very quiet and moi
at all ~quarvelsome. Friday night he az
nounced his intention Of breaking VI
the dance by shooting out the lights
but in some way be learned that a mar
was sitting inside the door with two six
shooters within reach Of his hand, wait
ing for him TO make a break, and he KEEP.
away from the dance.
He seemed particularly anxious TO havl
trouble with W. b. Conner, because Con
ner had forbidden him to come to tn,
house to see his daughter, AID freel.
announced his intention OF killing Con
ner before he left town. He intende,
leaving Monday morning, and mad
many talks Sunday night about Con
ner.
Conner evidently came to the conclu
sion that II he appeared on tho street
no must be prepared for any emergency
and so when he came down town Mon
day morning he carried a repeating shot
gun. He met Hedey at Charlie Foo
restaurant and ali trouble between ther
was settled. Mr.. Conner gave himsoI
up to Constable Hardin. At 10 o'cloc
Justice McGrath, acting as coroner, bel
an inquest over the remains. Their
were several witnesses TO the shootin
and their testimony was the same On a
Important points, and was TO the eiieC
that Kelley stood at the door Of the rel
tauFHnt and Conner was on the outside
tibet Kelley first shot at Conner wit
his Bixshooter, that Conner returned CD
fire. that Hefiey shot the second timl
that Conner then shot twice and Hefie
WAS dead. From the appearance {
Heiiey's body scattering shot from th
first and second discharge OF the shot
gun hit him 10 the face and as he turr
ed he then received the last charge an
der the left shoulder, which must hav
torn his heart to pieces, causing instar
death.
The ~coronor'a jury brought 10 a We
dict saying that Hefy came 10 his deaf
from gunshot wounds administered b
W. d. Conner, and that Conner was iuI
titled 10 shooting. Justice McGrai
turned Conner loose on this verdi,
without holding an examination. Con
ner refused to make any statement n
gardiug the ARRAY.
The people ali agree that Conner WI
justified IN what he did, and he has 4
day more friends ia town than he eyl
bad before.
, Hehey has the reputation Of being
bad man. a man who knew him
Texas said that Holman was the sixl
man he had killed, and that none
them had any more chance than HC
: man was supposed to have had 1t
certain that for the last few days
tried 10 DO q bad man, and richly deser
2 ed bis fate. A few months ngo he W
b shot IN the shoulder by az Apache !
x dian while passing from the San Sim'
r valley into tho Animas, o few miles fro
Chase q McCRbo'a ranch. HIS broth
came here Tuesday from Bisbee. I
d says that Phil has been leading a wi
life for ten yenra. and his relatives III
been Qainly trying to ret hlm to sell
down. He was buried Wednesday.
E w. - Conner he's lived ID the yiclni
Is of Lordahurg FOR many years. aud hae
line family Of children. he has alwa
been q ~penceable man end kaR borne
good ral nfation as d citizen which n
2 u%tntion this killing hua SO 40 wny hH
In Inrifhurn T.trraI