Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1896-02-11

The fears expressed in q brief special
telegram in the last issue OF the SENrr-
EEn regarding the possible murder
Of COL A. J.. Fountain and bis little son,
appear to be we'll founded. The follow
ing extract from the Rio Grande Repub-
lioan extra, regarding the mystery seems
10 be substantially verified by numerous
other accounts:
Colonel A. J.. Fountain, who left Las
Cruces some time since for Lincoln
county to secure indictments against
the cattle thieves who have for years in
tested this section, should have arrived
home yesterday, MONDAY, 3rdl but did
not come. Every clew as TO the cause
Of his absence points toward murder, 10
which he and his little 8-year old son
are the victims.
The last seen Of Colonel Fountain was
by the mail carrier between Parker's
Wells and Luna's Wells, who mel the
colonel Saturday, while the carrier was
on bis way 70 Tuleroea. The point OF
meeting wal near the Chalk Hills, about
forty miles from Las Cruces. Colonel
Fountain WIS driving homeward. He
reiQned up his team on the approach.
The conversation which ensued and sub
ssquent happenings we give as told by
the carrier.
AL CARRIERS STORY.
81 met Colonel Fountain near the
Chalk Hills, about forty miles from Las
Cruces. just before meeting him I saw
three men on horseback, who seemed
not wanting 70 meet me and took across
the plain at my approach. When | met
Colonel Fountain he asked me II l knew
who the borsemen were. ] told him !
did not and he then said they bad been
following or riding directly ahead OF
him for some time. He was suspicious
OF them.
II told the colonel that it would be
best to come back TO a neighborinR ranch
With me and that we would start to Las
Cruces together Sunday morning. He
studied the matter a moment, and then
said:
"sNo, / will drive On. Good bye.'"
ssWith this Colonel Fountain drove Cd
and / continued on my way.
SUNDAY morning / started toward
Las Cruces. About five miles this side
of where ] had met Colonel Fountain
the previous day / saw where the tracks
OF the c~olonel's buggy had left the road
Remembering the suspicious actions Of
the horsemen the previous day l thought
something was wrong and began to fol
low. After following a ways I got down
and examined the tracks. In addition
to the tracks made by the colonel's team
and buggy the hoof tracks OF three
horses following was plainly discernable
II then came on to Las Cruces anC
finding that Colonel Fountain bad mol
Brrived told what I had SEEM"
Various searching parties have gone
out and returned, bringing no definite
news as TO how the Colonel and his lit
tie son met their tragic fate. The theory
that the three men who had evidentl,
been shadowIng them during the day, al
related above, were the assassins, is per
haps the correct one. They may have
had confederates who joined them q
the point of attack and assisted in thu
capture Of the colonel. No sensible maj
believes that politics played any part il
the tragedy, and it is only those Wit
through malice seek to cast reflection
upon innocent men, that advance thi
theory. Col. Fountain was no doub
murdered by friends of the men whom
be has landed in the ~penitentiary 70
cattle stealing and other crimes.