Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-11-06
FRANK M. GALLOWAY KILLED.

the Separ robbery he started after the
robbers. He secured the assistance OF
Frank M. Galloway, Of Silver City,
who was familiar with the country,
having travelled it many times while
serving as line rider, and Stephen
Birchdeld and Frank McGlinchey, Of
Deming, as special deputies. They
followed the trail into the San Simon
valley, and Saturday afternoon took
dinner at the horse ranch. After eat
ing they pushed on, following the trail
till dark, when they made camp. At
about nine o'clock they heard voices
and horses. They Immediately scat
tered out from the camp and heard
two men ride by.
In the dark they could not tell who
the men were and so let them pass.
They knew that the men they were
after had friends in the neighborhood,
they had that afternoon talked with a
man known to be n of their spys.
This, together with the passing of the
two horsemen, made them apprehen-
sive of a night attack on their camp,
so it was concluded to keep a guard
on watch. Galloway stood the first
watch, McGlinchey the second, Birch
field the third and Shannon the
fourth. About half past one Sheriff
Shannon awoke Galloway for his sec
ond watch. In keeping watch each
man had simply a up on his bedding.
When Galloway was called he got up
and walked around, complaining his
feet we're cold, but before Shannon
went to sleep Galloway had wrapped a
blaket around his feet and sat down
by his side.
Although the men were sleeping yet
every nerve was drawn, for they ex-
pected that any moment they might
have to fight for their lives. Birch
field was Weakened by a noise and
sprang up, grabbing his rifle. His
moving awoke both Shannon and Nc
Glinchey, who grabbed for their rifles.
The sheriff's rifle was caught in his
saddle and he could not get it out i'm
mediately.
Some fifty feet away a dark object
was seen approaching. 1t looked like
a man on horseback. McGlinchey i'm
mediately hailed the object, calling:
"Who is there? Who is there?"
No answer came to the hail and the
sheriff gave the order:
"Shootl Shootl"
Birchaeld aud McGlinchey both
fired, the shots being so close together
as to be barely distinguishable, and
when the smoke cleared away the OBJ
ject had disappeared.
Sheriff Shannon turned to where
Galloway had been sitting when he
went to sleep, but he was not there.
He thought it was Galloway who had
wakened him and looked for him but
could not find him. Suddenly the
terrible truth burst on him and he
cried out:
my God, boys, we have killed Gal
loway!"
Investigation proved it too be too
true. One OF the bullets had hit him
on the right cheek, right where nose
and mustache met, and came out the
back of the neck. Death had been
instantaneous.
What had transpired between the
time the sheriff went TO sleep and his
sudden awakening will lever be
known. Galloway, for some reason,
left camp, which he should not have
done without awakening m of his
companions. In walking he probably
hit a stone, causing the noise which
awoke Birchheld. He may not have
heard McGlinchey's hail, as his over
coat was over his head, or he may have
been too startled to speak. 1t can
never be known.
All thoughts of following the trail
were abandoned. They got a wagon
at the horse ranch and took the body
to ]. A. Chenowith's and Mr.. Cheno
with brought it to Lordsburg.
Justice McGrath held an inquest
where the above facts were brought
out. The verdict of the jury was that
he "came to his death by reason of a
gunshot at the hands of F. McGlin-
chey or Steve Birchfeld. The jury
finds that the shooting was acct
dental"
While it is not known positively
whether it was McGlinchey's shot or
Birchaeld's that made the fatal wound
it is supposed to have been from Birch
fields gun.
The body was prepared for burial