Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-27
THREE SHOT TO DEATH.
Details Of a Triple Killing Near Eddy
A Regulation Border Fracas.


day morning by the report that triple
killing had occurred at the town of Phe'
nix to the south of Eddy about mile
and half. The Weekly Current gives
the following details:
AZ about 2:3O Sunday morning at the
saloon'of Bar6eld Fee in Fhenix were
congregated about twenty or thirty peo-
pie, Mexicans and Americana. A diff
Guilty occurred between Ed. Collins, one
of the attaches of the saloon, and Mex
loan named Bruno Nunes, Collins under.
taking to eject the Mexican from the
saloon. While this was taking place, it
is alleged by Collins, that Bruno drew q
knife, when George Fee who was watch
ing the affair, shot the Mexican. This
started q general racket and all the Mex
leans were run out of the saloon. Bruno,
walking as far as the railway before fall
ing; he was found to be wounded in three
places, through the body, groin and side;
he lived until Monday evening. dying in
fearful agony. He was young man of
about "a years of age from Picacho, in
Lincoln county. Andreas Calderon,
another Mexican, was shot dead in his
tracks in front of the saloon, but by
whom, has not yet developed, and Benito
Baca was shot in the knee from the Of.
feet of which he will probably lose his
leg. After the saloon was cleared Mr..
A. Rhodes, who was sleeping, was called.
He got up and dressed and went
into the bar room. This was all
of twenty minutes after the room was
cleared. Rhodes went in behind the bar
to get drink of water, Ed Collins being
behind the bar at the time, George Fee
being outside the bar. just at this time
shot was fred into the open door in the
front of the saloon, followed quickly by
another. The first shot is said to have
struck Rhodes on the left side of the head
passing through back and above the ears,
coming out on the right side; Rhodes
fell like log on his face, his head at the
west eLd of the bar, his brains and blood
running all over the saloon floor. Collins
went around to the end of the bar and
sq uatted down to keep out of the way of
tie bullets, which we're coming in from a
Winchester In the hands of some person
on the railway track, north of the wagon
crossing. Fee jumped behind an iron
safe, after the first shot, being armed
with six shooter, calmly waiting for a
rush on the saloon, which he expected
every moment. Five electric lights were
burning brightly in the saloon, while
outside all was dark, the moon having set
at about 2 O'Clock. The party or parties
who were shooting into the saloon fired
four shots, the effects of which are visible
and then, for want of ammunition, prob
ably, quit, and the inmates of the place
sent FOR the officers.
After daylight Justice Roberts en-
panelled coroner's jury and held in
quests on the bodies of the dead. Later
in the day about a dozen Mexicans were
arrested. Tranquilino Espejo was ar
rested Monday charged with the murder
of Rhodes, with Juan Lara as an accom-
plics and equally guilty. Fee was ar
raated ard. Taiysd eIlrinAsion in the
case TOR the shooting Of Nunes and was
bot ad over in the sum of $4,000 to ap-
pear before the grand jury. He was also
charged with the murder of Andreas Gal
deron.
The death of Mr.. Argyle Rhodes is gen.
orally regretted, he being kindly, big
hearted, whole-souled fellow without an
enemy in the world, it being evident the
shot he received was intended for Fee.
Mr.. Rhodes was born in Springfield, No.,
June 80, 1854, being therefore 42 years
old last June. He went to Tom Green
county, Texas, in 1879 for his health,
being walking skeleton, from consump.
tion. He lived near San Angelo until
1889, working on sheep and cattle ranch
es, arriving here the fall of that year. He
was side partner of VIM. Barield, the
two being associated in business one way
and another for ten years. Rhodes was
never, previous to coming here, engaged
in the sale of liquor. The last six OF
seven years he had become very feshy, at
the time of death weighing 2S3 pounds
His relatives are three brothers, respect.
ed citizens of Missouri near the Arkansas
line, two of whom are in the milling busi
ness.