El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-25
KILLING

SRt
Owner.-The Would be Murder
er ki1led.-The Young Woman
Was His Housekeeper and He
Was Supposed TO be Jealous.
Special Correspondence of the HERALD.
ENGLE, N. M, Aug. 24.-Fsirview, if
ty miles west of this place by stage and
prominent as q cattlesand mineral center
was thrown n q f1utter of excitement
last evening and at this time the fever
ishness has not abated in b least.
Nellie McKinstrey, q winsome and
bewitching young woman, was mounted
on horseback enroute to general round
when she was accosted by w. j. Sprsd-
ling, Familiarity known as Jack"
Spradling, a wealthy cattle and ranch
owner.
The stockman was also on horseback
and as he encountered the young wO-
man be drew rein and hurled a few
threatening remarks to the astonished
revolver from his scabbard q fred
point blank at the ~6efenseless n un-
~suspecting girl. The deadly missile
struck the woman in the. feshy part of
the neck. The helpless and wounded
rider wobbled p%iteously in her saddle,
uttered a choking groan aud fell
1Esse ring RAM from hSs o,ear1 her n tb sG %sr.
rem plain and attracted the attention
of several cattlemen who were in the
vicinity of the stock round up a hun
dred yards from the scene.
The party of cattle punchers saw the
~retreating figure of q man on horse
back fleeing from the place
where the woman topp!ed from her
animal. Galloping f%uriously toward
the spot the determine ed men quick
ly rea ,hed the wounded and helpless
rider.
On enquiring from the woman as to
the person who fred the murderous
shot it was learned that Spr. ding
committed the deed.
The desperate men lost no time and
Immediately started in hot pursuit to
overtske the fugitive. Among the
bunch of cowboys in the chase was
s'Piuk" Murray, foreman of Cross's big
and a noted plainsman. The posse
gained in wonderful strides on the
would-be-murderer, who was squirting |
his horse to a frantic gait.
When the pursuers were within fifty
yards of Spreading the escaping stock
man halted his jaded steed, wheeled
animal about and fred several
dL tu0 m6u uuub0r6. "A running !
fight and general fusillade of bullets
then held full sway and over twenty
pellets were exchanged.
During the rain of shot Spreading
seen to toppled from his horse
mortally wounded. He regain ed suf-
icient strength, however, to again
mount his steed though badly shatter-
ed. The posse at this point had ex-
hausted their supply of ammunition and
nnUi - n fhn obiant ~ fhni. h,,-t x-o1 |
bad shape and could
aot gain much Roadway they logged to
but q few miles distant, aud
their ammunition stock
also occurred q relay of fresh horses
Ind Winchesters. and we're off again.
They overlook the wounded ranchman
short distance away, and when within
'asy shooting range they unremitting-
y pumped lead into the desperate and
cattleman, who was firing like
mad.
During the onslaught the maniacal
lorseman fell head long to the ground.
The victorious justice seekers closed In
N their game only to find Spreading a
lead man. Six bullets penetrated mis-
'ody AID head, killing him. His
little animal vas also wounded
the melee of pistol and rifle
Ihots.
Inquest OF the body of Spreading will
AXE place tomorrow at Fairview. DR..
T. Blinn of Chloride attended the in
woman and says there is q pos
Iibility of her recovery.
Nellie McKinstrey, the woman in the
'ase, came to Fair View four months
go from Marion, Indiana, to keep house
or Spradling it was said. The stock
nan however, paraded the attractive
'Oung woman as his cousin, but it is
aid by those in q position to know that
he charming damsel from Indiana was
total stranger to b prosperous stock
'wner previous to her pilgrimage in
his direction. When the woman pass
d through this place she made diligept
Inquiries regarding Spradling's fran
lal standing, his general appearance
nd asked other questions that would
enote her total ignorance of the man. J
She also prided herself on the fact
bat she was at one time a fOotlight
avorite, and produced a photograph to
ear out her statement
1t Is believed Spradling and the ro- {
.~antically inclined ~ex-actress became
mutually acquainted through the ad-
ertlsiDg end correspondence medium
t q newspaper.
The dead man wa well-kpown in
his community whence he migrated to
fifteen years ago and accumu-
q fortune in successful cattle in ,
estments.
The McKinstrey woman is possessed
t a graceful figure, is fair of features
nd is in the neighborhood of thirty
ears of age.
j. w. CoNNoRs. .
The Rev r q Mull{ns hoe baop :