Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-08-26
A KILLER WAS KILLED.
An Exciting Tragedy Takes
Place at FaIrview. N. M.
W. J. Spradllne, Cattleman, Mel
lie McKinstry and a Num-
Der Of Cowmen In 1t.

A special to the Denver News from
Engle, n. NJ, dated August "a. says:
Fairv.ew, a mineral cattle center,
50-mile stage west of this place, wsi
last evening ths scene of desperate
battle and killing. WI. Sprsdling, .
wealthy cattleman, controlling large
stock interests in Chloride, two miles
west of Fairview, while en- route TO !
general cattle roundup In the neigh
borhood, encountered Nellie McKinstry
a woman from Marion. Ind, who wa.
on horseback on the way to the stock
gathering.
Spradling accosted the woman with
some threatening remark. and drew 4
revolver fro n his scabbard. lie fired
point-blank at her. The missile took
Effect, strikin the fleshy part of the
neck. The woman ieeIed, uttered Q
choking groan. and fell in a totterinl
condition from tie animal. Spradling
mounted when he fred.
The shot attracted the. attention of d
number of cattlemen, who we're at the
roundup, ahundred yards from the
scene.
Galloping at breakneck speed toward
the spot, the men reached the wounded
woman. To inquiries as to the person
who fired, she said that Spradling com
mitted the deed. The men started in hot
pursuit to overtake the fugitiys
Among the bunch of cowboys was
"Pink" Murray, foreman of the Cross,
big cattle outfit, also deputy sheriff
and thorough plainsman. The posse
gained Oh the would-be murderer, who
spurred his jaded horse to a frantic
gait. When the pursuers were fifty
yards from SpradIing the escaping
stockmsn wheeled his horse and fired
several shots at the manhunters. A
running fight ensued. and over twenty
shots were exchanged. Spradling top.
pied from his horse. wounded. lie re-
gained strength, however. and mounted
his horse again, though badly wounded.
The posse at this point exhausted their
supply of ammunition.
They logged to Fairview and secured
fresh relay of horses and Nvinchesters.
They overlook the wounded horsemsIl
in short distance, and unremittingly
pumped lead into the cattleman, who
was firing like mad. The desperate
man fell headlong to the ground. The
posse closed In to find Spradling. dead.
Six bullets penetrated his body and
head, killing him instantly. His horse
was also wounded. An inquest will
take place at Fairview to morrow. DIR.
Blinn is attended the woman and says
there is slight chance for recovery.
Nellie McKinstry came to Fairview,
from Marion, Indiana, four months ago
to keep house for Spradllng. The stock
man passed her off as a cousin, but it is
said by those in position to know, that
she was total stranger to him previous
to going there. When she passed
through this place she made inquiries
regarding Spradling's financial standing,
general appearance, and other ques-
tions denoting her total ignorance of
the man.
1t is believed they became acquainted
through the medium of newspaper ad-
vertising.
The dead man was forty-6ve years of
age and has been In this region for If
teen years. He accumulated . fortune
in cattle Investments. The McKinstry
woman, it is said, was formerly an act
ress. She is winsome person, fair of
feature and about 30 years of age.