Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1899-09-01
THE FAIRVIEW TRAGEDY.
Fairview, N NJ, Aug Oath, 1899.

i III "A LIN AZ "
Fairyiew, N NJ, Aug Oath, 1899.
EDITOR ADVOCATE
The facts in the case OF the
tragedy that occurred near here on
the 23rd inst. are about as follows !:
Early in June Mrs. Nellie Mckin-
etry arrived IN Fairview on the
stage and procured rig to take
her to Spradling's Ranch, on Dry
Creek, stating she was his cousin.
w. Spradling. or Jack Sprndling
as he was more fsmiliArly known,
had been expecting niece OF
about 10 years OF age to come ont
to visit him. Instead OF the niece
this cousin who had quite recently
lost ber husband came, sending a
dispatch that Spradling got too
late to meet her at Engle. So he
directed Mr.. Winston to send her
up when she came in on the stage.
Spradling, who was somewhat
taciturn but strictly honorable and
fairly we'll to do. did not take the
trouble to explain why his yonug
piaca Aid not come and a woman of
30 years or over had arrived in
stead, SO some Of the boys thinking
that the relationship Was only a
blind, began to visit her. As the
class of men who went around
we're not euch that Spindling
wanted and as she encouraged
them, it led 10 woids which cul,
minated on Sunday 10 her leaving
the honee and remaining away
nuiil Iu ..day. When she re-.
TUNED Jack ordered Lel to ack
her trunk and 70 home. She went
to Chloride that afternoon aud
came over to Fairvew aud ordered
wagon over next M rning far her
trunk At the ranch. int nj n, to
leave on Thu sday's stage
After delivering the 'rnnk Sprad.
lug came to Fairview, hargaiued
lis ranch and cat.le to Mr.. Wins
ton, aud in the afternoon they were
starting over to Chloride to have
the deeds acknowledged when Mr..
Winston, seeing Jack with a big
Colts revolver stuck in his waist
band, asked him to take it off. On
Jack refusing, Mr. Winston who
saw he was laboring under intense
excitement and was mentally dis
tressed, refused to go any farther
and endeavored to get him to go to
Socorro or Water Canon for week
or two till he had got into differ
ent state of mind Reasoning was
of no avail. Spradling proceeding
alone and starting on the trail OF
horsetracks from the ranch his
cousin was staying at and following
it down past Dimes, where be
st pre- and asked for rifle. Mrs.
Dimes, misunderstanding the pnr-
pose he wanted it for, gave it to
him, bnt learning it was bis cousin
he intended to kill, tried to get 1t
back. He went on down the road,
leaving the rifle on the way a short
distance below, and soon after met
his cousin and young man riding
towards him, while about 200 yards
behind were two OF the young
mans sisters. Riding up to his
cousin be asked.
"Nellie, what are you doing
here ?"
Or words OF similar import,
drew his six shooter and shot her.
She fell screaming from her horse
and he turned around and sped of,
stopping at Dimes and telling Mrs.
Dimes that he had killed Nellie and
also where they could find their
Winchester.
Deputy Sheriff Pink Murray,
Tom Ross and Mr.. Dimes were
&C cming along leisurely some dis.
tance behind, when word reached
them that Spradling had shot
woman. They put spurs to their
horses aud seeing the woman lying
bleeding on the road and hearing
her moaning, Murray cailed on
Ross and Sullivan to halp him and
started to get SpradIing. Coming
up with him below Mud Springs on
Chloride Creek, Murray called on
him to surrs p1er. Instead. Sprad-
ling opened FIRE and running
fight commenced. Sprad'ing was
he.ter mounted and distanced them
but they found him again on Dry
Crafk about two miles below his
ranch, and the pursners having got
freeh horsps and Winchesiers
managed to get close to him on the
divide between Dry Creek and
Bear Creek epposiie the TX ranch,
and killed him. He was shot six
times-iwica through The thigh,
three ,imas in he body and once
T.. 81 - D.. rn.s, - <ra.t