Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-04-01
FULCHER
WILL DIE
Brought to Durango Last Ev-
!. ing Beyond Medic
al Aid.
Conflicting Statements as to
What Transpired at
the Time.

Death is the result of the shooting
on Cherry creek. a brief mention of
which was made in yesterday issue.
The shooting occurred about 1880
a. m. The ball entered the left side
of the nose and ranged along the in
side of the cheek bone, lodging at the
base of the brain.
There were two witnesses present.
Bee Heather and Ernest Potter AZ
ter the departure of the Mexican who
did the shooting. Sylvania Montoya
by name. the above parties carried
Ira Fulcher. the victim. to rear-b'-
tent. and Potter then started for Le
Plata. N. NJ, for aid. He notified
Tom Crump and John McDermott
brother-in-laws of Mr. Fulcher. who
Immediately repaired to the scene o.
the shooting. finding Fulcher breath
ing family.
They secured ooavavance and
started for Durango, arriving about
$50 last night. Fulcher was taken
to Mercy hospital, and Drs McLear
and Jameson called After aa exam
nation they said there was no hope
and 1t was only a question of few
hours at best when death would come
About II o'clock Drs. Bellinger and
Prewitt We're called in. and they re
turned a similar opinion. The injur
ed man was conscious throughout the
night and made dying statement
to the district attorney. which will
be secret until the trial OF Montoya
comes up. This morning he begar
sinking. and at noon was just alive
although conscious, stimulants being
injected to keep up pulsation until his
wife arrived.
Owing to the condition of the vic
tim The Herald could not obtain anr
statement of the affair from Mr.. Full
cher. but from those present informa
ton was obtained to the effect that
Montoya was tlerding shoep ior Full
cher. Lately S5 had been stolen
Fulcher having heard that Montoyf
had sold them to Indians. asked him
about it, which started the trouble
Fuicher was whiting stick at the
time, but put the knife in his pocket
and struck Montoya with his open
hand. Mon.oya staggered for mo
ment. but recovering, pulled his gun
and shot Fulcher. about six feet sep
arating the two men.
Montoya says that Fulcher went TO
the sheep camp and he asked for his
pay. but was refused, until he found
NIL
lost Montoya said he would rather
lose the money than have trouble
over 1t, and at that Fulcher struck
him. and according to Montoya, pull
ed knife out of his pocket and start
ed for him. Montoya backed away
and Fulcher striking at him several
times, one of the thrus;s cutting his
coat he pulled his gun and shot in
self defense. The above is virtually
the story OF the Mexican. As stated
above there were two witnesses. and
they Will undoubtedly be able TO tell
the true circumstances. but no to
noon today they had not arrived in
the city, although they were expect
ed hourly.
Montoya is man about 80 years.
old His mother resides in the san
Luis valley. where in childhood he
says he was raised by Presbyterian
minister. He is not related to fhe
Montoyas residing in the San Luis val.
ley. He has been resident of Du-
Iango and La Plata county for sav-
eral years. having worked for Tom
Chapman long time and is held In
high esteem as an honest and faith
full employee, and those who know hin,
are surprised that he resorted to the
use of q gun. He is confined
in the county Jail and will probably
have a hearing the coming week.
Ira Fulcher was one OF ,lie pioneers
of this section, and had man. friends
in La Plata county as well as In San
Juan, N. NJ, where his ranch is locat.
ed. His wife arrived from his ranch
this afternoon at o'clock. not having
seen him since the shooting. The
meeting was a sad one. There are
no children.
The Fulchsr family appsar to have
been IN hard luck. Ira being the third
one to be shot and killed. One ri
the brothers was kllle in Hucrfan1
county. another. John Fulcher. in On
Tango. about fourteen years ago by