Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-09-19
His Violent Temper, Insobriety
and Ruthless Tongue Cost
Him His Life.
RYNERSON IRE KINDLED
Shoots First and Was Subsequently
Acquitted on Grounds Of Self
Defense.
BY HUNTER JAMES.

SsiittSh AhSAVoA'NAS AOA
Mexican).
No section Of the length and breadth
of the area of this great country
abounds in the romantic and pictur-
esque, to a greater extent than does
the Territory of New Mexico and its
Tar famed Capital City. Volumes of
romance, much of it on the tragical
order have been written in the past,
and will continue to be written in the
years to come The older residents OF
the Territory are laden with remi-
niscences of the long ago, and in the
panorama of these events perhaps
none is more interesting and enter
tanning than the tragic death met by
Colonel John P Slough, chief justice
o1 the Supreme court Of the Territory,
in the billiard room of the Exchange
hotel then the principal hostelry OF
the Holy City, in the winter OF 1867.
The other principal in the bloody con-
fiict which resulted in the tragic
death of Colonel Slough was Colonel
William L. Rynerson, who during the
winter of 1867 was member of the
Council of the Legislative Assembly.
Colonel Slough, who commanded
the Colorado Volunteers at the battle
of Glorieta, in which the Texans were
driven out of New Mexico, was a very
violent man, and his violence was in
creased when he had a cargo of liquor
ON board. Subsequent to his victory
at Glorieta, he was made brigadier
general, and assigned to duty with the
Federal forces at Alexandria, Va.
Later he returned to New Mexico, hav-
ing received the appointment as chief
Justice of the Supreme court of the
Territory from President Andrew
johnson, in recognition of his services
at Glorieta.
AS has been noted he was very
violent man, and also hard drinker.
During the session of the Legislative
Assembly in the winter of 1867, Col
onel Rynerson who was a member of
the Council from Dona Ana County,
offered a resolution in that body CEN
ssuring the conduct of Colonel Slough
as chief justice of the Supreme court
of the Territory, and petitioning the
President of the United States for his
removal.
This action on the part of Colonel
Rynerson exasperated Colonel Slough
still more While in his cups ne
would run around the streets like a
mad man, denouncing Colonel Ryner-
son as liar and a thief, and avowing
he had robbed the government when
a quartermaster in the army. These
denunciations had reached Colonel
Rynerson from time to time indirect
Ay. but not until the Saturday night
preceding the day that chronicled the
tragic death of Colonel Slough, was
Colonel Rynerson brought face to face
with his accuser and the accusations
made Colonel Rynerson during the
civil war had been quartermaster of
the First California infantry.
On the evenuful Saturday night that
led up to the tragedy that was enact
ed on the following day, Colonel Ry-
nerson was engaged in game of bill
liartls in the Exchange hotel, when
Colonel Slough entered the billiard
hall with several friends. He at once
began an attack on Colonel Rynerson,
loud enough for the latter to hear him,
in which he denounced him as sew
en-foot thief, who had robbed his way
through the army as quartermaster,
and would steal anything even then.
The billiard game concluded Colonel
Rynerson walked out into the Office of
the hotel without taking any open no.
tice of the denunciations made by
Colonel Slough. The hotel keeper
Tom Mcdonald, who had heard all Of
the abuse, as others had, begged
Colonel Rynerson to leave and cause
no trouble at his place, as it would
ruin his business. Colonel Rynerson
rhereupCn left
EARLY the next morning, Sunday,
Colonel Slough entered the billiard
hall which was crowded, and in loud
voice began denouncing Colonel Ry-
nersOn not only as liar and thief,
but coward, for not taking offense
at his open denunciations of the night
before.
About noon Colonel Rynerson en-
tered the Office of the hostelry, pre-
paratory to going to dinner. The way
to the dining room led through the
billiard hall. Colonel Slough met him
at the door He was still talking in
a loud voice in the same strain. AS
the two men accosted each other,
Colonel Rynerson called Colonel
Slough's attention to the fact that he
had been using very violent and in
sulting language toward him.
Continued on Page 5.