Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-03-26
TUCUMCAR|
IS AROUSED
Citizens Are Determined
That Law and Order
Shall Prevail.
MONDAY NIGHTS MURDERS
The Three Men Under Arrest
Have Unsavory Records
Throughout the
Southwest.
Special to the New Mexican.

Special to the New MeXlcaH~s
Tucumcari, March 26.-The citizens
of Tucumcari have closed the notorious
dance hall in which the murdersi OF
Monday night took place. 1t wasS s.e
most free and easy joint in the south
west and has been the scene of night
ly brawls and fights. The murders of
Monday caused the citizens to take
summary action and public sentiment
is thoroughly aroused. There is a de-
termination that the town shall be or
derby and law abiding.
There is a rumor that the trouble
Monday night was premeditated Val.
Kearnes John Young and Louis Keef-
er went to the dance hall and UNDER
took to have things their own way.
Keefer, on demand of Deputy Sheriff
J. H. Myers, turned over his revolver
to him. Deputy Sheriff Myers deman-
ded that Curley Carroll, manager Of
the hall, also turn his revolver over to
him, but Carroll refused. The trouble
was started by Young who, when a
woman refused to dance with him, op-
ened fire. He first selected Carroll,
and the first shot fired penetrated his
neck and the second went through his
body, killing him instantly. Joseph
Hoffman, owner of the hall, was next
shot twice and instantly killed. Ken
meth Woodward of Quanah, Texas, was
shot over the right lung and died five
hours afterwards. A musician was ac-
cidentally shot through both hands.
Deputy Sheriff Myers did all in his
power to stop the trouble, but was un-
able to do SO. He even stood between
the duelists. Kearnes, Young and
Keefer were arrested and were placed
under guard in saloon.
Keefer is not thought to have taken
any active part in the shooting as he
had surrendered his revolver, but it is
rumored that he remarked just before
the shooting AcoIn,ne,r ga BOYS, You
had better do what you came down
here to do and we will go back to
town." Almost Immediately the shoot
ing commenced. Keefer is known
throughout eastern New Mexico and
Texas as a dangerous man and it Is
said he has committed several muir
ders. He was engaged in the saloon
business along the line of the Rock Is
land extension to Ell Paso and only re-
Gently returned to Tucumcari with
Kearnes and Young.
Huffman has managed many dance
halls throughout the southwest and on
ly recently was discharged from the
hospital after having been shot during
a gambling game.
The coroner's inquest was held be-
hind closed doors and the preliminary
hearing of the men under arrest is set
for today.
CONFLICTING STORIES.
Arthur e. Curren Of Tucumcari, ar
rived in this city last night and Is at
the Palace hotel. He said today there
are conflicting stories as to how the
trouble originated. One story is to the
effect that Kearnes and Carroll got
into a quarrel and that Carroll drew
his revolver when Young whipped his
out and shot Carroll dead before he
had time to fire. Huffman then took
a hand in it and was shot next. Wood
ward, the bartender, was the next one
shot. There is some question as to the
part taken by Kearnes and Keefer and
80 they are held under arrest also.