The border vidette., 1905-01-28
Terrible Tragedy.
Lives of Four Men BlOtted Out
 in as Many Minutes.

no III hIILOIt It ndS cast "A gloom. over the line city and many hearts are sad today.
 Many storles are told, by those pres ent, of the slaughter of NJ NJ. Conn, J J. Johnson and Modesto Olivas by Ferdinand Walters, a gambler, who then placed the gun to his forehead and took his own life. It all happen ed in about five seconds, and no man could have prevented it, without first having known the murderer-suicide's intention. All accounts differ, but the one published in last evenings News appears to be the most correct. It appears that Walters, who was known in Southern California as the ''Catalina Kid" was engaged by Mir. Conn, the proprietor of the Palace Saloon, some weeks ago to run the poker game in the house. From at taches of the resort it Is learned that Walters had been accused by patrons of the game of doing crooked work in his dealing, using "papers" as it Is termed in gambling parlance, other wise known as marked cards. George Howard, who for long time had en- joyed the confidence of Conn, and who has been the factotum of the Palace Saloon for many months, courteously informed Walters that crooked work of any character was absolutely pro hiblted by MT. Conn, and requested Walters to turn over the game to an- other employe.
 So far as can be learned, and the facts seem readily obtainable and in disputable, Walters had no score to settle with the victims of his blood lust. William Abel, who took Wal ters' place at the poker game, states that late Thursday night Walters re marked casually to him that there would be u few dead men before sun rise, but he did not name his victims. The conversation took place in the Monte Carlo, and Abel recalled it only after the tragedy which followed. l After leaving the Monte Carlo saloon Walters strolled down Morley Avenue to the Palace. Entering, he sat at one of the tables at the north end of the place and ordered something to eat Upon finishing his repast Walters walked deliberately toward the bar and stopped for an instant just a few feet south of the center. John son, who is known by the sobriquet of "Cowboy" Johnson, stood leaning against the southern end of the bar, talking with Charles Casteel, the bar tender. and facing somew hat toward the dining tables and consequently directly facing Walters as he ap- preached him.
 Without uttering word Walters drew a forty-five calibre Colt revolver from under the folds of the long black l Ialo iol, ha and firaA blank at Johnson, at a distance ap- proximating four feet. That the murderer fired at close range is clearly indicated by the powder marks which bespa:tered the face of his. first victim. The missile struck Johnson full in the forehead, almost squarely between the eyes and less than half inch above a line drawn between the eyes. He fell forward, face down.
 Walking quickly toward the middle door of Palace, Walters fired the next shot at Conn, who had been sitting at the right of the monte table and who had arisen quickly and started out through the door to the street, striking Conn just back of the left ear, the bullet passing through the head, making clean cut hole though the glass door, the size of silver dollar, and continuing g in its flight until it passed through a glass window light over the southern show window of Escalado Brothers store. The bullet was picked up this morning in the store named.
 The murderer then turned slightly to the right and fired at George Spindle. who sat next to Ohvas, the monte dealer, the bullet passed through the rim of Spindle's hat and struck Olivas in the head. Spindle's face is dotted with power marks, showing that he must have been less then three or four feet from the muzzle of the revolver of his would 1 be assassin.
 Walters then walked to the swingin g doors which open into Morley Avenne, and. stepping over the prostrate form Of M. M. Conn which partly blocked the entrance, went as far as the middle of the street. Reaching this point the triple murderer pressed the muzzle of his revolver to his forehead, and fired he fourth shot. Every shot had taken life.
 Dave Black, as soon as the shootin $ began, ran for his revolver, and secur- - ing it, darted out through the doors after the murderer. Before he could raise his weapon Walters had fired his last shot
 Doctors Gustetter, N. K. Noon and Ferguson were summoned at once, but their services were scarcely needed. The murderer had done his deadly wor