Arizona republican., 1905-01-28
MORALES TRAGEDY
Suicide After the Slaughter
 of Three Men
Cowboy" Johnson aud H. fl. Conn Slain by a Desperate Deprived of His Job.

Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 27.-One of the worst tragedies in the history of south ern Arizona, in which four men lost their lives, occurred in the border town of NogaIes, at 3:3O o'clock this morning. Ferdinand Walters, a gambler, entered the Palace saloon, owned by M. M Conn. walked to a poker table and without a word of warning, drew a revolver and open ed fire on the dealer, named Cowboy" Johnson, firing two shots through his head.
 Walters then turned on Conn. the proprietor, who was making his way towards the door, shooting him through the head and heart The murderer then turned his weapon to- ward a monte dealer, shooting him in the back of the head. He fired a shot at George BendIe, a cattleman, and grazed the latters face and then, turn ing the revolver on himself, sent bull let crashing through his own brain.
 All of the victims died before being able to make statements. Walters had been in the employ of Conn, but had been discharged a few days before. It is said he was intoxicated at the time
 
 of the best known sporting men in the southwest, and a man of family. The dead monte dealer was named Modesto Oliy-ar, and was a Mexican. fWalters, who was known in the south Iwest as Catalina Kid had travelled extensively. He was at Skagway, Alaska, in 1897. and there. it is said, was identified with the "Soapy Smith gang.
 Walters, who had been running a poker game in Conn's house, was dis charged on complaint of patrons of the resort that Walters had been using marked cards to win their money. When Walters turned over the game to another man on Wednesday night he remarked to the man who took his place that there would probably be some dead men around there before long.
 Word of the tragedy was received at Phoenix early yesterday morning. B. J. Whitesides of the legislature had a telegram informing him of the kill ing. which it was said took place about four o'clock in the morning. One dis patch said that Walters had been playing cards and that he arose from the table and started to the door say ing that he had been robbed. He turn ed before reaching the door and shot Cowboy Johnson. He next shot a Mexican and killed Conn last. Then he went out on the sidewalk and killed himself. There is still some doubt as to the identity of the man who did the shooting. Persons from NOgales now here do not know anybody of that name there and from they have learned they are of the opinion that the shoot ing was done by a stranger. But a man by the name of Walters, a des- perate character. suspected of holding up a saloon at Bisbee, has been Oper- ating in the southern part of the ter ritOry. This Walters was a short card man and came to the territory from Colorado. It was not known that he was at NogaIes.
 The reputation of Johnson, who was known all over the territory, was not very good. He was recognized as a ! crooked gambler.
 Conn had lived in the territory about ten years. He lived for some time at Tucson where he was engaged in the 1 saloon business. Eight years ago he went to NOgales. He was highly es- ] teemed by all who knew him. He was never quarTelsOme and in the frequent | controversies which are forced upon men in the saloon business he usually gave way in order to avoid trouble. There had been for some time a good ] deal of complaint about the manage ment of the games in COnn's place. A couple of months ago George Marsh. a retired gambler who used to deal roulette in Phoenix, lost $2,OO0 there one night and said that he had been robbed by Johnson. Conn was not blamed for taking part in the crook edness in his house or of prohting from it, but he was blamed for permitting it.