Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-06-11
KICKED TO DEATH
At A DANCE
Rufus O. Tucker
Killed in Fight
SundayMorning.
HAS INTERNAL HEMORRHAGE
Crime Committed at Home
Prudencio Garcia on Cas-.
tillo Street. Two Arrests.

Rufus o. Tucker, aged % years, and
son of Thomas S. Tucker, deceased,
one of the founders and former editor
Of the New Mexican and for four years
adjutant general Of the Territory, was
killed in a fight, which occurred at a
dance held at the house of Pruden'
clio Garcia, between Palace Avenue
and Castillo Street, at O'Clock yes
terday morning, death resulting from
an internal hemorrhage caused by a
kick near the heart. There is great
deal of mystery surrounding fuckers
death and although Benito Chaves and
Ramundo Ronquillo have been arrested
charged with the deed, it is as yet
impossible to determine who inflicted
the fatal injury.
According to the story of eye wit
nesses, the fight had started when
Tucker entered the room. In fact
there had been several fights during
the. evening, but none of a serious
nature. Tucker, who it is said had
been drinking, entered the dance hall
and challenged John Callahan to
fight. The latter had been at the
dance but a short time, according to
his own story and had come for the
purpose of escorting his sisters home.
He paid no attention to the remarks
made by Tucker, not desiring to create
any trouble. During the fight which
was at that time in full swing, Tucker
was knocked down and kicked by at
least two of the participants. He tried
to rise, but fell back unconscious. A
hasty examination showed that he was
dead. DR.. David Knapp was imme.
diately summoned and held an autopsy,
which showed that death had resulted
from an internal hemorrhage, and a
mark about four. inches to the left of
the heart showed that kick Tucker
had received there, had been the
cause. A further examination dis
closed that two ribs had been frac-
tured, but this alone would not have
proved fatal.
Cause of Fight Unknown.
(, The cause of the fight is not known
but it is not supposed that Tucker had
any enemies who took advantage of
the opportunity and inflicted the kicks
that killed. 1t is the general opinion
that she participants in the fight, ell
Of whom had been drinking, directed
their Flows at random and that Tucker
was the unfortunate victim. He is
said to have resisted and it is probable
that for this reason he was kicked af-
ter he had fallen to the floor.
William M. Tucker, a brother of
the deceased, was in attendance at the
dance and had the following to say
concerning the fatality:
when the fight started my brother
and myself were outside of the house.
He went towards the door and fol-
lowed. He succeeded in getting into
the room, but on account of the wom-
en- who had become frightened, and
were rushing out, ! was unable to
reach his side. He had been drinking
Ia little and I feared that he might
get into trouble and for that reason
I wanted to be with him. When !
did finally get into the room he was
lying on the floor and in moment
saw that he was dead. / have no
idea why the deed should have been
done.
Enrique Romero, an eye witness and
a personal friend of fuckers, gave
the following account of the affair:
tucker and myself went to the
dance about 1890 o'clock. He was
not badly intoxicated, but had been
drinking some, and upon arriving at
Garcia's place, he became somewhat
boisterous. made an effort to keen
him out of trouble and one one occa-
sion had to hold him down to keep
him out of a fight. At that time his
brother came along and told me to let
him up. that he would be all right |
did as I was told, and permitted him
to go. A short time after he went into
the dance hall, where the fight was
going on. I was in the room at the
time and heard him challenge Callahan
who paid no attention to him. Hap.
pening to look around saw him fall
to the floor when two men began
kicking him. I tried to get to him but
the room was so crowded that 1t was
impossible"
/ Two Men Under Arrest.
Romero declined to say anything
concerning the Identity of the men
whom he saw kick Tucker, to repre-.
sentative of the New Mexican, but Dep.
Ihty Sheriff r. L. Baca and Policeman
Romulo Lopez arrested Benito Chaves
and Ramundo Ronquillo as the result
jof statement made by Romero, ac
cusing them shortly after the killing.
Justice of the Peace Nicolas Sena
summoned coroner's jury, comprising
Ascencion Rael, Francisco Arse, Mel
quiadez Quintana, Pedro Ortega, Anna
do Sena, Lucas Romo and the follow
ing verdict was returned.
Territory Of New Mexico,
I County Of Santa Fess.
\ Whereas on the 9th day of June, A
D., 1906, before me, the undersigned
i iuctioa If thn nnoon L., ord f,r -