Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-01-11
coRoNeR,s INQUEST.


respect.
coaoNER's INQUEST.
Coroner Lackey summoned a jury
in an inquest yesterday evening which
vas neId over the remains Of the dead
sheriff. Coroner Lackey impaneled
the following jury: James ], German,
Oswald Link, John Harmon, Sam n.
Johnson. c. S, Casad. Joe oBrien.
The following witnesses testified;
Chas. n. Allen: was directly
across the street from the I'll Moro
aud noticed Thompson and Stansel
jallsing to one another over there.
couldn't understand what they were
saying; Mr.. Thompson turned and
started down the street. Mr.. Stause.
dred one or TWO shots. Mr.. Thompson
whirled around and started back to-
ward Mr. Stausel. When they haa
emptied their guns Sheriff Thompson
| turned and started down the street
Mr.. stansel snapped his gun again
inding 1t empty he ran up behino
Mr.. Thompson and nit him three o.
our times over the head, and then he
went in the III Moro saloon. and Mr
Thompson started into Helms barber
shop and fell in the doorway l did
not see Stansel come back out OF the
| ~ Moro saloon; could not tell what
kind OF guns the combatants used
This occurred at Has a. m. today
r. C. Graden; | was in the Demo,
crat office and heard firing on the
street. BY the time | got down to
corner Of Democrat office the shoot
ing had ceased | saw Officer Stansel
strike Sheriff Thompson four or five
ines over the head with his revoly-
cr. | then walked down the street
10 where they were and when ! got
here Sheriff Thompson had fallen
down on the sidewalk Stansel mad
| gone inside of a saloon but came back
n Il short time and stood in the door
with a revolver in each hand. | saw
Thompson attempt to enter the alley
between Helms barber shop and the
saloon south, and fall back at the
entrance.
| S. II, Thompson; ! saw the alterca-
tion: was crossing the street toward
the FL Moro, and when in about TWEEN
| ty feet of the sidewalk | was looking
back east; ! looked up at once and
Stansel was either standing sideways
or seemedSto be more with his bacl,
to Thompson and was either getting
his revolver out or had it out, and |
| started to retreat to the other side
looking back as ran. and don't
| know how many shots they did fire
but then they commenced hitting each
other over the head with their revolv.
ers. After a few passes with their
revolvers in that way Thompson re
sisted no longer. but feebly tried TO
ward OFF the blows aimed at him by
| Stansel Stansel went into the Z.
Moro saloon and Thompson started in.
20 Helms barber shop and fell back
ward with his head out on the side
walk, in front of the shop. The shota
fired attracted my attention
Thomas lockwood: Thompson and
Stansel talking attracted my atten.
ton. Thompson was standing near
the building and Stansel near the out.
er edge of the sidewalk. Both start.
ed and turned slightly as though to
meet each other, when l think Thomp.
son spoke TO Stansel. Both immedi.
ately turned, drawing their revolvers
and commencing to shoot. 1t was
hard to tell which shot first, but |
believe Thompson was first to shoot.
| They emptied their revolvers, both
about the same time. Stansel looked
at his revolver and then both started
toward each other. fighting with their
empty revolvers. Thompson walked
down the street to Helms barber
shop and sank in the doorway. Stan.
sci went into the Ell Moro saloon.
coming ont again Immediately and
then shortly returned to the saloon
Mr. Thompson was sheriff OF La Plata
county.
c. l.. Fowler; | was on my way to
lunch and was about opposite where
the trouble occurred. when | was at.
tracted by loud words. like a quarrel
on the opposite side; looked up and
saw Thompson and Stansel facing
each other. Thompson had n gun in
his right hand and heard the report
of shot and in short interval |
saw a gun in the hand of Stansel and
heard several shots in quick success
sion. then heard the guns click
as If on empty cartridges. Then
Thompson started toward Stansel, ap-
parenty dazed. | then saw Stansel
strike Thompson with his gun several
times. Thompson then turned and
walked to the door of Helms barber
shop and stopped in the door, and fell
backward. Stanscl went into the Ell
Moro saloon.
| w, T. Darlington; Thompson and
Stausel were standing facing toward
me and were talking and | started
and walked half way across the street.
and heard Thompson say, C d.
you" and Stansel said. Don't you
G. d me for | won't stnud for II -