Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-01-11
SHERIFF THOMPSON
KILLED TUESDAY
From Tuesdays Durango Herald.

From Tuesdays Durango Herald.
Sheriff Vim. J. Thompson Is dead.
Acting Marshal Jesse Stansel possibly
mortally wounded and John Accord
with an arm OF Ia the excite
ment In Durango, and the entire af-,
fur can be charged to the question G;
closing gambling.
IL lacked Is minutes of 12 when
First street pedestrians were treated
TO fusillade OF shooting which was
soon discovered to be taking place in
front Of the FL Moro saloon.
A large crowd had gathered in front
OF the Ell Moro saloon and were dis
c,issing the tragedy when the Herald
representatives reached the scene. As
usual there were different ideas, opin-
ions and interests.
From all that can be CLEANED from
printed statements and the utterances
of those familiar with the history OF
Sheriff Thompsons first beginning to
close gambling in Durango seven
months ago. the shooting grew out of
the situation which had been precip-
itated.
Sheriff Thompson had been inform.
ed that gambling was being conduct
ed in the city, and last night entered
the FL Moro saloon, going into pri-
vate apartment recently partitioned
on In the rear where he found a num-
Der OF people playing cards. He is
said to have inquired
What are you fellows doing. play
ing poker? l think you are"
Someone replied In the negative.
Sheriff Thompson then walked over
to a roulette table which is said to
have been covered with cloth cover
ings, and took out the roulette wheel
which he carried away. Later he en-
tered the house again and talked to
the management. protesting against
conducting gambling. The manage
ment denied having gambling, but is
said to have offered to take the sher-
IN where gambling was being conduct
ed In several places. He is said to
have replied that that was his own
business, or something to the effect
that he would look after 1t himself
Parties who saw the sheriff last.
night said he had been drinking ex-
cessively and was under the influence
OF drink when acting as reported
above. using abusive language ID the
management of the Ell Moro. 1t ap-
pears that no other mouse was entered
or molested by the sheriff last night
and It was said by some that the sher-
IN knew gambling was being conduct
ed In several places about the city and
had picked out the FL Moro first, 1t
being the last house to open gambling.
1t has been common street talk
among members of the sporting fra
ternity for some time tnat certain
houses had been gambling for some
time, while others were not prepared
to hide this offense against the law,
and that the latter were being dis
criminated against. Within the past
few weeks private rooms were par
titioned on In both the Oriental and
FL Moro saloons. Among the other
houses alleged to have been gambling
previously were those having up
stairs apartments.
In Its issue OF Sunday morning the
Democrat ,said Sheriff Thompson bet
ter send ont some spoilers and take
In the games around the city.
The sherlff's first action, after thus
being warned in the public prints OF
the existence OF gambling, was to go
TO the El Moro saloon last night short
ly before 10 o'clock.
The two officers emptieA their guns
in their endeavor to kill each other,
and then clubbed each other with the
empty weapons, so say certain by.
ISLANDERS, but others say Thompson
from the start was so seriously
wounded that he made Il waning fight
and that after ne was down Officer
Stansel dubbed him over the head.