Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-01-02
RA|LROADER KILLS
LAMY NATIVE
Catalina Lobato
Shot By Express
Messenger.
MOB HELD At BAY
BY Slayer Morris in Opera
tors Room Sheriff Clos
sons Quick Work.

Barricaded in the lunch room at the
station eaii~g house in l.amy, Express
MESSENGER M. Morris of'the Walls
y 90 rall.,s, Company, who is EN-
Dyed ON the main line Of the Atchi-
sen, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
spent an uncomfortable two hours
last night standing off mob of from
fifty TO seventy-five armed and de-
termined men. He sought safety IN
the lunch room after having shot and
killed Catalina Lobato, who was until
the day previous deputy under Sher.
iff ~ltonio J. Ortiz. Morris is now
confined in the county Jail here await,
ing a preliminary hearing.
The tragedy occurred about 1880
o'clock last night.
1t Is not known exactly what the
cause was which led up to the fatal
affray. II is said that Morris had
alighted at Lamy from a west bound
train and was goifg to double back 10
his headquarters on train No. s. While
awaiting the arrival OF the east bound
train he was lying on one Of the
benches in the waiting room of the
depot. &
Native Sat Down on Express Messen'
gers Leg.
I4obato's brother is reported to have
came into the waiting room and SAT
down on Morriss leg Norris became
angered at this and a quarrel ensued
I'M which IT is alleged Morris beat the
man over the - Siesi the bntt end
of his revolver. As soon as the man
who was attacked could release HIM
self he ran away muttering threats.
Morris in the meantime went from
the depot waiting room to the hotel
and barricaded himself in the lunch
room. Joseph v Barras. the tele.
graph operator as the station, had
warned Norris 10 seek shelter at, the
eating house. as he felt sure that Nor
ris would be Nughly handled. Nor
ris had hardly reached the lunch room
when Catalina Lobato and the latter's
brother entered from different doors.
Each was carrying revolver Nor
ris claims that one of them shot at
him whereupon he began firing,
Only One Shot Struck Lobato Killing
Him.
Catalina Lobato was struck in the
breast by one of the four shots fred
from Morris pistol, and the bullet
pierced the heart. Lobato staggered
through the Office adjoining into the
wash room where he fell to the floor
dead. His revolver was found lying
at his side. The pistol was cooked
but none of the cartridges had been
exploded. Lobato's brother who was
the cause of the trouble beat a hasty
retreat when Morris began shooting,
and was not injured.
Morris made no attempt to escape
but remained at the lunch room. When
he saw mob of armed men approach
ing he barricaded the doors, deter
mined to fight for his life. The in
furiated crowd made several futile
attempts to break in the doors. 1t is
said that none of Lobatos friends fired
a shot although the lunch room was
bombarded with rocks and other mis-
siles.
Sheriff closson Called Upon to Act
Quickly.
Sheriff Charles G. Closson who as
sumed his new duties yesterday morn
ing received a telegram at o'clock
informing him of the tragedy and OF
the fact that the man who did the
shooting had locked himself in the
lunch room. 1t was also reported that
futher bloodshed was imminent. He
hurried to the depot in time to catch
the train for Lamy which left few
minutes later and within an hour had
Morris placed under arrest.
When Sheriff Closson appeared on
the scene the mob ceased its demon.
strations. Morris offered no resist
ance and was not interfered with
when the officer took charge of him.
He was brought to this city on the
train and lodged in the new county
jail
A New Mexican reporter called at
the Jail this morning to secure state.
ment from Morris as to his version
of the shooting but he declined to dis
cuss 1t.
He talked freely enough last night
to the sheriff about the tragedy and
asserted that he was justified in shoot
ing He said that one of the men had
fired at him first and then he retail
ated. In the excitement he declared
he did not know how many shots. he
fired.
An inquest was held last night over
the remains Of Catalina Lobato A
verdict was returned to the effect that
he came to his death from pistol shot
wound inflicted by Morris. Undertaken
M. J. Heberer Of this city, Of the
Wagner Furniture Company, left this
afternoon for Lamy to prepare the
body for burial.
Telegraph Operators Life Threatened
Because He Was With Slayer.
A report received from Lamy late
this afternoon Is to the effect that
Joseph Barras, the lay operator, who
occupied the room with Morris during
the time the slayer was besieged by
friends Of the dead man, has had his