Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-08-23
PRETTY GIRL
CAUSE OF IT
INSANE JEALOUSY OF RANcHER
OVER SCHOOL TEACHER
ENDS IN DEATH.
SAID HE'D MAKE ROOM
WAS TO HAVE BEEN GROOM IN
FEW DAYS BUT CRUEL FATE
INTERFERED.

Mecl,er. Colo.-Imagining that his
sweetheart. Miss Ethel Caldwell. "a
pretty school teacher. had been
slighted by Clarence Mathes. Il. Nc
Doweii mounted his horse. rode TO tho
Mathes ranch and stated that he was
goin. to kill everyone on the place.
Mathes. who was forced to run from In
barn. secured a shotgun. and. cmerg-
ing. shot Mcdowell three times. kill
Ing him Instantly. Both men arc
wealthy ranchmen and Mcdowell was
to have been married next Wednesday
to Miss Caldwell. who was the limo
cent cause of the duel.
An inquest In the case was held hero
and the coroner's jury. after hearing
aii the Testimony. brought In u verdict
to the effect that Mcdowell had met
his death on the morning Of the day
OF the inquest and that death resulted
from .unshot wounds inflicted by Clar-
cncc Mathcs. The jury held the killing
10 have been justifiablc.
Had Many suitors.
The circumstances which resulted In
| the heart Of the pretty school teacher
who wns soon To have been u brid"
| are most unusual. Miss Caldwell had
been teaching school In the country
near the ranches OF Mnthcs and Nc
Dowcli for the past few yeas and hnd
many nuitors among the sturdy ranch
men. Mcdowell won her hand after n
violent couriship and IL said to hnv"
thought much NOR. of his sweetheart
| than he did of his life. The ranch
house Of MathcA was the closest tn
| the school house AMI Miss Caldwell
| desired to board and room there. but
was told by Mathcs that he Ind not
the room to accommodate her. M his
family was large. This caused Nc.
Dowcll 10 become cnrurcd and In tho
morning he rot on his horse and with
his gun thrown across the saddle
started for the Mathcs ranch To de-
mand an explanation. On the road h"
met Miss i.ottic Burdick and Homer
MnSon and told them Of the slight that
he believed Ind been offered To hts
bridc-tobc. Both Miss Burdick and
Mnxon stated that they did not believe
Mnthcx intended to slight the young
woman. but simply had not the rnorn
10 accommodate her. I'm make nomo
room up there. then" Mcdowell Haii.
.'t1I Kill every on the Mnthcs
ranch. then thcrc'ii be room enough"
| Mcdowell pulled his gun and ordered
Maxon to accompany him tn the
Mathcs ranch. Mason talked Mellow
| ell out Of this idea and the cnraIed
lover proceeded alone.
Told to Prepare to Die.
Arriving at the Ma,hcs ranch. Nc
Dowcii encountered Clarence Mathcs.
When within three feet Of his intended
victim Mcdowell drew his KUN and
| told Mathcs he had to die. Mnthcr ran
| for the barn and Mcdowell began nr.
| Ing. One shot went through MnthrS'
| coat.
Mcdowell dismountcd. drew slS'
| shooter. and. corncrinr Mathcs In the
| barn. told him to no into the house and
| shave and change his clothes. ns he
/ had better prepare to meet his Maker.
| Mathes jumped for his gun which hung
by the door OF the building. and. sccnr-
| Ing II. opened FIRE on Mcdowell. Three
bullets took effect in McDowclls body.
Ono entered the left eye. another
lodged In tho neck. scvcrins the ju.u.
lar vein. and the third went through
his right arm. Mcdowell fell dead nj
the third shot.
At the inquest Mathcs insisted that
he never thought In any but kindly
way Of the school teacher and woulL
have been pleased to have her lodge
at his house II he had had sufficient
room.