Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1907-06-07
ROmaldo Domlnguez Shot
Down Manuel Vdlenzueld
as Latter Stepped
From Saloon.
Says WAS CASE OF
KILL OR Be KILLED
Stood In Shadows Near Door With
Six-Sh00ter- Made No Attempt
to Escape and Is In jail at So
C0rrO---Immediate Hear
ing by Grand Jury.
eclal to The Evening citizen

Special to The Evening Citizen.
Socorro. n. NJ, June 7.-Romaldo
Dominguez aged 2s years, a rancher,
laid in wait for Manuel Valenzuela,
aged "a, as the latter walked from
the saloon of Jacobo Armijo, in old
town, San Antonio, at 1 O'Clock this
morning. and shot Valenzuela with n
As calibre Colts six-shooter.
One shot was fired. which passed
through Valenzuelas left lung near
the heart. Death was almost instan-
taneous.
Dominguez surrendered without re-
sistance and was taken to the Jail at
this place.
He said he fired in self-defense.
The grand jury is now in session
and he will be taken before it tomor-
row and will probably be given an
immediate trial ii a true bill is rem
dered against him.
At the time of the killing valen-
zuela was carrying a IA calibre Win
| chester. but Dominguez fired before
Valenzuela could raise his gun.
The shooting created considerable
excitement In San Antonio.
Had Been Drinking.
Both men had been drinking in the
saloon of Jacobo Armijo during the
evening, according to the statements
of several men.
While in the saloon, valenzuela
! carried the Winchester, but made no
| attempt to use 1t there.
| Dominguez said that friend inform
ed him that Valenzuela was carrying
| the Winchester for the purpose of
killing him.
Had Been Friends.
He and Valenzuela had been
| friends until recently. when they
quarreled over trivial matter.
Hearing that the Winchester was to
| be used to kill him, Domnguez left
| the saloon and went home, where he
secured q six-shooter
He then returned to the saloon and
stationed himself in the shadows
| near the doorway, holding the six
shooter in readiness.
Took No Chances.
He said in Jail here that he feared
Valenzuela and decided TO take no
| chances.
Alone in the dark outside, he wait
ed for the man with the Winchester.
About 1 o'clock I'm the morning Va
lenzuela stepped from the saloon with
| the Winchester in his hand, en- route
! to his home. AS he gained the street
| Dominguez leveled the six-shooter
and fred quickly
Valenzuela gave a half artlculated
| cry, dropped his Winchester, threw
up his hands to his chest took a few
staggering steps and fell in the street
| Dominguez turned and walked
| slowly away.
Several men from the saloon came
| to Valenzuelas assistance and carried
him into the building. He expired in
| a short time.
Motive IA Mystery.
The motive for the quarrel and the
| killing which followed is a mystery.
In fact, the details of the affair are
not yet clearly known.
| DOmingueZ states that because he
| believed that Valenzuela would shoot
| him at the first opportunity, he
| thought It best to take the initiative
| and kill Nalenzuela. This appears to
be about the best solution OF the af-
| fair.
An Old Feud.
The officers at first believed the af-
! fair to be the result Of an old feud,
| resulting from the trouble among the
| section men at San Antonio some
| months ago.
Dominguez is the brother of the
present section foreman at san An
| tonic This foreman was placed in
charge Of the section gang, following
several attempts on the part of un-
| known men to throw a switch at san
| Antonio and wreck through passen-
| ger trains.
| Recalls Train NrcckerS.
These unknown train wreckers
| fired on one of the section men sew
| eral months ago because he shut a
/ switch which had been opened, just
| in time to save a passenger train
| from being sent into the ditch.
| Dominguez, however, states that he
| knew nothing of the railway affair
| and cared nothing about any trouble
among the railroad section men. He
| Is related by marriage 10 the depOsed
| section foreman. which adds strength
| 10 his statement
/ Before Grand Jury.
| The whole affair VIII undoubtedly
| be cleared up at once as the grand
J jury is now in session here and Do
minguez will be taken before IL to-
morrow. II he is indicted he will
| probably be tried at this session OF
| the district court
The families of both men are
shocked by the tragedy. They say
! that they know nothing about the
| cause OF the shooting, other than the
men had not been on good terms for
! some time.
Dominguez said that he would have
no trouble in proving self defense and
that he made no attempt TO eyade
arrest.