Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-08-15
John ChiIders Dead and Fire
Chief Gus Won Elem, BadIk
Wounded in Revolver Battle
in Curry County Capital.
ARRAY OUTCOME OF
ACCUSATION OF ARSON
Mysterious Series of Fires in
Building Owned by ChiIderS,
Assault by Him on Fireman,
Arrest, Release and Killing
Follow Quickly.


lRy Morning journal Special Leased Wirel
clovis, ~ NJ, Aug. 14.-As the cul-
mnation of a series Of tragic events
here today in which several Well
known Clovis business men We're con
cerned. John Chiders. proprietor Of
the Elk Bar saloon, was shot and
killed. and Gus Won Elem, proprietor
of the White House saloon and chief
of the city fire department was seri-
ously, if not fatally wounded Child
ers was killed as the result OF a fierce
duel with Won Elem, in which six
shots were exchanged, all of them
taking effect. The duel which oc-
CURED at $50 this evening. it is be-
leved, grew out OF heated arsu-
mol' between the two men earlier III
the day, in which it is alleged that
Won Elem intimated that Childcrs had
set fire to the Cashin store, owned by
Childers and Lily which was fired
in suspicious manner three times
between O'Clock Friday night and
o'clock Saturday morning. Won
Elcm's assertion that Childcrs was re
sponsble for the blaze, it is said, re-
suited from a fierce attack made by
Childcrs upon a fireman named W j.
Sheldon. who was attempting to put
out one of the fires which practically
destroyed the Cashin place. Accord
ing to SHELDON, he was engaged in
fighting the fire, when Childcrs APP
preached from behind and dealt him
4 murderous blow with the butt of a
heavy pistol.
Because OF the rapidity with which
events in the tragic affair followed
each other. there are many wild ru-
more concerning it. The general inn
preston SENS to be, however, that the
Cashn store was fired either by chill
dcrs or by man named Louis LlllN.
The store was owned Jointly by Child
ers and Lilly. the goods in it being
bankrupt stock, said to be heavily IN
sured At o'clock last night. the
fire department was called to the
Cashin and cxtinguished small
blaze At midnight the firemcn were
again called ont to the same place
and. after heroic work, succeeded in
subduing a second fire. Still another
alarm was sounded shortly after
O'Clock. Positive that the blazes were
the work OF incendiaries. the fire chief
ana firemen made thorough search
of the store and premises, looking for
clues which might lead to the detec-
tion of the guilty parties. can ~
coat OIL the contents OF which were
flowing over the floor, was discovered
while Childers was nearby 1t is said
that it was about this time that Child
crs struck Sheldon with the pistol.
Chiders was arrested about 1:30
o'clock this morning. charged with as
Sault with intent to XIII and also with
arson Louis Lilly was also arrested
at the same time. Childers was re-
lelsed on $3,5oO bonds and Lily ON
$1,000
shortly after o'clock this evening,
Childers jumped into a buggy and
drove from his saloon. tho Elk bar. TO
the White House saloon. owned by
Won Elem. Won Elem. who had evi-
IDENTIFY been warned that Childcrs was
on his way to his place, appeared on
The street, gun in hand, JUST as chill
ders stopped his horse and opened
lire Won Elem opened fire at the
same time. Eoth men fired three shots
al of which took effect Won Elem s.
Knee and thigh were broken and his
leit hand was shattered. Childcrs Jared
sun worse. being shot through the
right breast. the left side and hip. and
uYing one hour after the shooting.
Non Elem. IL is believed viii recover
Tie had not been arrested up to late
hour tonight and it is doubtful whe-
ther he will be. as Witnesses claim that
he shot in self-defense. Because Of his
murderous attack on SHELDON. the feel
ing here today against Childers was
intense and threats of lynching were
heard on all sides
The trio Of fires the assault on Skel-
uon and finally the killing Of Childers
mas Kept the little town of Clovis in
an uproar all day. Intense excitement
prevails tonight. both on account Of
We bloody duel and because of tn"