The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-16
Farm Hand Shoots Pugilist in
 Back With Rofie
HOT PURSUIT BY POSSE
KetcheI Had AItercatfon With the Man Who Resented Formers Actions and Killed Him in q Cow
 ardIy Manner

 champion middleweight pugilist of the world, died here tonight at 7:o5 o'clock as Q result of being shot early today by Walter A. Hurtz, a ranch hand.
 The shooting took place on the ranch of R. H. Dickinson, friend of Ketchel, near Conway, 10 miles east of here.
 An hour before he died Ketchel regained consciousness.
 There was then thought to be a slight chance for his recovery. His condition soon took a decided change for the worse, however, and he died quickly.
 The pugilist died in the Springfield hos pital, where he had been rushed after ar irving here from Conway on a special train chartered by Mir. Dickerson and on which there were three physicians.
 An operation was performed at the ranch house in an attempt to locate the bullet. It was not found. report from Conway has 1t that 22-calibre rife bull let the same pattern as that which in hicted Ketchels wound, was found on the floor of the room where the shooting took place. It is thought there is a possibility of this being the bullet which killed Ketchel.
 | OuL III the WOO0eO nils east or nefe Hurtz Is being chased by bloodhounds and a posse.
 s5OOO for Body
 Diclkerson has placed price of 5000 on the body of Hurtz. The members of the posse are armed with repeating rifles. Hurtz Is believed to be desper- ate man and not one of the posse intends to take any chances on asking him to surrender.
 4 He will be fired on on sight. Hurtz will battle for his life, if he shoots at all, I with the revolver of his victim, It is be- llieved.
 After shooting Ketchel who was at the breakfast table, Hurtz rushed from the house into the yard He then fal- tered a moment, turned and went back into the room where Ketchel lay upon the floor. Reaching Into Ketchels pocket he removed the pugilist's 3S-calibre re- volver and struck him on the head with 1t. Then he ran fran the house.
 'Ketchei can't tell me how to run my business," shouted Hurtz to c. E. Bailey, foreman of the ranch, as he ran across the yard and away from the house.
 Hurtz is said to have told Mrs Col die Smith. who Is alleged to have posed as Hurtz's wife, that he would meet her here tonight. officers this after noon questioned her, hoping to get a trace of Hurtz. but she revealed noth- ing as to his possible whereabouts In- vestigation of Hurtzs belongings has led officers to believe his real name is Walter Ripley and that he Is from Webb City, Mo- He has been at the | pickers ranch since last Wednesday and but few knew anything about him. Letters addressed to Ripley and photo graphs of him were found in the ranch hands grip. Police are Investigating this feature of the case.
 Cause of Trouble
 The trouble between Ketchel ana Hurtz is said to have started yes terday when the pugilist upbraided the ] ranch hand for beating horse. This angered Hurtz.
 Ketchel had Just come down to the ranch, which adjoins one he recently purchased, to spend few days. Hurtz thought Ketchel was going beyond the province of visitor to take him to task for his abuse of the animal. It was Ketchel's custom while staying at the ranch house to eat at the table with his face toward door leadin g into the house. This morning his place at the table was changed by Mrs. Smith and the pugilist was seated with his back toward the door.
 Suddenly Hurtz entered, carrying a rifle. and said to Ketcffel:
 Throw up yor hands"
 Ketchel, not realizing the seriousness of the situation, smiled and started to walk toward Hurtz. Before he turned completely around Hurtz fired. The ball entered Ketchels body below the right shoulder, coursed upward and entered the lung.
 The nearest physician was at Con- way and 1t was 45 minutes before he arrived. It was hours before the spe- cial train arrived from here. By that time Ketchel was In very bad condi- ton.
 Ketchel Tells Who Shot Him
 It was not long after the shooting until Ketehel lapsed into unconscious ness Before he lost control of his fac ulties, however. he was able to say that Hurtz had shot him.
 For more than month Ketchel had been a visitor here. After his defeat by Jack Johnson the fighter bade fare well to his manager Wilson Mlzner, and the bright lights of New York, and came here to recuperate. He was thin and pale when he arrived, but long days in the country and nights or wholesome sleep seemed to put new life into him.
 It was his greatest desire to take on weight enough to be able to meet Jack Johnson and retrieve his former defeat.
 | Stanislaus Kiecal. He was born in Grand Rapids, Mich, September IA, 1887, and was, therefore, but little more than 23 years of age. His parents are liy- ing in Michigan, where he had bought property for tn em. Tomorrow would have been the first anniversary of his fight with Jack Johnson, his last inn lportant ring engagement. | Mrs. Smiths Statement Mrs. Smith in statement tonight as- signed another cause for the killing.
 'rWhile I was working In the house yesterday" she said, ''Ketchel insulted me- I became angry. He was greatly wrought up over the incident and plead ed with me not to say anything to Hurtz about our conversation. He said he would | give me the best team of horses on the farm if I would keep quiet. I made him no promises.
 "When Hurtz came home I told him what Ketchel had said to me and he became very angry. I think that Is what caused him to kill Ketchel.'' After telling her story Mrs. Smith ad- mitted that Hurtz had promised to meet her hero tonight She took several police men and county officials to the appointed meeting place to await the arrival of Hurtz. She says she is a daughter of ---~-~~ VI -,-~~~-->--~--~>>-~~-~- " --~-~~ ACONTINIJIcD ON PAGE 6l