Fergus County Democrat., 1910-10-18
Champion Fighter Is Shot By Farm
Hand Near Conway, Missouri,
Over Slight Difficulty.
MURDERER IS AT Large
Conflicting Cause for the Shooting Is
Given-Woman Said to Be In the
Case.

Springfield, Mo-, Oct l5.-Stanley
ketchell, middleweight champion
pugilist of the world, died here to-
night at 7O5 o'clock as a result OF
being shot early today by Walter A.
Hurtz, ranch hand
The shooting took place on the
ranch of r. p. Dickerson, friend OF
ketchell's, near Conway, 10 miles east
of here. An hour before he died Ket-
chell regained consciousness, but his
condition soon took decided change
for the worse.
The pugilist died in the Springfield
hospital, to which he had been rushed
from Conway on special train,
chartered by Dickerson. Three ply
sicians were on the special. An
operation was perform ed at the ranch
house in an unsuccessful attempt to
locate the bullet A report from Con-
way has it that a 22-calibre rifle bullet,
the pattern of which inflicted Ket-
chell's wound, was found on the floor
of the room in which the shooting
took place. 1t is thought this may be
the bullet that killed Ketchell
Hurtz a Fugitive.
Out in the heavily wooded hills east
Of here, Hurtz, Ketchell's eslayer,
heavily armed, is fleeing before pack
of bloodhounds and posse Of officers
and citizens. Dickerson has placed a
price Of $1,000 OH the dead BODY OF
Hurtz. The members of the posse
are armed with repeating rifles. Hurtz
is believed to be desperate man and
will be fired upon at sight.
Hurtz will battle for his life, if he
shoots at all, with the revolver of his
victim. After shooting Ketchell, who
was at the breakfast table. Hurtz
rushed from the house into the yard.
lie = then taltered a moment turned
and went back into the room where
ketchell lay prone upon the floor.
Reaching into Ketchelrs pocket.
Hurtz removed the pugilist's 49,
callbre revolver and struck him over
the head with it. Then he ran from
the house
T "ketchell can't tell me how to run
my. business" he shouted to C. E.
Bailey, foreman of the ranch.
Trouble Started Day Before.
Hurtz is said to have told a Mrs
Goldie Smith that he would meet her
here. tonight Officers questioned her
hoping to get trace of Hurtz but
without results in that direction
Investigation of Hurts belongings
has led the officers to believe his real
name is Walter Dipley, and that he
IS from Webb City, Mo. He has been
at the Dickerson ranch since last
Wednesday. Few knew ANYTHING
about him. Letters addressed to
Dlpley and photographs Of him were
found in his grip.
he trouble between Hurtz and
Ketchell is said to have started when
ketchell upbraided the ranch hand for
beating a horse. This angered Hurt
The incident took place yesterday
ketchell had come down to the ranch.
which adjoins one he recently pur
chased. to spend few days. Hurtz
thought Ketchell was going beyond
the province of a visitor to take hin,
to task for abuse of the animal,
Says Ketchell Insulted Her.
Mrs. Smith. in statement TONIGHT
assigned another cause for the shoot.
ing.
"While I was working in the house
yesterday" she said, "Ketchell insult
ed me. I became angry. He was
greatly wrought up over the incident
and pleaded with me not to say any,
thing to Hurtz about our converse