Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-25

s-~----s
Especial Dispatch 20 the Morning Journall
Pennington, y NJ, June 24.--Con-
flicting tales continGe te come In as
to the cause OF the -blooded MUIR
der OF Richard Wetherll, the pic
turcsque pioneer and rrontiersman Of
the san Juan region whose killing
Wednesday night has caused intense
excitement in this part OF tho terri
tory. The only motive So far ascer-
tanned for the killing is found in the
allegation OF the Indians that Wcth~
Grill and his head cowman Billy
Finn. had been branding cattle which
belonged 10 the NavaIoes. The I'M
mediate cause of the trouble. accord
ing to one version, is the alleged NAL
treatment Of an Indian By Billy Finn,
the Staying of Firms employer being
committed on the spur of the mo-
ment, apparently, by an enraged red
man who WAS really after Finn. All
stories Of the killing show plainly
however chat there had been consid-
cradle i'll feeling Of late between
Wetherlll ana his men and Il number
OF the Navajoes. The story that
Metheril had openly stolen cattle
belonging to the Indians Is not be-
licved by the innumerable friends OF
the dead man in san Juan county,
where he has for quarter of a cen
tury been leading and influential
citizen.
Finn and Wetherill 1t Is said, had
had trouble with the Navaloes about
water holes foT their stock, and also
about the ownership of certain cat
tie. some of the Indians claiming
Finn and Wctherill had branded
some OF their stock Others alleged
| that tho two white men had purchased
| a part of Il hasd and had then taken
THE whole herd. shipped il out and
sold ii as their own. Some dispute
over the ownership Of horse re-
| Gently led Finn 10 ride down to the
hogan OF a Navajo near Blake Broth
eIs' trading store
Calling the Indian out, 1t is alleged
that Finn beat him over the head
with gun until he left him for dead.
The wife of the Navajo, II is claimed,
ran To the home OF her brother ana
told him what had happened, crying
that Finn had killed her husband.
This brother, SO the story goes ran
10 the scene and found the indian
living apparently dead. He then went
10 the hogan OF another brother, hor-
lAMtU n gun anu Sl'hi A'N wv ~ 'tfhN'
tain what was the trouble. He then
hastened back to the supposed corpse
which gave no sign Of life and moved
the inert Indian into the shade. He
later recovered,
The Indian then started up towards
Pueblo Bon'to and met another
tribesman who told him there was q
white man Just ahead. He kept on
until he came near Wctherills nome
when he met Finn and Wetherill on
their horses There WAS another
navajo who came up with his gun
strapped to his saddle According TO
his story, Wetherlll took this gun ana
broke 1t over n rock The brothcr oi
the Navajo Finn is alleged 10 nave
injured, asked Wethcrill ~ nc was
on the warpath." Wctherill' II Is
claimed replied that he was, ana II
is alleged that he and Finn then com
monced firing. The armed Navajo
then returned tile fire, Wetherill fell
OFF his horse and Finn turned ana
fled The Navajo took another shot
his time at Finn and hit him in the
ribs
Still another version of the In
dang side OF the case Is that the
navajo whose brother was thought 10
have been killed by Finn, borrowed
gun and started after the latter
ne Followed him until thcN came
near to whore Wetherill was, when
the indian hid his gun. lie theh
went IN to Wctherill ana asked h,n'
If he was on the war path. VEIN
Grill fl is said. replied in tho affirm
ative "Are YOU mad for sure
asked the Indian yes, for sure
wetherill Is said to have replied,
wbereupon the Navajo went hack
got his sun and returning shot Weih-
Grill Wetherin fell from his horse.
whereupon the Indian asked
Are you still on the warpath
Wetherill, it is said, failed 10 an
swor and the Indian shot him again
as he Law prostrate. The Navajo then
saw Finn and another man driving
some horses. and supposing the man
with Finn was Lee Ivie. took n snot
at them, ghooting each through th'
ribs. although the man supposed 70
be Ivie turned out Go be another
Navajo. who was working for VEIN
criil ,,,,..-
The navajo who did the killing
then went to Blake's store ana had
George Blake write note 1" super
intendent shelton giving the indian 8
version .of the affair. The Navajo
then took the note IN person To Shei-
ton mt shin Rock. seventy miles dls-
tant arriving there early next day
shelton has the navajo under ar
rast Yesterday afternoon Judge FAY
onpaneled coroncrs jury ana
started for the scene of the murder
Tbev are not expected 20 return un-
III late tonight or sunday morning.