Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-10-16
BULLET WOUND
ENDS LIFE Of
KETCHEL-
MIDDLEWElGHT CHAMPION
MURDERED IN MISSOURI
Plucky Fighter Shot Down by
Farm Hand With Whom he
Had QUARREL Assassin Es-
CapeS,

u
Springfield, Mo, Oct. 15.-stanley
Ketchel, champion middleweight
| pugilist OF the world, died here to-
night at 1905 o'clock as result of
being shot early today by Walter A.
Hurtz, a ranch hand.
The shooting took place on the
ranch of Il. II. Dickerson, a friend OF
Ketchel, near Conway. forty miles
east of here. An hour before he died
ketchel regained consciousness for a
little while.
The pugilist died in the Springfield
hospital, to which he had been rushed
from Conway on a special train, char
tered by Dickerson. Three physicians
were on the special
An operation was performed at the
ranch house in an unsuccessful at
tempt to locate the bullet.
A report from Conway has it that a
22-caliber rifle bullet. the pattern
which inflicted Ketchel's wound, was
found on the floor of the room in
which the shooting took place, Ii Is
thought there is a possibility Of this
being the bullet that killed Ketchel.
out in the heavily wooded hills east
of here, Hurtz, Ketchefs slayer, heav-
lily armed, is fleeing before Il pack OF
bloodhounds and a posse Of officers
and citizens. Dickerson has placed a
price of $1,000 on the dead body of
Hurtz. The members of the posse are
armed with repeating rifles. Hurtz is
believed to be q desperate man and
he will be fired upon on sight.
Hurtz will battle for his life II he
shoots at All with the revolver of his
victim. After shooting Ketchel who
was at the breakfast table, Hurtz
rushed from the house He then
turned and went back into the room
where Ketchel lay prone upon the
floor Reaching into ketchels s
pocket, Hurtz removed the pugllists
.3S-caliber revolver and struck him
over the head with 1t. Then he ran
out,
"Ketchel can't tell me how to run
my business he shouted to c. T..
Bailey, foreman of the ranch.
Investigation Of Hurtz' belongings
has led the officers to the belief that
his rcal name Is walter ppley aad
that he is from Webb City, Mo. he
has been at the Dickerson ranch since
last Wednesday. Letters addressed to
Dipley and photographs of him were
found in his grip.
The trouble between Ketchel and
Hurtz is said to have started when the |
pugilist upbraided the ranch hand !
for beating a horse. This angered |
Hurtz The incident took place yes
terday. ketchel had just come down |
to the ranch which adjolns one he re-
Gently purchased, to spend a few days. |
Hurtz thought Ketchel was going
beyond the province of q visitor to |
take him to task for his abuse of the
animal
Mrs Goldie Smith in a statement
tonight assigned another cause for
the shooting
"While 1 was working I'm the house
she said "Ketchel insult
ed me; / became angry He was
greatly wrought up over the incident
and pleaded with me not to say any
thing TO Hurtz about our conversa-
lion He said he would give me the
best team of horses on the farm If |
would keep quiet. l made him no
promise.
when Hurtz came home / told him
what Ketchel had said to me. He was
very angry. / think that is what
,aused him to kill Ketchel.''
Officers believe Mrs Smiths story,
although they think this was not the
lnly reason for harsh feeling between
he men.
After telling her story. Mrs. Smith
admitted that Hurtz mad promised TO
meet her here tonight, She took sew
raj policemen and county officials to
/
ival of the slayer.
Mrs. Smith says she Is a daughter
If Andrew Bright. a Christian county
MOI farmer. She says she met
1urtz about a month ago.
Receipts in Mrs Smiths purse
how she recently bought merchan-
Iise in Coffeyville. Kas. She says
he conducted q rooming house there.
1t was Ketchels custom while
laying at the ranch house to sit at
meals with his face toward a door
cading into the house, the dining
Dom being built in an old porch.
his morning his place at the table
vas changed, some say by Mrs.
mith. and the pugilist was seated
nth his back to the door.
Suddenly Hurtz came through the
DOR with rifle in his hands and
aid to Ketchel:
Throw up your hands, :
Ketchel not realizing the serious
ees cf the situation. smiled and I
iarted To arise and walk toward
lurtz. Ere he turned completely !
round Hurtz fired. The ball en- s
ared Ketchers body below the right ,
boulder, eoursed upwards and en-
ared the lung. Kcbchel fell to the
oor. The nearest physician was at q
onWay. II was forty-five minutes J
eforc hc arrived. 1t was hours be- !
lre the special train arrived from I
ere. =
Before Kctchel lost consciousness I
F. said Huriz had shot him. Z
For more than month ketchel had j.
-.tt Ira this r4wfgU Weakened lts tho