Arizona republican., 1910-10-16

Springfield, No, Oct. 15.-Stanley
Ketchel, the middleweight champion
pugilist of the world. died here at 7:O5
as the result of being shot early today
by Walter A. Hurtz. The shooting
took place on the ranch Of r. P Dick
erson, a fried of KetcheI, near Conway,
forty miles east of here. KetcheI died
in Springfield hospital. TO which he
had been rushed from Conway on a
special train chartered by Dickerson.
three physicians were on the special.
An operation performed at the
ranch house was unsuccessful in the
to locate the bullet. A report
from Conway is that a % calibre rifle
bullet of the pattern which inflicted
Ketchers wound was found on the floor
Of the room where the shooting took
place. 1t is though this may be the
bullet that killed Ketchel.
out in the heavily wooded hills west
Of here. Hurtz. Ketchers slayer, heavi-
ly armed, is fleeing before a pack of
and a posse of officers
and citizens. Dickerson has placed a
price of $4,000 on the dead body of
Hurtz. The members of the posse are
armed with repeating rifles. Hurtz is
believed to be a desperate man and
Will be fired on at sight
After the shooting Of Ketchel. who
was at the breakfast table, Hurtz
rushed from the house into the yard:
then he faltered a moment and turned
and went back into the room where
Ketchel lay upon the floor. Reaching
into Ketchers pocket. Hurtz removed
the pugilist's revolver and struck him
in the head. Then he ran from the
house.
"Ketchel can't tell me how 70 run my
business" he shouted to C. e. Bailey,
foreman of the ranch. An investiga-
ton of Hurtz's belongings led the Of
ficers 70 believe his real name is Wal
ter Dipley and that he is from Webb
City. Mo. He has been at the Dicker-
son ranch since last Wednesday Few
knew anything about him. The trOu-
Bile between Ketchel and Hurtz is said
to have started when the pugilist up
braided the ranch hand for beating 4
horse. This angered Hurtz. The incl
lent took place yesterday when Ketchel
,ame to the ranch, which adjoins one
he recently purchased, to spend a few
lays.
Mrs. Goldie Smith, a friend of Hurtz,
tonight assigned another cause for the
shooting. while working at the house
Yesterday" she said, 'Ketchel insult
ed me. 1 became angry. He was
greatly wrought up over the incident,
md pleaded with me not to say any
hing to Hurtz about our conversation
de said he would give me the best
team of horses on the farm if would
Keep quiet. 1 made him no promise
When Hurtz came home 1 told him
what Ketchel said to me. He was very
angry and 1 think that is what caused
Ketchel to be shot"
The officers believe Mrs. Smiths
story, though they think it was not
the reason for the harsh feeling be-
tween the men. After telling the
story Goldie Smith admitted that
Hurtz promised to meet her tonight.
She took several policemen and
county officials to the appointed
meeting place TO await the arrival of
the slayer.
Ketchers custom while staying at
the ranch house was to sit at meals !
with his face toward a door leading |
nto the house. the dining room be- |
ng built on an old porch. This /
morning his place at the table was |
changed (some way by Mrs. SMITH, |
md the pugilist was seated with his |
back TO the door. Suddenly Hurtz /
,ame through the door with a rifle |
n his hand and said to Ketchel: |
Throw up your hands"
Ketchel not realizing the serious |
ness of the situation smiled and /
started to arise and walk toward |
durtz Before he had turned COM |
1letely around Hurtz fired. The bull
ct entered KetcheFs body below the |
light shoulder, coursed upward and |
entered his lung. Ketchel fell to the |
loor. The nearest physician was at |
Conway and it was forty-five min |
ltes before he arrived. Soon after |
he shooting Ketchel lost conscious
ness but not before he said Hurtz |
had shot him.
For more than a month Ketchel |
has been in this part of the country. |
Weakened by the fast life he had !