Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-16
KETCHEL, FAMOUS
PUG|L|ST, SLAIN
MiddIeWeight Champion Shot by
BIoodhoundS
Pursue Assassin
Associated Pressl

Associated PreSsJ
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, Oct. 15.-Stan-
ley Ketchel, middleweight champion
pugilist, the victor in many fistic bat
ties, was shot and fatally wounded
early today.
The shooting took place on the ranch
of R. P. Dickerson, friend Of Ketchel,
near Conway, forty miles east of here.
Ketchel died in the Springfield hos
pital, to which he had been rushed
from Conway on special train, char
tered by Dickerson. Three physicians
were on the special.
An operation was performed at the
ranch house in an unsuccessful att
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 shoot
ing took place. 1t is thought this may
be the bullet that killed Ketchel.
Out in the heavily wooded hills west
Of here Hurtz, KetchePs slayer, heav-
lily armed, is fleeing before a pack of
bloodhounds and 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 be-
lieVed to be desperate man and Will
be fired upon at sight.
After shooting Ketchel, who was at
the breakfast table, Hurtz rushed from
the house into the yard. He then fall
tered a moment, turned and went back
into the room where Ketchel lay upon
the floor. Reaching into KetchePs
pocket Hurtz removed the pugilist's
revolver and struck him over the head
with it. Then he ran from the house.
"Ketchel can't tell me how to run
my business" he shouted to G. e.
Bailey, foreman Of the ranch.
WOMAN FIGURES IN CASE
Investigation of Hurtz' belongings
has led officers to believe his real
name is Walter Dipley and that he is
from Webb City, Mo. He had been at
the Dickerson ranch since last Wednes-
day. Few knew anything about him.
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 yesterday
Ketchel had come down to the ranch,
which adjoins one hhe recently pur-
chased, to spend few days.
Mrs. Goldie Smith, a friend of Hurtz,
tonight assigned another cause for the
shooting.
'While was working in the house
yesterday" she said, "Ketchel insulted
me. became angry. He was greatly
pleaded 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 1 made him no promise.
when Hurtz came home told him
what Ketchel had said to me. He was
yery angry I think that Is what
caused Ketchel to be shot"
Officers believe Mrs. Smiths story,
though they think this was not the
only reason for harsh feeling between
the men.
After telling her story, Mrs. Smith
admitted that Hurtz had promised to
meet her tonight. She took several
policemen and county officials to the
appointed meeting place to await the
arrival of the slayer.
SLAIN AT BREAKFAST
1t was Ketchel's custom while stay
ing at the ranch house to sit at meals
with his face toward door leading
built in an old porch. This morning
his place at the table was changed
(some say by Mrs Smith), and the
pugilist was seated with his back to
the door.
Suddenly Hurtz came through the
door with rifle in his hand, and said
to Ketchel:
Throw up your hands!"
Ketchel, not realizing the seriousness
of the situation, smiled and started to-
arise and walk toward Hurtz. Before
he turned completely around Hurtz
fred. The bullet entered Ketcheps
body below the right shoulder, coursed
upward and entered the lung. Ketchei
fell to the floor. Nearest physicians
were at Conway, and it was forty-five
minutes before one arrived.
Soon after the shooting Ketchel lost
consciousness, but not before he said
that Hurtz had shot him.
For more than a month Ketchel had
been in this part of the country
Weakened by the fast life he had led
(ContInued on Page Four)