Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-16
KETCHEL IS DEAD
Noted MiddIeWeight PugiIiSt
Killed by Ranchman.
BULLET THROUGH LUNG
Officers With Bloodhounds in Pur-
suit of Murderer.
BIG REWARD FOR HIS CAPTURE
Ketchel Was Defeated in Ring
Fight Year Ago by Jack
johnson.
BULLET THROUGH LUNG
BIG REWARD FOR HIS CAPTURE

SPRINGFIELD. Mo. October 10
Stanley Ketchei champion middle weight
pugilist of the world. died here tonight
at 1905 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 ketchel,
near Conway, forty miles east of here.
An hour before he died. Ketchel re-
gained consciousness. There was then
thought to be a slight chance for his
recovery. His condition soon took
decided change for the worse, however,
and the end came quickly.
The pugilist died in the Springfield hos
pital, where he had been rushed after
removing from Conway on a special
train chartered by Mr.. Dickerson. Three
physicians were on the special.
Unable to Locate Bullet.
An operation was performed on Ketchel
at the ranch house in an attempt TO
locate the bullet. 1t was not found.
A report from Conway has it that a
.22-caliber rifle bullet the same pattern
as that which inflicted ketcnels wound
was found on the floor Of the room in
thought there is possibility of this be-
ing the bullet that killed Ketchel. Out
In the wooded hills east Of here, HurtZ
ketchefs slayer, heavily armed, is flee
ing before a pack Of bloodhounds and a
posse OF Officers and citizens. Dickerson
has placed price of 5000 on the cap
ture OF Hurtz dead or alive. The MEM
bers of the posse are armed with repeat
ing rifles. Hurtz is believed to be
desperate man. and none intend to take
r. q hi ~ do,
He will be fired upon on sight.
Returns for Second Attack.
Hurtz will battle for his life. il he
shoots at all. with the revolver Of his
victim. After shooting Ketchei. 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 Ketchers pocket
he removed the pugilist's .3s-caliber re-
volver and struck him over the head
with 1t. Then he ran from the house.
"Ketchel can't tell me how to run my
business" shouted Hurtz to c. E. Bailey.
foreman OF the ranch, as he ran across
the yard and away from the house.
Hurtz is said to have told Mrs. Goldie
Smith that he would meet her
here tonight Oficers brought her here
and questioned her. hoping to get a trace
of Hurtz. She revealed nothing as to
his probable whereabouts.
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,
and but few people knew anything about
him.
Letters addressed to Dipley and, photo
graphs of him were found in the ranch
hands grip. Police are investigating this
feature of the case.
Alleged Cause Of Trouble.
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 just
come down to the ranch. which adjoins
one he recently purchased. to spend a few
days. Hurtz thought Ketchel was 60
ing beyond the province of visitor to
take him to task for his abuse of the ami
NAL. 1t was Ketchefs custom while stay
ing at the ranch house to eat at the table
with his face toward the door leading
into the house. the dining room being
built in an old porch. This morning his
place at the table was changed for some
reason by Mrs. Smith, and the pugilist
Suddenly Hurtz came through the door
with a rifle in his hands and said to
Ketchel: Throw up your hands"
Ketchel, not realizing the seriousness
of the situation. smiled and started to
rise and walk toward Hurtz. Before he
turned completely around aurtz fired.
The ball entered Ketchels body below
the right shoulder, coursed upward and
entered the right lung. Ketchel fell to
the floor. The nearest physician was
at Conway. 1t was forty-five minutes be-
fore he arrived. 1t was hours before the
special train arrived from here. BY that
time Ketchel was in serious condition.
Another Version Given.
Mrs. Smith, in a statement tonight. as
signed another reason for the shooting:
while 1 was working in the house
yesterday" she said, ''Ketchel insulted
me. 1 became angry. He was greatly
wrought up over the incident and 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 l
made him no promise.
when Hurtz came home 1 told him
what ketchel had said to me. He was
very angry. think that is what caused
him to kill Ketchel."
Officers believe Mrs. Smiths story, al
though they think this was not the only
reason for the feeling between the men.
In 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.
Mrs. Smith says she is a daughter of
Andrew Bright, a Christian county, Mo-,
farmer. She says she met Hurtz about
q month ago.
Receipts in Mrs. Smiths purse show
that she recently bought some mer-
chandise in Coffeysville, Kan. She con-
Quoted a rooming house there.
1t was not long after the shooting until
Ketchel lapsed into Inconsistencies. Be-
fore he lost control of his faculties,
though. he was able to say that Hurtz
had shot him.
Ketchel Was RecuperatIng.
For more than a month Ketchel had
been a visitor here. Weakened by the
fast life he had led since his defeat by
Jack johnson, the fighter babe farewell
to his manager, Wilson Miner, and the
bright lights of New York and came