The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-10-18
Pug'''st Shot Down by
Ranch Hand
WOMAN FIGURES IN CASE

With Blood Hounds i'm P,rsi,i,-s
Reward OF $4,000 Offered .or ia,
Slayer Dead Or Alive.
Springfield, Mo, Oct.
ketchel, champion middle-weight pu-
Slllst of the world. died here tonight
at l:05 o'clock as a result of being
shot early today by Walter \. Hurtz.
a Ianch hand.
The Shooting took place on the ranch
OF X +. DlckeTscn, a friend OF Ketch-
ell, near Conway, 40 miles east OF
here.
Ar hour before he died Ketchel re-
gained consciousness. There was then
housht to be a slight chance for his
recovery. His condition soon took 9
decided change for the worse, how
ever. and the end came quickly.
n pugflist died IL the Springfield
hospital. where he had been rushed
after removing from Conway on a
special train. chartered by Mr.. Dick
erson. Three physicians were on the
special. An operation wa. .erform-
ed on ketcheli at the ranch house, in
an attempt to locate the bullet. It
| was not found.
Out in the wooded hills. east OF
here, HurtZ, ketchel's slayer, heavily
armed is fleeing before a pack of
blood hounds and a posse Of officers
and citizens. Dickerson has placed a
price Of $1,000 on his capture, dead or
alive. He will be fred upon at sight.
After the shooting ketchel, who was
at a breakfast table, Hurtz rushed
from the house into the yard. He
then fa}tered a moment, turned and
went back into the room, where
ketchei lay upon the floor. Reaching
into ketchel's pocket he removed the
pugilist's 3S-calibre 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 shouted Hurtz to g, r.
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 who is said to have
posed as Hurts wife. he would meet
her here tonight. Officers brought her
here and questioned her. hoping to get
a trace of Hurt. She revealed moth
ing as to his probable Whereabouts.
investigation OF Hurts belongings has
led 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 knew anything about
him.
The trouble between Ketchel and
HurtZ is said to have started when the
pugilfst upbraided the ranch hand for
beating a horse. This angered EurtZ.
The incident took place yesterday.
Mrs. smith in a statement tonight as
signed another cause for the shoouHe.
FOUR
"While I was working in the house
Yesterday" she aid "Ketchel insult
ed me. I became angry. He was
greatly wrought up over the incident
and pleaded with me not to say any
thing to Hurtz about our on~Versatlon
He said he would give me the best
team of horses on the farm If | Woulo
keep quiet. I made him no promise.
"When Hurtz came home | to1d
him what Ketchel had said to me. tie
vac very angry. I think that is what
caused him to kill Ketchel.'
Officers believe Mrs. Smith story
thew think this was not the
onlvS reason for the feeling between
the men.
In telling her story Mrs. Smith ad-
nitted that Hurtz had promlzed 70
meet her tonight. She took several
policemen and county officials 60 w
annointed meeting place TO a"alt the
arrival Of the slayer