The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-16
Champion Middleweight
Pugilist Shot on Mis-
souri, Farm.
M u RDERER WILL
BE KILLED ON SIGHT
Posse Of Officers and Citizens,
With Pack of Bloodhounds,
Scours Country for Slayer.
Reward Offered for His
Capture Cause of
Trouble.
fspecial TO The Times-Dispatch. ]

Especial to The Times;Dispatch;
Springfield, Mo, OCTOBER l9.-.o.an.
ley Ketchell, champion middleweight
pugilist of the world, died here to-
night at 1905 o'clock as result OF
being shot early to-day by Walter A.
Hurtz. ranch hand.
The shooting took place on the ranch
of r. p. Dickerson. a friend of ketchell.
near Conway. forty miles cast OF mere.
An hour before he died Ketchel re-
gained consciousness. There was
then thought to be slight chance O,r
his recovery. His condition soon took
a decided change for the worse. how
ever. and the end came quickly.
The pugilist died in the Springfield
Hospital. where he, had been rushed
after removing from Conway on
special train, chartered by Mr. Dicker-
son. Three physicians were on the
special.
An operation was performed on
Ketchell at the ranch house in an at
tempt to locate the bullet. 1t was not
found.
Murderer MT Large.
out in the wooded hills east OF here
Hurtz. Ketchell,s slayer. heavily arm
ed. is fleeing before pack OF blood
hounds and a posse of officers ana
citizens. Dickerson has placed
price of $4,000 on his capture. dead or
alive. He will be fired upon at sight.
After shooting ketchell. who was at
a breakfast table. Hurtz rushed from
the house into the yard. He then tai-
tered a moment. turned and went back
into the room where Ketchell lay upon
the floor. Reaching into Ketchelfs
pocket. he removed the pugilist's
thirty -eight-caiibre revolver 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 Bailey.
foreman of the ranch. and then ran
across the yard and away from the
house.
oficers brought Mrs. Goldie Smith
here and questioned her. Investigation
of Hurtzs belongings has led officers
to believe his real name is Walter Dip
ley 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.
Cause of Trouble.
The trouble between ketchell and
Hurtz Is said to have started when tho
pugilist upbraided the ranch hand for
beating horse. This ansered Hurtz.
The incident took place yesterday.
MTS. smith. d statement lO-IIS ILL.,
assigned another cause for the shoot
ing.
While was working in the house
yesterday" she said, "Ketchell insulted
me. 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 Ketchell had said to me. He was
very angry. l think that is what caused
him to kill Ketchell"
Officers believe Mrs. Smiths story.
although they think this was not the
only reason for the feeling between the
men.
In telling her story Mrs. Smith adj
mitted 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 Brought. Christian county.
No.. farmer. She says she met Hurtz
about a month ago.
Receipts in Mrs. Smiths purse show
chandise In Coffeyville. Kan
Ketchell had just come down to the
ranch. which adjoins one he recently
purchased. to spend a few days. Hurtz
thought Ketchell was going beyond
the province of visitor to take him
to task for his abuse of the animal
Suddenly Hurtz came through the door
with a rife in his hands and said to
Ketchell:
Throw up your hands!''
Smiles Mt Murderer.
Ketchell. not realizing the serious.
ness Of the sitIatlo smiled and start
ed to rise ana walk toward iIurtz Bc.
fore he turned completely around
FIurtz fired, The ball entered Ketchell's
| body below the right shoulder, coursec
upwards. and entered thelung. Ketchel
fell to the hoor. The nearest ply.
sician was at Conway. 1t was forty.
five minutes before he arrived. 1t was
hours before the special train arrivec
from here. BY that time ketchell was
| in serious condition.
1t was not long after the shooting
until Ketchell lapsed into unconscious
ness Before he lost control OF hi.
| faculties, though, he was able to sa,
that Hurtz had shot him.
For more than month Ketchell hac
been visitor here. Weaked by the
fast life he had led since his defea
by Jack Johnson the fighter came her.
from New York to recuperate. HI
was thin and pale when he arrived, blu
long days In the country and nights
OF Wholesome sleep seemed to put new
| life in his veins. He babe fair t.
come back" and resume his place a
the top of the mlddleweight division
lit was his greatest desire to take on
weight enough to be able to meet
Jack johnson and retrieve his former
defeat at the hands OF the powerful
colored man, And he thought h,
would be able to do It. His friend.
were surprised at the Improvement ii
\ his condition.