Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1911-07-17
GETS BULLET IN SHOULDER
SHOOTING AFFRAY THAT MIGHT
HAVE RESULTED IN MURDER
LAST MIDNIGHT
ASSAILANT LODGED In JAIL
HIS VICTIM is AT LAS VEGAS HOS
PITAL WHERE RECOVERY
is EXPECTED

AS the result OF SnOOJlng ARRAY
which occurred last night at IL O'Clock
Modesto Martinez is lying on cot at
the Las Vegas hospital with bullet
hole through his left shoulder and
Vivian Chavez is in the county jail.
Martinez's chances for recovery are
said to be good, though it was at first
reported that his death was likely to
occur at any moment. The bullet,
which was of Al caliber, passed
through the shoulder, crushing the
shoulder blade, and came out at the
back, directly opposite the spot where
/. entered. The bullet is lodged in
the skin and had not been recovered
late this afternoon.
According to the story told by Cha
vez and woman whose name is
Spittman, who witnessed the wound
ing of Martinez, the shooting was the
result of an attempt on the part OF
Chavez to act as peacemaker in the
home of Martinez. Chavez and Mar
tinez reside in adjoining houses just
east of the Santa Fe tracks at the
extreme north end of the city. The
houses are enclosed within the same
fence.
When investigating the case this
morning, Sheriff Secundino Romero
was told that Martinez had objected
to the presence in his home of two of
his wifes nieces. He told his wife to
send the girls away but she refused
to do So Last night Martinez, still
angered at the presence of the girls,
struck his wife and otherwise mis-
treated her. She left the house in
tending to ask someone to go for
policeman Mrs. Martinez went to the
home Of Mrs. Spittman, who resides a
short distance east of her own home.
Mrs. Spittman agreed to go to the po-
lice station with her.
AS the women were walking along
the street they we're met by Martinez,
who struck his wife, knocking her
to the ground. The women ran to
Chavez's home and asked him to go
for the police. The man started on
his mission. Martinez followed him
closely. Five times Martinez was or.
dered by Chavez to return to his home
and quit following him. Martinez
however, kept drawing nearer.
Just what Martinez did at this juno
ture is not known but Chavez drew
his gun and fired three times. One
of the bullets struck Martinez and he
fell to the ground. He was carried in
to his home, which is only a short
distance from where the shooting took
place, and later was taken to the Las
Vegas hospital. Chavez went to the
home of Fabian Gallegos on the West
side where he was arrested this morn
ing by Sheriff Secundino Romero. He
offered no resistance.
Chavez, in explaining ais reasons
for shooting, says that Mrs. Martinez,
when she was knocked down by her
husband, was carrying large revol,
yer. He thought Martinez had taken
the weapon away from his wife and
might turn it upon him. Martinez us
Ell threatening language and Chavez
became somewhat frightened. AS the
man kept advancing upon him Chavez
feared he was about to be attacked
and injured. He says he shot in self
defense.
Chavez will be given hearing be-
fore justice of the peace soon. The
hearing is expected to bring out all
the facts in the case.
David Winternitz has returned to