Alamogordo news-advertiser. (Alamogordo, Otero County, N.M.) 1912-1914, 1912-12-28
Christmas Eve Tragedy
In La Luz Canon
VICTIM LIVES
EIGHT HOURS
CastIedine Confined In
Jail, Awaiting Pre-
Iininary Hearing Be-
fore Judge StaIcup

j. II. CaStledine shot Vidal Du-
ran last Tuesday afternoon with a
1920 rifle, Duran dying about eight
hours thereafter.
The shooting took place some
four miles above La Luz, near the
home of Perfecto Madrid,
1t appears that the only witnesses
TO the shooting are ]. H. Castle
dine and William Ostic.
DR.. J. r. Gilbert attended Duran
but was unabel to render any assis-
tance, the victim of the bullet dy-
ing about four o'clock Wednesday
morning of internal hemorrhage.
The ball struck in the right thigh
bone, and, ranging upward, passed
through the bladder and lodged in
the lower bowels.
1t is claimed by Mr. .Castledine
that Duran and a companion insult
ed and so frightened Mrs. Castle
dine. as she was riding horseback
along the road near their home,
that she sustained severe injuries
in trying to free herself from their
onslaught. When she returned
home bleeding and so frightened
she with difficulty told her story,
he became enraged, armed himself
with a six-shooter and 30-30 rifle
and proceeded to look the offenders
up. He found them near the home
of Perfecto Madrid. who resides
about four miles northeast of La
Luz. and gave them good talking
to, at the same time administering
TO the deceased severe ohastise-
ment with his fists. The deceased
then ran to the Madrid home, where
he procured a rifle and opened fire
on Castledine. Four shots. or more.
were fired by Duran. TO which, in
self defense. Castledine fired two
shots from his rifle. one of them
striking the deceased in the right
thigh, from the effects OF which he
later died. William Ostic. who was
at the home of Perfecto Madrid
says he was called out of the house
by Duran to interpret what Castle
! dine. was saying to him and his
companion He stepped out of the
I house and called 10 Castledine, ask
! ing him what he had said to the
boys for the purpose of Interpreting
/! to Duran. whereupon Castledine re-
/ piled that IL was up to them to get
their guns IL they wanted To fight.
Il At the same time he threw down his
rifle and fired. dropping bullet
on the ground just in front of Os-
ties feet. The impact of the bull
let threw dirt over Ostic. filling his
eyes and rendering him unable to
see what happened thereafter. The
shot frightened 0stic and he man.
aged to get behind a wagon stand
ing In front OF the house, from
which position he heard several
shots. but was unable to tell by
whom fired ostic says Duran was
In Madrids lot and behind him when
he went out to interpret for him
and when the first shot was fired
by Castledine.
Duran was on an elevation some
five or six feet above Castledine
when shot. the bullet striking in
the right thigh. ranging upward
The bone was shattered and death
resulted about 4 o'clock Wednesday
. morning.
Duran was indicted In the OterC
county district court on Septembel
8. 1907. on three gun and assault
. charges. to which he pleaded guilt,
on March 3. 1905. and in eacl
. case was assessed fine and giyeI
a six-months term In the peniten
tiary. the penitentiary sentence
however. being suspended durinl
the good behavior Of the defendant
A coroners jury composed O
James ]. Hill. Joe Saulsberry. VI
Joy, J. A. Thomas. @. T. billiard ..Ir
and }. d. swope. with w. X. stal
cup as acting coroner. viewed tn
remains "Wednesday and rendere
their verdict.
The firm OF Sherry "a sherry ha
. been retained by Mr.. Castledin
I and the preliminary hearing will b
had before Judge Stalcup as so,i
: as the district attorney. II. =
I Hamilton. can arrange to be pre-,
lent