The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-01-31
DEPUTY SHERIFF RUS.
BY SHOOTS ROBERT
SPARKS..HE WILL LIVE

Las Vegas, Jan. 2S--As the result
of gun fight with Deputy Sheriff Geo
Rusby, Bob Sparks. homesteader liv-
ing near lsidore, this county, was shot
through the right breast, Saturday
morning, and for time it was thought
he would die, but the attending phys
lcian reported today that he was out
of danger.
The shooting occurred when Deputy
Rusby went to the Sparks ranch Sat
urday morning to arrest W. j. Sparks
the wounded mans father, who was
wanted for assaulting X. b. Robbs, one
day last fall, with knife.
Rusby went to Isidore Friday night
where he arranged for horse Sat-
urday morning, before it was light.
Accompanied by n. j. Mitchell, who
resides in the neighborhood, he rode
to the Sparks place, which is located
few miles from Isidore, on the Rico
Mesa. Secreting themselves in some
oak bushes, near the house, they wait
ed the coming of daylight. Just as
the sun was coming up, the elder
Sparks stepped out of the house for
few minutes, and went back in.
Rusby noticed that although the man
was only partially clad, he had SIX
shooter strapped on him. This fact
convinced Rusby that he had a fight
on his hands.
After another half hour of waiting
Mrs. Sparks, mother of the wounded
man, came out of the house with a
bucket and started to the home of
Bob, her son, some 100 yards away.
When she reached there, her son step
ped outside and he, too, was armed
At this juncture, Rusby and Nit
chel stepped from their hiding and
ran for the house of the elder Sparks,
u distance of about so yards. AS they
crossed the open space, Bob Sparks
took one shot at them, but before he
could shoot a second time, his mother
had grabbed him around the neck and
begun screaming. The shot and the
screaming attracted the older man,
who opened his door just as Rusby
reached it. He made move TO get
his gun, but was too late as Rusby's
gun was sticking in his face, so he
"llIoub lHtl ltSISs-
ance.
Rusby removed the old mans gun
strapped it around himself, and lead
ing his prisoner by the collar with one
hand and carrying his gun in the 9TH
er, started for Bob, who was still flour
ishing his six shooter AID swearing he
was going to kill somebody. Rusby
and the father and mother both begged
him to put down his gun, but he re-
fused. Rusby had him covered and
told him that he did not want to kill
up some place in the background, and
with an oath Sparks said "that is the
- ] am after" and fired. AL
most at the same instant Rusby shot
him.
He fell, but refused assistance in
getting into the house, only few feet
away, making the distance, after fall
ing several times.
The shooting attracted neighbors,
and in few minutes several men were
on the scene. A man was sent to Isl
dore from where a telephone message
was sent to Tucumcari for a physi-
clan. Rusby, after having breakfast
with his prisoner, brought him to Las
Vegas.
1t was very gratifying to the depu-
ty sheriff, when word came that his
victim would live.
The crime for which the elder man
is wanted, was assault with deadly
weapon on r. B. Robbs. 1t is said
that RobbS and Bob Sparks engaged
in fight, in which Sparks was get
ting very much the worst of it, when
the father drew a knife and stabbed
Robbs several times in the back, Robbs
was taken to Tucumcari where he fl
nally recovered, but the father has
been in hiding and was not found by
officers until Saturday.
The Sparks are homesteaders and
have little frame houses near togeth-
er. Bob Sparks is unmarried.