Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1918-02-15
Chas. ksysOn, Car Repalrer, Is Held
on Murder Charge Following
Sitting Of COrOner's Jury
r. {. Owen, Left Alone With KeysOn,
Found Dead Beside s. P. Track
Accused Held Without Bond

A death at Tunis last Thursday,
that looked very innocent Of unnatur-
al features at first, developed such
suspicious phases at the coroner's
inquest held here the following day
that Chas. Keyson was placed under
arrest on q murder charge at the
close Of the sitting. The iury's YER
diet was that the deceased, whose
name was r. E. Owen, had come to
his death from causes to them un-
known.
Keyson was given a preliminary
hearing before Judge Rogers We'd
nesday afternoon and the testimony
developed at the hearing resulted in
his being held without bond for the
coming session Of the grand jury.
The facts developed by the inquiry
and preliminary hearing were as fol-
lows; On the day in question Key
son and Owen, together with LOUIS
Krauter and George Bailey, all in the
employ Of the S. P. railroad, were
working at Tunis, miles west Of
Deming. Bailey is a ear Inspector
and was in charge Of the work. They
finished their days work and came
TO the station to catch No. ITO to
Deming, intending to return on 100.
While waiting, they decided to eat
supper and Bailey went to a near
by house and arranged for a neal
He was joined there, first by Kraut-
or, then by Keyson some minutes lat
er. Keyson stayed only a few min
utes. merely warming his hands at
the stove. Shortly he stated that
"0wen is sick" and that he would
go back and bring him in to get
something to eat. He left. but short
ly came running back with the an
nouncement that he had found Owen
dead. The others ran back with him.
They found Owen lying near the
main track, his head, badly batter
ed, lying on the end Of a cross-tie.
He died almost Immediately. An east
bound freight had passed while Key
son was in the house with the other
men, and ii looked much as if Owen
had been hit by the train.
Keyson explained to the others
that Owen had been sick when he
left him, and apparently "out Of his
head" that he had laid down too
close to the main track for safety,
and that he, Keyson, had seen the
freight train coming and had moved
Owen back across the passing train
before he left to 60 into the house.
He assumed, and the others accept
ed it as reasonable, that the sick
man had in his delirium returned to
his original position and met death
from the passing train.
Foreman Bailey notified the DEM
ing station Of the affair and Special
S. P. Agents Ed Morrill, and N. R.
Heff Immediately proceeded to Tunis
on a handcar and brought the body
here on No. 10, Bailey, Krauter and
Kevson also coming in on the same
train.
Meanwhile Keyson had made one
or two statements that excited sus-
picion. Bailey's testimony at the
inquest was not harmful to Keyson,
but that Of the others certainly help
ed to cause his arrest. E. W. Lay
men. engineer Of the fright train
testified that he had seen the man
living by the track and that unless
he moved he could hardly have beer
hit.
Owen had been on the Job at Tuuis
only four days. having been trans
ferred Sunday from Ell Paso to
LOrdsburg. Keyson testified that he
had never seen Owen prior to that
time. There is a rumor. however.
that Ovens widow was divorced
from Keyson two years ago.