The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-10-08
HOLDS TO BELIEF
THAT KEMPEN|CH
WAS MURDERED
Valencia County Sheriff
and Coroner's Jury Re
fuse Suicide Theory

who could have fired the shot which
tore through the body OF eugene
kempcnich at Peralta early yesterday
morning. killing him Instantly
II II was murder what could have
bccn the motiyo2
why did Mr.. Kempcnich return 10
hts home Thursday night by n cross
country route avoiding all roads2
why did he not meet his mother
here?
These are a few OF the puzzles
which Sheriff Joseph r. Tondre OF
Los Lunas and others probing the
cause of the death of the state high
way commissioner had failed to un-
rave. today.
The coroner's jury which went into
executive session last night at strong
Brothers Undertaking parlors follow
lng an autopsy. returned a verdict
that the deceased had come to his
death by a bullet wound inflicted by
a person or persons unknown"
Sheriff Tondrc, coroner. however,
after tho jury had met. announced
nat II Mas the opinion OF the Jury
That death was not due TO suicide
Although no official statement was
made In regard to the revolver found
In the room near the dead man, II
was the opinion OF the jury thai IL was
49, 80 "HANh h1h WV NAf
man To his death.
No Trace OF Cunpowdcr.
An examination OF the revolver
found lying in Mr.. kempenich's room
contained no trace OF gunpowdcr and
before being handled appeared to be
cloggcd with dirt, indicating that Il
had not been fired FOR months. a
few black hairs. however. were
wcdgcd between the gun barrel and
the %cjcctor rod chamber.
Following an examination by Or. W.
i. Wittwcr OF Los Lunus and Dr. j.
r. PeArce Of Albuuerquc. It was the
opinion OF the physicians that IN,
bulct may have entered the heart
and come out Of the back. a spllnt-
cred rib over the heart was pushed
slightly Inward indicating that the
bullet had entered from the front.
II was Or. Wittwor's opinion earlier
In the day. however. that the bullet
had entered the back. coming out OF
the heart. The large hole ia tho front
and the small hole in the back. cnus-
Ag him at first to draw this Cunclu-
son. 4 bullet nrcd from a little dis
lance viii make u small hole where
II cntrra ana "a larEc wound whore u
makes It's exit, said the physician.
1t was the opinion Of both physi-
clans last night. however. That II tho
revolver had been placed In contact
with the body Il might ave made "a
large hole where II entered. Tho
physicians based their decision mainly
on the fact that the rib over the heart
was pressed slightly inward. There
were others. however. who said the
pressed rib. might have been due to
the probing and stlll contended that
Mr. kempcnIth had been shot In tho
hack. he bullet emerging from the
heart
Mysterious Drive on Thursday.
Mr.. k~cmpcuirh. according to resi-
d"nts ~ Peralta. lett that town Thurs
day morning supposedly to meet his
mother who was due in Aihuuvrquc
that day from Portland, ore. whers
she had been Co visit her son. Henry
Kemprnich Mi. Kcmpouiyh how
ever. was not seen here as far ace
could Doe learned today,
u is reported that Mr Eompcuich
was seen iu MorIurity on ThurHduy,
although this report was not con-
urmyd D,motru Juramiilu am om-
uluyy AZ the k'mu"uiDh store Ht Per-
alta suid last uight that hc and three
other mon had traced the tracks 0t
Mr. k~,mpoul,h'H automobile utt"r his
body WAS found He said they led
from ryraltu tuvHrd lluhh,ll springs
and across country away from D.
roads.
Mr. Jprumillu said that Mi k,m-
pruluh ~ % rulp had never wanted tu
go anywhere with his car except ON
the main road not believing his car
could withstand a rough country trip
bid %, travel this way because he was
I'm fear Of some approaching danger,
b. th, wonder uf both uf Mr., Jnrumillu
and Henry workman. d manages
the porultu store. The auto was not
In tho garage. ms usuf but I'M q corral
near e. store shed
Moved Revolver Ia Room.
HHH 800. HI-H No L.AH.