bleeding.  The  evidence 
so  far  adduced  is  not  in  any  way  conclusive  as 
to  the  Mexican’s  guilt.  One  theory  in  regard 
to  the  murder  is  that  it  may  have  been  com- 
mitted by  an  American  section  hand  who  was 
discharged  the  day  before  and  who  knew  the 
Chinaman  had  the  money.  When  the  section 
hands  met  Chavez  on  their  way  home  he  acted 
in  a natural  and  unsuspicious  manner,  this  to- 
gether with  the  absence  of  the  missing  property 
makes  it  very  probable  that  he  is  innocent. 
Chavez  says  he  was  born  and  raised  in  Las 
Cruces  where  he  has  many  relatives  and  friends.

Separ  ShootingThe  little  railroad  station  of  Separ  is  fast 
gaining  notoriety  for  shooters  and  shooting 
scrapes.  The  latest  up  to  date  occurring  on 
Thursday  of  last  week,  being  a most  atrocious 
and  dastardly  piece  of  business.  During  the  day 
several  miners  had  been  discharged  at  Hachita 
and  being  paid  off  went  to  Separ,  the  nearest 
railroad  point.  Among  the  miners  was  one 
named  Jackson  who  was  supposed  to  have  $480 
in  his  possession.  Two  hard  characters  named 
William  Walters,  alias  Broncho  Bill,  and  Mike 
McGinnis,  who  had  been  laying  around  Hachita, 
followed  the  miners  to  Separ  for  the  purpose 
of  robbing  them;  more  especially  Jackson.  Ar- 
riving at  Separ  the  miners  put  up  at  Armstrong’s 
boarding  house  as  also  did  the  rustlers.  Mr. 
Armstrong  having  gone  to  the  ranch  and  Mr.

chunk 539 · paragraph 2076

McGinnis,  who  had  been  laying  around  Hachita, 
followed  the  miners  to  Separ  for  the  purpose 
of  robbing  them;  more  especially  Jackson.  Ar- 
riving at  Separ  the  miners  put  up  at  Armstrong’s 
boarding  house  as  also  did  the  rustlers.  Mr. 
Armstrong  having  gone  to  the  ranch  and  Mr. 
Weems  being  out  at  the  hay  camp  there  was 
nobody  to  protect  the  home  and  family.  The 
cowardly  rustlers  taking  advantage  of  the  sit- 
uation, and  after  all  had  retired  for  the  night, 
commenced  shooting  up  the  house  with  the  in- 
tention of  scaring  the  miner  Jackson  out  of  the 
house  and  getting  his  money  which  they  sup- 
posed to  be  in  his  grip  sack.  They  did  scare 
him  and  he  ran  out  of  the  house  in  his  shirt 
sleeves  without  hat  or  coat  but  took  his  money 
with  him.  The  robbers  then  took  his  gripsack 
and  hid  it  in  a pile  of  ties,  where  it  was  found 
by  the  officers.  Finding  their  prey  escaped, 
they  became  maddened  and  furious,  going  to 
the  telegraph  office  dressed  only  in  their  night 
clothes,  they  tried  to  kill  a miner  there  await- 
ing the  train  and  inaugurated  a reign  of  terror 
at  the  depot,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the 
lady  operator,  who  during  all  this  time  had 
been  wiring  dispatch  after  dispatch  to  Lords- 
burg for  aid.