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| Carlsbad Sheriff Slain
by Escaped Tex. Convict
Tues. Carlsbad, N. M.,
June 5.1910 Galveston
Daily Times—Saturday
night at Hope, a small
town 60 miles northwest
of Carlsbad, Sheriff
George Batton was killed
and Deputy Stone Wilburn
slightly injured in a
gun battle between the
officers and an escaped
Texas convict named
Bonilla, wanted at the
penitentiary to finish
serving a sentence of 12
years
for murder.Sheriff.1
Batton and posse located
the Mexican in a shack
near Hope and,
surrounding the house,
demanded his surrender.
Two women opened the
door, and invited the
officers to enter,
saying .no one was in
the shack but
themselves. . The women
were ordered to light a
lamp, which they did and
stepped outside, Batton
and Wilburn entering,
one by the north and one
by the south door.
Wilburn discovered the
Mexican hiding behind a
bureau, which had been
drawn 'across one comer
of the room Wilburn
.fired, extinguishing
the light and striking
Bonilla in the side and
coming out the back.
Batton entered the door
and fired five shots in
the direction of the
Mexican,1 all going high
but in a space that
could be covered by a
hand. Batton was in the
''doorway,'-'in the
light of the moon, and
one of Bonilla's shots
entered his abdomen and
killed him instantly.
Wilburn was shot in the
side, but the bullet was
deflected by a rib and
came out the back.
Wilburn's last shot
killed Bonilla, striking
the jugular vein. The
Mexican died
instantly. The bodies of
the dead officer and the
Mexican were brought to
Carlsbad, while Wilburn
was rushed to Artesia
for treatment. .Sheriff
Batton was a popular
officer, noted for his
bravery, and his death
is mourned by every
citizen of Eddy county.
He will, be buried
Tuesday at Carlsbad by
the Woodmen of the
World. |
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