Wholesale Murder in New Mexico

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 29, 18 August 1885, Page 3

Wholesale Murder in New Mexico

A wholesale murder, remarkable • even among the blood-stained records of New Mexico, has been perpetrated at Benito, New Mexico, eight persons being shot dead by a burglar, who met his reward, but unfortunately after the massacre was consummated. It appears that a miner named Nelson, who had joined the Benito City camp some years before, coming from Nebraska ,effected a burglarious entrance into the house of M. S. Mayberry, a ranchman hying almost close to the town, about 3 o'clock in the morning. In doing so however, he aroused one of the ranchmen named Flynn, who gave the alarm, and jumping out of bed at the same time, was shot dead on the spot. Mayberry and bis family, rushing down stairs, were met by the desperado and shot down in succession, the victims being the proprietor himself, his wife, two sons, a little daughter, and a neighbour named Peter Nelson, who, hearing the shooting, seized his gun and made for the scene of the disturbance, but the murderer was too quick for him, and he was shot down before he could defend himself. By this time the town had become alarmed, and a number of citizens armed themselves and started for the house, which was surrounded about 7 o'clock, to prevent Nelson's escape. He surprised them, however, from the rear, fired into them, killing Herman Beck, one of the party, on the spot, and mounting his horse, made a dash down the street, firing his Winchester rifle incessantly in order to inspire terror and enable him to escape. But he bad to run the gauntlet of a smart f usilade from housetops and windows, and before he got clear off, he was shot through the head and died instantly. The above account, which comes comes from Las Vegas further says that Nelson, during his four years' residence, had alway been considered a quiet, orderly citizen, that is, it is presumed, as quiet, orderly citizens go in those parts. Since the tragedy, it is surmised that several recent undetected burglaries bave been his work.