Las Vegas Age, December 21, 2003, Clark County, Nevada Copyright © 2003 Gerry Perry This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ LAS VEGAS AGE 2/28/1914 DRUNKEN BRAWL ENDS IN MURDER BLAS LOPEZ IN JAIL AWAITS HEARING ON CHARGE OF KILLING CRESPIN GARCIA For Crespin GARCIA, Saturday, February 14 was Velentine's Day and payday as well. But CRESPIN's valentine was not a cupid's dart but the shining blade of a dirk. During the evening an altercation occurred at the Union Hotel bar between GARCIA, Blas LOPEZ and another Mexican, name unknown, over GARCIA's alleged attentions to a Mexican girl. All were in a drunken condition. After leaving the saloon they proceeded up Main street and when near Fremont street knives were brought into play. Crespin GARCIA found his abdomen slit open and his bowels protruding but was too drunk to care much. He did not report his injury to an officer or physician until Monday. Even then the injury was not considered very serious in its nature, but it soon developed that infection had set in as a result of the delay in having the wound dressed. The injured man steadfastly refused to make a statement as to who stabbed him until Friday, when realizing that death was approaching, he made a sworn ante-mortem statement to District Attorney VAN PELT in which he said that Blas LOPEZ inflicted the fatal wound. GARCIA died Friday evening and LOPEZ is now in the county jail awaiting his hearing on the charge of murder, which has been set for March 4th. The officers have been unable to locate the third Mexican of the group.