Pages Past — Nov. 16

Nov. 16

On this date ...

1971: A Clovis man had been found guilty of killing his wife following a quarrel.

A Ninth District Court jury deliberated less than two hours before finding Charles Chambers, 57, guilty of first-degree murder.

Chambers was accused of shooting his wife, Lola, in the mouth with a rifle on Dec. 1, 1970.

He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

He was sentenced to life in prison.

1961: Officials from Lincoln County and De Baca County were in court, arguing about whether to move Billy the Kid’s body from Fort Sumner to Lincoln County.

A hearing was set for December, but those hoping to keep William Bonney in De Baca County told the court his body would be difficult to find and countless other remains would likely be disturbed in the search.

Judge E. T. Hensley Jr. heard testimony that the grave marker for the Kid and his “Pals” was placed years after their deaths as a “best guess” regarding location.

The area where Bonney was buried in 1881 is the final resting place for multiple area residents, none of which had markers following a 1904 flood.

The Kid’s grave today remains in its original location south of Fort Sumner near the home where he was shot to death.

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. For more regional history, check out his weblog at:

www.highplainsyesterdays.com