Deming newspapers in 1906 were not all that different from their modern successors. The bulk of news reports and articles came from national wire feeds. The newspapers published once a week and were heavy with ads and advice columns that covered everything from health to wealth. I've found that it takes a keen eye to cull the local stories of interest from the spam of yesteryear. For instance neither one of the Deming newspapers ran this story on the front page. You sense the reluctance on the part of both editors to report the incident. Both papers took great pain to draw a line between their reporting and the waves of gossip that seemed to have engulfed the community. This unlikely gunfight between a school principal and the superintendent of schools, rocked the small community to it's very core. However no mention of any resulting court action or criminal charges were reported in the following months. The motive behind this bizarre duel, between two professional educators remains a mystery. Within a week, New Mexico Territorial Gov. Hagerman, appointed A.A. Temke of Deming to be superintendent of public schools of Luna County replacing the late Prof. U. Francis Duff.
The following articles are posted here as they appeared in 1906. A short article published in the New York Times (Apr. 30th 1906) gives us some insight as to the dueling duo's state of mind. An in-depth report published on May 3rd. 1906 in The Deming Headlight, the assumed author is editor George L. Shakespeare. The story as reported by the Deming Graphic on May 4th 1906, which was probably authored by editor and proprietor A.L. Sangre. Also included is a letter submitted to The Deming Headlight by an anonymous source and published on May 10th. 1906. That letter describes U. Francis Duff as a gentle soul, beloved and well liked by all who knew him. The public opinion of his killer may not have been as generous. Prof. U. Francis Duff was buried at Mountain View cemetery in Deming, N.M. in the Old Masonic Section. In 1955 his beloved wife Emma, was laid to rest beside him. W.H. Dickey and his family seem to have left Deming shortly after his recovery from the bullet wound. What was the cause? Only Profs. Duff and Dickey really know what caused both to deviate from their normal character. Over the years very little information leaked out concerning the incident. Only the gossip and rumors that spread around the town after the shootings provide any insight as to the reasons behind the duel. It seems that rumor of an affair between Prof. Duff and the wife of Prof. Dickey had been circulated. It is believed that rumors of this illicit affair had been started by Duff himself. Dickey confronted Duff about the situation, with Duff neither denying nor confirming his involvement. This quickly poisoned any relationship (personal or professional) between the two highly respected educators. Dickey's wife soon became pregnant and more rumors spread concerning who the father really was. After the child was born (the infant boy was less than a year old at the time the shooting took place) Duff supposedly claimed that the child was his, when word of this spread to Dickey, he confronted Duff and asked him to take back his statement and apologize. Duff not only refused but he told Dickey that the next time he saw him he would shoot him dead on sight. Thus the stage was set for one of the strangest (and one of the last) gunfights the old west would ever see.
Prof. Dickey kills Prof. Duff, Superintendent of Schools
Special to the New York Times, Dateline: Deming, N.M. April 29th 1906
Prof. W.H. Dickey, Superintendent of Deming Public Schools, today shot and instantly killed Prof. U. Francis Duff, Superintendent of Luna County Schools, one of the most prominent educators in New Mexico and a student of archaeology. Who had achieved a National reputation by his writings. The shooting took place shortly after noon in front of the Post Office in the main street of Deming. Dickey had been driving about town in a buggy during the morning and had passed Prof. Duff several times. As he drove in front of the Post Office, Duff stepped out drawing a revolver and called Dickey to stop. Dickey drew his revolver, leaped from the buggy and opened fire. Both pistols cracked at once, Prof. Duff fell dead with a bullet through his head. Dickey was shot in the side, but is not believed to be fatally hurt. For some months there had been enmity between the men arising from differences in connection with the management of the Deming schools, although it is hinted that personal matters have also entered into the quarrel. It is said that Duff had frequently threatened to shoot Dickey on sight.
An Awful Tragedy Deming Headlight May 3rd. 1906
It is with the most intense personal dislike that the Headlight makes any mention of the awful tragedy that was enacted upon the streets of this city last Saturday at about fifteen minutes of twelve o'clock, where one of our good citizens lost his life and another now lies on a bed of pain, suffering pangs of sorrow and regret. Last Saturday at the hour mentioned, U. Francis Duff, superintendent of schools for Luna county and assistant principal of Deming Public Schools, stepped to the edge of the sidewalk at the post office corner and called to W.H. Dickey, principal of Deming Public Schools, who was driving west on Spruce street; "Stop Here" Dickey at once stopped and as Duff was advancing on him with a pistol, called; "See what that man is doing, stop him." at the same time springing into the ground on the opposite side of his buggy and drawing a pistol. Instantly two reports that were so close together that for a time many who heard them declared there was but one rang out. Prof. Duff lay on the ground with a bullet wound in the head a little to the left of the center of the forehead and Prof.Dickey shot in the left front side was running toward Henry Meyer's Meat Market at the opposite corner of the square as Dickey ran he looked back at Duff lying on the ground and exclaimed "My god he is dead, I didn't mean to kill him"
Duff was at once carried to Doctor S. M. Strong's office on the opposite side of the street, where a hasty examination of the wound disclosed the fact that the bullet had penetrated the brain and it would be only a question of a few hours at the most before he would pass away. Dickey was placed on a bed in a rear room of the meat market and an examination of his wound,which was in the left side, just below the heart, showed that the bullet had gone around, probably following a rib, and that while it might be of a serious nature, he was in no immediate danger. Kind friends took him to his home, where a little later on, an operation was performed and the bullet extracted. Prof. Dickey at this writing is resting comfortably and doing as well as could be expected and should no unlooked for complications arise will be out again in due time. Prof. Duff died from the effect of his wound at 7 o'clock Saturday evening. The above are the bare facts of this most deplorable affair. As to the cause of this most unfortunate encounter, we doubt if any one in this community outside of the immediate members of the families of each of the participants in this duel to the death have any knowledge. One thing is certain, the private differences of these two men was no affair of The Headlight and while there is any amount of surmise and hurtful gossip going the rounds, doing no one any real good, except that it may satisfy the cravings of a gossiper, we have nothing to say regarding the matter, other than that it is the opinion of the citizens in this town that too much has already been stated by parties having no knowledge of whereof they speak.
Both Prof. Duff and Dickey are highly educated, cultured and well bred gentlemen, both were members of the Presbyterian Church and active workers in that institution of Christianity. Both were members of the Masonic Order, Duff particularly being a mason of high standing in the McGorty Commandry of this city. The deceased leaves a family consisting of a loving wife and two interesting daughters, who have the heartfelt sympathy of this whole community in this their great bereavement. Prof. Dickey also has a loving wife and two little children, one a boy of five years and the other an infant about one year old. The brother of Prof. Dickey, Mr. G.L. Dickey arrived Sunday evening from his home in Tyler Tx. and is attending closely at the bedside of his brother.
Originally U. Francis Duff came from Ohio, of which state he was native although for some fourteen or fifteen years past he has been a resident of this territory and was largely known in educational circles throughout the south west. He was a writer of considerable note, many of his articles having been published in the leading periodicals of the east from time to time. For the past eight years he had held the position of assistant principal of the Deming Public Schools and beloved by all of the scholars who in that length of time were under his tuition. For the past four years Duff held the offices of superintendent of schools of Luna County. At the last election he was elected on the Republican ticket over his Democratic adversary, by a large majority. His remains were laid to rest in the Masonic Cemetery last Sunday afternoon, services being conducted by Deming Lodge No.12 A.F. & A.M. W.H. Dickey came here three years ago as superintendent of the public schools and has given general satisfaction to all in that capacity. He also is a man of rare educational attainments and by his superior knowledge and thoroughness has succeeded in placing the schools of this city on the very highest plain, in fact under his immediate supervision our public Schools stand in a most enviable light today as compared with like institutions any where else in the territory. Mr. Dickey is a native of Tennessee although, we believe he taught some of the best schools in the state of Texas before he came here.
Deming Shocked!
A fatal Mid Day Duel. One Killed, Another Wounded
San Francisco received the most severe shock in its history on the 18th of last month and Deming was shocked as never before by the terrible tragedy of last Saturday. Already the press dispatches have given the public an account of the matter most of which are in the main correct. Prof. W.H. Dickey principal of our public schools, and Prof. U. Francis Duff principal of the high school and county superintendent of public schools, on Saturday last met at the post office just before the hour of twelve both armed and prepared for the meeting, and without any waste of words fired at each other at the same instant. Prof. Duff fell shot through the brain and Prof. Dickey wounded in the left side walked across the street to Mr. Meyer's market and was from there taken to his home. Prof. Duff was carried across the street to the office of Dr. Strong, where without regaining consciousness he died about seven o'clock of the same day.
Both were teachers in the same school, both occupied the same recitation room for nearly three years; were prominent members of the Presbyterian church and active in Sunday School and Christian Endeavor work. Both were members of the Masonic order. Prof. Duff was a Knight Templar and at the John Paul Jones memorial services on Thursday evening delivered one of the finest addresses ever heard in Deming. We observe that some of the daily newspaper correspondents undertake to give reasons for this bloody tragedy. So far as we have given them perusal they are only rumors and surmises, part of the town tittle tattle. Gossip may have had its part in the causes that led to this fatal encounter and perhaps if there had been no cruel tongue wagging there would have been no tragedy. We say perhaps for we believe the true reasons have
never been made public. Since we first met and became acquainted with these prominent educators and active church workers, our relations have always been brotherly and cordial and to us nothing could have seemingly been further from their hearts than a feeling of enmity toward each other. We rejoice to know that Prof. Dickey's recovery is assured and that he will soon rally from the shock and the wound. He is still a young man and we hope a long life of usefulness in in store for him.
Prof. Ulysses Francis Duff was born in Mt.Pleasant, Ohio on Aug. 17 1865. He was educated at Bellair, Ohio and received a degree from the Chicago Univ. He was authority on archeological researches has been in the employ of the government in work for the Smithsonian Institute among the cliff dweller ruins, and has written along this line for several eastern and western magazines. That he was under some great mental excitement for several days was known to a number of his most intimate friends. As an evidence of his condition, we add to this notice a part of a poem that was begun or as we say, blocked out but never finished, and was evidently one of his last pen productions.
"Is with me always....thy rough, lone nights and days
The swishing rod....the anguish of the flesh
The tortured spirit.... that no look betrays
The opening of the old sad stripes afresh
prostrate and praying, as my soul doth live
out of the ashes.... at thy feet i fall
only one word....one word...forgive."
Prof. Duff was buried from the Presbyterian Church at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, Rev. W.H. Dubose officiating with Masons and Eastern Star members in attendance. A wife mourns the loss of a husband, two daughters of a father, to whom the great heart of our stricken community goes out in loving sympathy. And to him who holds his children in the hollow of his hand, a united prayer that he will be a father to the fatherless and in very deed the widow's god.
In Memorium of U. Francis Duff (anonymous, published in the Deming Headlight May 10th. 1906)
In the passing of this life from our midst in the prime of its years and usefulness, there has come with its sudden closing an emptiness in the room of his frienships, difficult and painful to realize. With the wealth of bloom laid upon that new made grave, went many a warm tribute to the kindly, generous, impulsive quantities that had won and held so large a portion of confidence and esteem. The bright and cultured mind and the cherry, sympathetic manner that went with it. The warm heart, the open, friendly, helpful and spontaneous cordial hospitality, the quiet beauty of his home and family life. These were the things that turned simple social intercourse into enduring regard. Friends came to him unbidden and the loving heart of youth and childhood followed him with trustful affection. In the supreme test of duty ,honor and courage, that comes to but few, he bore himself as a man and in none of these was he found wanting. From the place he made fragrant with the perfume of gentle deeds and words, the strong yet kindly spirit that takes the hand of each in turn, had led him forth into the larger spaces of eternity. In the wide western land he loved so well and which he never felt to be a far or lonely country, his grave is made; but with those who know him best he leaves a gracious memory that will not pass.
It is with the most intense personal dislike that the Headlight makes any mention of the awful tragedy that was enacted upon the streets of this city last Saturday at about fifteen minutes of twelve o'clock, where one of our good citizens lost his life and another now lies on a bed of pain, suffering pangs of sorrow and regret. Last Saturday at the hour mentioned, U. Francis Duff, superintendent of schools for Luna county and assistant principal of Deming Public Schools, stepped to the edge of the sidewalk at the post office corner and called to W.H. Dickey, principal of Deming Public Schools, who was driving west on Spruce street; "Stop Here" Dickey at once stopped and as Duff was advancing on him with a pistol, called; "See what that man is doing, stop him." at the same time springing into the ground on the opposite side of his buggy and drawing a pistol. Instantly two reports that were so close together that for a time many who heard them declared there was but one rang out. Prof. Duff lay on the ground with a bullet wound in the head a little to the left of the center of the forehead and Prof.Dickey shot in the left front side was running toward Henry Meyer's Meat Market at the opposite corner of the square as Dickey ran he looked back at Duff lying on the ground and exclaimed "My god he is dead, I didn't mean to kill him"
Duff was at once carried to Doctor S. M. Strong's office on the opposite side of the street, where a hasty examination of the wound disclosed the fact that the bullet had penetrated the brain and it would be only a question of a few hours at the most before he would pass away. Dickey was placed on a bed in a rear room of the meat market and an examination of his wound,which was in the left side, just below the heart, showed that the bullet had gone around, probably following a rib, and that while it might be of a serious nature, he was in no immediate danger. Kind friends took him to his home, where a little later on, an operation was performed and the bullet extracted. Prof. Dickey at this writing is resting comfortably and doing as well as could be expected and should no unlooked for complications arise will be out again in due time. Prof. Duff died from the effect of his wound at 7 o'clock Saturday evening. The above are the bare facts of this most deplorable affair. As to the cause of this most unfortunate encounter, we doubt if any one in this community outside of the immediate members of the families of each of the participants in this duel to the death have any knowledge. One thing is certain, the private differences of these two men was no affair of The Headlight and while there is any amount of surmise and hurtful gossip going the rounds, doing no one any real good, except that it may satisfy the cravings of a gossiper, we have nothing to say regarding the matter, other than that it is the opinion of the citizens in this town that too much has already been stated by parties having no knowledge of whereof they speak.
Both Prof. Duff and Dickey are highly educated, cultured and well bred gentlemen, both were members of the Presbyterian Church and active workers in that institution of Christianity. Both were members of the Masonic Order, Duff particularly being a mason of high standing in the McGorty Commandry of this city. The deceased leaves a family consisting of a loving wife and two interesting daughters, who have the heartfelt sympathy of this whole community in this their great bereavement. Prof. Dickey also has a loving wife and two little children, one a boy of five years and the other an infant about one year old. The brother of Prof. Dickey, Mr. G.L. Dickey arrived Sunday evening from his home in Tyler Tx. and is attending closely at the bedside of his brother.
Originally U. Francis Duff came from Ohio, of which state he was native although for some fourteen or fifteen years past he has been a resident of this territory and was largely known in educational circles throughout the south west. He was a writer of considerable note, many of his articles having been published in the leading periodicals of the east from time to time. For the past eight years he had held the position of assistant principal of the Deming Public Schools and beloved by all of the scholars who in that length of time were under his tuition. For the past four years Duff held the offices of superintendent of schools of Luna County. At the last election he was elected on the Republican ticket over his Democratic adversary, by a large majority. His remains were laid to rest in the Masonic Cemetery last Sunday afternoon, services being conducted by Deming Lodge No.12 A.F. & A.M. W.H. Dickey came here three years ago as superintendent of the public schools and has given general satisfaction to all in that capacity. He also is a man of rare educational attainments and by his superior knowledge and thoroughness has succeeded in placing the schools of this city on the very highest plain, in fact under his immediate supervision our public Schools stand in a most enviable light today as compared with like institutions any where else in the territory. Mr. Dickey is a native of Tennessee although, we believe he taught some of the best schools in the state of Texas before he came here.
A fatal Mid Day Duel. One Killed, Another Wounded
San Francisco received the most severe shock in its history on the 18th of last month and Deming was shocked as never before by the terrible tragedy of last Saturday. Already the press dispatches have given the public an account of the matter most of which are in the main correct. Prof. W.H. Dickey principal of our public schools, and Prof. U. Francis Duff principal of the high school and county superintendent of public schools, on Saturday last met at the post office just before the hour of twelve both armed and prepared for the meeting, and without any waste of words fired at each other at the same instant. Prof. Duff fell shot through the brain and Prof. Dickey wounded in the left side walked across the street to Mr. Meyer's market and was from there taken to his home. Prof. Duff was carried across the street to the office of Dr. Strong, where without regaining consciousness he died about seven o'clock of the same day.
Both were teachers in the same school, both occupied the same recitation room for nearly three years; were prominent members of the Presbyterian church and active in Sunday School and Christian Endeavor work. Both were members of the Masonic order. Prof. Duff was a Knight Templar and at the John Paul Jones memorial services on Thursday evening delivered one of the finest addresses ever heard in Deming. We observe that some of the daily newspaper correspondents undertake to give reasons for this bloody tragedy. So far as we have given them perusal they are only rumors and surmises, part of the town tittle tattle. Gossip may have had its part in the causes that led to this fatal encounter and perhaps if there had been no cruel tongue wagging there would have been no tragedy. We say perhaps for we believe the true reasons have
never been made public. Since we first met and became acquainted with these prominent educators and active church workers, our relations have always been brotherly and cordial and to us nothing could have seemingly been further from their hearts than a feeling of enmity toward each other. We rejoice to know that Prof. Dickey's recovery is assured and that he will soon rally from the shock and the wound. He is still a young man and we hope a long life of usefulness in in store for him.
Prof. Ulysses Francis Duff was born in Mt.Pleasant, Ohio on Aug. 17 1865. He was educated at Bellair, Ohio and received a degree from the Chicago Univ. He was authority on archeological researches has been in the employ of the government in work for the Smithsonian Institute among the cliff dweller ruins, and has written along this line for several eastern and western magazines. That he was under some great mental excitement for several days was known to a number of his most intimate friends. As an evidence of his condition, we add to this notice a part of a poem that was begun or as we say, blocked out but never finished, and was evidently one of his last pen productions.
"Is with me always....thy rough, lone nights and days
The swishing rod....the anguish of the flesh
The tortured spirit.... that no look betrays
The opening of the old sad stripes afresh
prostrate and praying, as my soul doth live
out of the ashes.... at thy feet i fall
only one word....one word...forgive."
Prof. Duff was buried from the Presbyterian Church at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, Rev. W.H. Dubose officiating with Masons and Eastern Star members in attendance. A wife mourns the loss of a husband, two daughters of a father, to whom the great heart of our stricken community goes out in loving sympathy. And to him who holds his children in the hollow of his hand, a united prayer that he will be a father to the fatherless and in very deed the widow's god.
In Memorium of U. Francis Duff (anonymous, published in the Deming Headlight May 10th. 1906)
In the passing of this life from our midst in the prime of its years and usefulness, there has come with its sudden closing an emptiness in the room of his frienships, difficult and painful to realize. With the wealth of bloom laid upon that new made grave, went many a warm tribute to the kindly, generous, impulsive quantities that had won and held so large a portion of confidence and esteem. The bright and cultured mind and the cherry, sympathetic manner that went with it. The warm heart, the open, friendly, helpful and spontaneous cordial hospitality, the quiet beauty of his home and family life. These were the things that turned simple social intercourse into enduring regard. Friends came to him unbidden and the loving heart of youth and childhood followed him with trustful affection. In the supreme test of duty ,honor and courage, that comes to but few, he bore himself as a man and in none of these was he found wanting. From the place he made fragrant with the perfume of gentle deeds and words, the strong yet kindly spirit that takes the hand of each in turn, had led him forth into the larger spaces of eternity. In the wide western land he loved so well and which he never felt to be a far or lonely country, his grave is made; but with those who know him best he leaves a gracious memory that will not pass.
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