Robert C. Finley, Renaraye ranchman, was shot and instantly killed Friday night, May 22nd, by his son, Virgil, age 25. News of the shooting reached the sheriff's office about 1 o'clock Saturday morning.
Virgil Finley had been attending a party at a neighbors, the O.B. Ankrum's, and on returning to his home at 11 o'clock found his parents in bed and quarreling. Slipping off his shoes he laid down on a bed in the same room. Very shortly the quarrel became more serious when Finley raised up in bed and struck his wife. The son then took a hand and demanded that his father cease his attack on his mother. This the parent refused to do whereupon Virgil went to the kitchen and removed a rifle from the wall and returned toward the bedroom. On reaching the door adjoining he told his father he must quit beating his mother or he would kill him. At this point the enraged father leaped from the bed and toward Virgil who kept telling him to stay back or he would shoot. Refusing to halt, the son pulled the trigger as his father came within two feet of the gun barrel.
There was a loud report and the father fell dead at his son's feet, shot thru the heart. The bullet entered the breast two inches from the left nipple and came out under the arm in the back. After waiting until he was sure his father was dead Virgil returned the gun to its rack and went to his mother's aid. She appeared in great pain and it later developed that the bullet which had been fired in her defense passed thru the father and struck her, lodging back of the eye ball.
Realizing that his mother must have immediate medical care Virgil left his mother and dead father alone in the house and went to the homes of Carson Seitz and Ankrums for aid. Some of these neighbors went on to a telephone and summoned Dr. Johnson and Undersheriff Hazard. On the doctor's arrival he examined the body of Finley and pronounced him dead. He also examined the injured woman and finding her condition serious started at once with her for the hospital in Cortez. Virgil accompanied his mother to town and after seeing to her comfort at the hospital, surrendered to Undersheriff Hazard.
At ten o'clock a coroner's jury was subpeoned and with J. W. Ertel as acting coroner motored to the Finley ranch where an examination of the circumstances was made. They viewed the body as it had fallen and heard Virgil's version of the shooting which was virtually the same as that given in the paragraphs above. The body was then moved to the Ercel Mortuary and the inquest resumed at four o'clock.
Virgil was the first witness, repeating the story told at the home in the morning.
Dr. Johnson was then called to the stand. He told of finding the man dead and the mother injured, also explained the course of the bullet and displayed X-ray pictures showing the lodged bullet in the mother's head.
Mr. and Mrs. Ankrum and Mr. and Mrs. Carson Seitz then testified to being called out of bed by Virgil and their going to the Finley home where they found conditions as outlined above.
Caraway Rice, brother-in-law of Virgil Finley and son-in-law of the deceased then took the stand and testified to the dead man's character. He reviewed trouble he had had with the deceased on one occasion. He stated that Finley had gone into a rage and told members of his family that he was going over to the Rice ranch and shoot him (Rice). A member of the family rushed across the country and warned him of his coming. Shortly Finley drove up and knocked at his door. As he opened the door Finley drew a revolver from his pocket and attempted to shoot him. He grappled with the man and with the aid of W. M. Conoley and Posey McNeal who were on the ranch, having been called when it was heard Finley was coming, succeeded in bringing the enraged man under control.
Mr. Conoley as a witness then substantiated the story told by Rice.
After the hearing of this evidence the coroner's jury rendered its verdict as follows:
"That Robert Curtis Finley came to his death from a gunshot wound inflicted by a 38-40 rifle in the hands of Virgil Finley at his ranch home about 16 miles northwest of Cortez in the county of Montezuma, state of Colorado, on the 22nd day of May A.D. 1931, at about 11:05 p.m. He killed his father in defense of his mother.
(Signed)
F. E. Larimore
Irl Robinson
Carl Gregory
Charles Winship
Arch Walters
Lloyd Maynes"
After the verdict was rendered, Virgil was released from the custody of the sheriff, after District Attorney Jacobson had announced that the state would not press the charges further. All felt that the deed was justifiable and that the young man was to be sympathized with rather than prosecuted. Virgil Finley has always been well thought of in this county where he has resided since 1911.
The whole thing is a sad affair, and to the wife, the son, and other children the Sentinel extends deepest sympathy. The great concern now is for the welfare of the mother who is still in a precarious condition. An attempt was made to remove the bullet Monday but the doctors gave it up, deciding it was best to leave the lead pellet where it was and hope that its effects can be over come. The injured woman is a mere slip, weighing but 90 pounds while the deceased husband was a powerful man weighing in the neighborhood of 190 pounds.
Funeral services for Finley were held Saturday from the Ertel Mortuary with Miss Dorothy Haywood officiating. Burial was at the Arriola cemetery.
OBITUARY
Robert Curtis Finley was born July 28, 1874, in Washington county, Kansas, and passed away at his Renaraye ranch home May 22, 1931, age 56 years, 11 months, and 24 days. He was married February 12th, 1896, to Hulda Cora McGinnis. To this union was born five children, all of whom survive. They are Mrs. Lela Rice of Cortez; Mrs. Elsie Sellars of Princeton, Kansas; Mrs. Mildred Wilson and Mrs. Bessie Koci of Auburn, Kansas, and Virgil of Cortez. Mrs. Lee Colner, of Yellow Jacket, a sister of the deceased also survives together with one other sister and three brothers in Kansas.
Cortez Sentinel, Cortez, Montezuma County, Colorado, Thursday, May 28, 1931
