Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1968: A Portales couple was arraigned on first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of city druggist Elbert Muncy.
Muncy was shot eight times, police said. They theorized he surprised burglars when he came into the store after hours on a Sunday night to fill a prescription.
Dennis and Pearl Carlton were arrested after witnesses claimed they saw the Carlton's white car in the area near the drug store.
Pearl Carlton had worked at the drug store for six months.
Prosecutors theorized the person responsible for the slaying had hidden inside the store before it closed. Evidence showed someone had unsuccessfully attempted to pry open a drug store filing cabinet where money was kept.
The Carltons were ultimately convicted of second-degree murder.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens. Contact him at: