Sheriff Latherwood has just arrived here and reports that the
posse headed by he and Sheriff Fly while pursuing the Nogales
bank robbers were ambushed in Skeleton Canyon, Stein's Peak
Range, New Mexico at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Frank Robson,
a Mesa City government line rider was shot through the forehead and
killed. The bandits escaped leaving two horses. Frank Robson was
well known here. His wife and family are at Fairbanks.
Leatherwood is enlisting addition forces to continue the
pursuit. He leaves at once going to San Bernardino tonight.
November 10, 1896
Mrs. Frank Robson, of Mesa, wife of the line rider who was
killed in ambush in Skeleton Canyon by the Nogales bank robbers
has received a check for $2000 from the Grand Lodge of Workman
as the insurance on the life of her husband.
JOHN SAUNDERS
April 26, 1896
Tombstone: Deputy Marshall Scott White and Deputy Sheriff Burt
Alvord, late last night returned with the prisoner, Phillip Lashley
charged with killing John Saunders and who gave himself up at Fort
Huachuca, landing him behind the bars pending his examination
before Court Commissioner Duncan today.
It is learned, from parties over from the fort that Lashley and
Saunders were paying attention to a colored domestic at the fort
and that jealousy is said to have brought on bitter enmity which
finally caused the rash deed by Lashley. The latter is said to
have made the assertion that Saunders had threatened him in
various ways and is understood he will attempt to prove the
murder was committed in self defense.
J.C. SEXTON
October 21, 1896
J.C. Sexton, a printer died at 1 o'clock yesterday at the Sisters
Hospital of consumption.
The funeral was held yesterday afternoon from the Catholic Church
under the auspices of the local typographical union. The printers
union desire to express thanks to the good sisters and Dr. Duffield
for the kindness shown their fellow craftsman.
Deceased had resided in Phoenix for some years and was respected
by the fraternity and the community at large. He was 35 years of
age at the time of his death.
OTTO SHEFLER Jr.
May 7, 1896
Otto Shefler, Jr. aged 15, died yesterday at the residence of
his parents on Van Buren Street, north of the Central School,
under very unusual conditions. Several days ago the lad was
climbing a mesquite tree after birds nests when he stuck a
thorn into his bare foot. In a few days blood poison ensued
as a result of the slight wound and finally death. The body will
be shipped to Sonoma, Cal. for burial and will be accompanied
by the parents.
THOMAS SHIELDS
Dec 9, 1896
Thomas Shields died at the county hospital Monday night of
pneumonia. The remains were buried in the Porter Cemetery by Undertaker Smith.
Dec 10, 1896
Thomas Shields who died at the county hospital Monday night
was buried Tuesday in the Porter Cemetery. Deceased was a
member of the Louisiana Tigers during the Civil War and the
ex-confederates of this city took charge of his remains.
HENRY SHUMAKER
March 12, 1896
Henry Shumaker, the saloon keeper, yesterday sought death as
a relief from earthly troubles. His plans were methodical and
deliberate and the means of meeting death must have been carefully
studied out before the rash deed was committed.
For several days past he had been acting strangely and yesterday
morning word was brought to the sheriff's office that he was out
of his head. Two officers proceeded to his place of business
at the end of the street car line at the park. He was found
there and the officers noting nothing unusual in his appearance
returned.
Later in the afternoon as Constable Bolton of Tempe was on his
way home from Phoenix he was hailed by a Mexican near the
asylum who stated that a man was lying in an old adobe about
a few hundred yards north of the road near the asylum in a
dense thicket of mesquite. The man, the Mexican said, was
either in a stupor or was dead. The building stands in an
isolated spot hidden from view by the heavy brush, and was
formerly the habitation of Josiah Wood, a cattleman.
Bolton proceeded to the spot designated by the Mexican and found
the man as described. The corpse was that of Henry Shumaker and
the ghastly pallor of the face was sufficient proof of
dissolution. Otherwise it looked as if the man was only
sleeping.
Very carefully indeed, did Shumaker prepare for death. He
laid his overcoat on the ground and propped his head up with
a boulder. By his side was found a bottle that contained some
liquor and also a glass. Another but smaller bottle was also
lying by his side which contained morphine. An old fashioned
cap and ball revolver and a note were also found nearby. The
pistol was evidently held in reserve in case the drug
refused to act.
The note which was found read as follows:
"Please take me to Davis Undertaking Parlors. Please do not
take me home and save my wife and the babies all trouble. Please
make sure not to bury me until I am dead. My life has been a
complete failure. Goodbye, wife, babies and friends."
Bolton drove back to the city and notified Justice Johnson who
impaneled a jury and proceeded to the spot.
The deceased was an old timer in Arizona and has resided in
Phoenix for years, coming here from Yuma where he conducted
a barber shop. For some time he conducted a barber shop in
this city then sold out and opened a saloon at the Five
Points. About a year ago he opened a saloon in a tent
near the park and has since conducted the place. He was a
German by birth and 45 years of age. He was always noted
as being reticent and a man of few words.
SIMON SHUTE
August 12, 1896
City Marshall Clark yesterday received a letter from the
American consul at Chihuahua asking for information
regarding the relatives of a man named Simon Shute,
who was found dead at Chihuahua in November last.
He states that a sum of money that was found on the
dead man's person is in the possession of the Mexican
judge there. Shute, the man who was found, formerly
lived in Phoenix.
FRANK SMITH
June 22, 1896
The peace officers are now confident that Frank Smith was murdered
last year by Withrow, the negro burglar and his companion,
Williams. But as an accomplice Saturday night at McDowell, was
arrested John Averisch, who under the name of "Go John" is known
in every part of Arizona.
Averlisch is a German who has been in Arizona for twenty years.
He has a Mexican wife and has run so long with the Mexicans that
he has to use the expression of the country, become "galvanized."
Till lately for several years, he ran a low sort of roadhouse
on the bank of the Grand Canal four miles east of Phoenix on
the Tempe Road and about a half mile beyond the place where
Smith was killed. Averisch has never been before in very
serious trouble; he has been arrested several times for
selling liquor to Indians, but nothing could be proved against
him. Still the officers have always considered him to be the
keeper of a resort for thieves. His doggery was the place where
Williams and Withrow spent most of the time in which they were
not burgling and he is believed to know more than he tells of
the killing of Smith. He is in the county jail charged with
murder.
