A report reached the city yesterday that Willie Gant, the
13 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Gant, who have been
spending the summer at San Diego was dead. It was said that
he had died of hydrophobia while on a train with his parents
between San Diego and Los Angeles. It was also said that
death was the result of a bite from a dog some time before
he left with his mother for the coast. The fact that so
long a time has elapsed since the reported death leaves
strong hope that the rumor is without foundation, as it
would seem that if the occurrence had actually taken place
at that time the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Gant would by
this time be in possession of definite information. A
business letter was received three days ago but no mention
was made of illness in the family.
The death was informally reported to the I.O.G.T. Lodge of
which the little boy is an active member and a committee was
appointed to make further inquiry and if the sad report
proved to be correct to prepare the usual resolutions of
condolence and respect.
O.L. GIBBS
September 22, 1893
The body of O.L. Gibbs, the capitalist and real estate broker
was found yesterday morning in a ditch on his dairy farm just
below Phoenix Park. The discovery was made about ten o'clock
by Charles Pierson, who is employed on the farm and as soon as
possible word was brought to the city. It was at first
reported that he had been shot and stories of murder were
soon in circulation. A later report that death was the
result of heart disease was more readily accepted as it was
quite well known that the deceased had suffered from heart
trouble.
Justice Kincaid decided to hold an inquest and impaneled a
jury of W.W. Edwards, H.C. McDonald, D.L. Bewley, Frank
Ladne, A.E. Davis, Luther Martin, A.L. Fisher, J.W. Conwell
and J.A.R. Irvin.
The dead man without coat or vest lay on his back, his arms
outstretched and his face out of the water. The body was
submerged. No formal evidence was taken concerning Gibbs'
movement yesterday morning but all who had seen him were
questioned. It was learned that he left his home on Van Buren
Street about 8 o'clock to drive to his dairy farm. He was
accompanied by a boy. Soon after reaching the farm he directed
the boy to leave him and drive home. Though other persons
employed on the farm saw him it does not appear that anyone
else talked with him.
The coroner was confronted by a mystery which has only been
half solved. The distance between the body and the clothing
was unaccountable, except upon either the theory that it had
floated down or that the deceased had waded down the ditch to
the point where the body was found.
How Gibbs got into the ditch was the most perplexing problem
to the viewers. If he had not been overcome by heat, and if
he had not after having removed his coat, vest and hat, gone
to the edge of the water to bathe his face and if he had not
while stooping over, been attacked by heart trouble, he must
have gone in deliberately and for a purpose which those who
knew him would hesitate to believe.
The witnesses called were Charles Pierson, A. Goodenough,
Gus Hagler, Frank Wagner, John Payne, Frank Gibbs and Fred
Adams.
Oscar L. Gibbs was a little past 40 years of age and has
lived in Phoenix for the past five years. He was regarded
as one of the shrewdest and most successful business men in
the territory. Beside his extensive money lending business
he was heavily invested in real estate as a broker and as
owner. He leaves a wife and two children to whom his
untimely taking off is a heart breaking stroke.
September 22, 1893
The verdict of the coroner's jury yesterday to the Gibbs case
failed to lighten the mystery which hangs about the death of
the capitalist. It was found that "the deceased came to his
death from causes to the jury unknown and whether it was
accidental or intentional we have no means of knowing."
Frank Gibbs, the 14 year old son of the dead man said that
about 8 o'clock in the morning his father asked him to
accompany him to the dairy farm to see some blooded cattle
which were to be included in the bill of sale to Mr.
Goodenoe. When this had been done his father sent him
back home saying he himself would return later.
MARIA GONZALES
May 26, 1893
Miss Maria Gonzales died Wednesday evening after a short
illness at the extreme old age of 83. She was the maiden
aunt of the wife of Supervisor J.T. Priest and was well
known by the majority of Tempelites on account of her
amiable and charitable disposition. Many a poor sufferer
has been comforted by her ever ready and willing hand and
now that she is no more on this earth she will be more
than missed by her friends and relatives. The funeral
took place yesterday afternoon from the residence of J.T.
Priest, the remains being buried in the Catholic Cemetery.
JAMES GREEN
January 21, 1893
Globe--James Green, one of the most highly respected
citizens of Globe passed peacefully away on Sunday last
after a lingering illness caused by injuries received
from a fall in the Silver King Mine about six years ago.
He leaves a wife and five children including two married
daughters. The funeral took place from the family
residence on Monday afternoon and was attended by a
large number of sympathizing friends.
BABY GRIFFIN
September 3, 1893
A sad bereavement happened in the family of E.L. Griffin
this morning in the drowning of their 2 year old baby boy
in the Dana lateral that runs by their home. The little
one was missed for a few moments and upon a search being
made could not be found. Every nook and corner was looked
into, but no child, finally the distracted parents and
friends concluded the child must have fallen in the ditch,
which is quite a stream and almost at mill race speed. A
search up and down the lateral was made which resulted in
the finding of the dead body a mile below. The grief
stricken mother, the father being away, was notified and
the little one was carried home by his older brother who
had discovered the body. The child's mother is heart
broken. The funeral will be put off until the father,
who is at Goldfield can be summoned.
BENIGNO GRIJALVA
March 22, 1893
Yesterday morning an old man, Gregorio Grijalva was found
dead at his home four miles east of the city and Justice
Kincaid was notified. He summoned a coroner's jury and
went to the place of death. After viewing the remains
and the surroundings the jury returned to the city to
conclude the inquest. the body was brought to Randal
and Davis undertaking rooms for examination by Dr. Dameron.
There were several ugly bruises about the head which
suggested a probable cause of death. The dead man was
the father of Benigno Grijalva sentenced by Justice
Wharton the day before to 180 days in the county jail
for mercilessly beating his wife and it was learned
that the contusions on the dead man's face had been
inflicted by the unnatural husband and son while the
old man was trying to shield his daughter-in-law from
her husband's fury.
One witness related that a company of four or five men
assembled at Grijalva's house on Sunday night and engaged
in drinking. Under the influence of liquor one of the
men told the younger Grijalva that the latter's wife had
been untrue to him and confessed that he himself had had
illicit intercourse with her. Grijalva attacked his wife
like a demon. The elder Grijalva interfered but was
knocked down and so brutally stamped that even the drunken
spectators remonstrated with the inhuman son.
The old man was not completely disabled but was able to
walk and no one supposed that he was dangerously hurt.
After his sons arrest on Monday, he was found dead. An
autopsy was performed and just how the old man died
could not be shown. The theory is that his death resulted
from violence.
MRS. SUSAN HADSELL
March 15, 1893
Died yesterday afternoon at 2:25 o'clock, Susan, wife of
B.A. Hadsell after an illness of three weeks of pneumonia.
She had improved so rapidly within the last few days that
no doubt was entertained of her recovery and yesterday
afternoon she left the house. In a few minutes she was
dead. Mrs. Hadsell was about 45 years of age and beside
her sorrowing husband she leaves four children, the
eldest aged thirteen and the youngest four years.
The funeral will take place this morning at 11 o'clock
from the Baptist Church.
