Christian Agner died yesterday at the Sister's Hospital
as a result of a fall from a horse. Dr. Stroud, who
attended him said that the case was similar to that of
Dr. Helm who was killed from a fall six years ago.
Just how the accident occurred will not be known. The
horse Mr. Agner was riding was a wild animal and needed
close attention at all times. The rider was a large
heavy man so that the fall in his case would have been
fatal.The funeral under the direction of the Woodmen
will take place at 3:30 this afternoon at the
undertaking parlors of Merryman and Holley. Mr.
Agner was forty five and a native of Germany. He
leaves a wife and seven children.
SIMON ALDERETTA
June 19, 1903
Friday morning, May 10, 1903, there was a pathetic scene
in the court room when Judge Sloan sentenced the murderer,
Simon Alderetta to be hung, says the Prescott Herald.
The prisoner received his sentence with tearful eyes and
a look of utter misery. He knew that his fate was sealed
and there would be no intervention from the court. His
only hope now is that a reprieve may be granted by
Governor Brodie.The crime for which Alderetta will
be hanged was committed the first of April , 1902.
A painter, J.R. Ward, who painted the signs all over
the territory for the General Arthur Cigar Company,
showing a man pointing a finger at you as you passed,
was the victim of Aleretta's murderous disposition.
A row started in a saloon in the south part of town
over a hat, and Ward was shot to death by the man
now about to be executed. Alderetta was tried at
the June term of the court last year convicted and
the death penalty fixed. The date of the execution
of the prisoner was not set until today.
MARY A. ALEXANDER
February 7, 1903
Mrs. Mary A. Alexander died yesterday morning at 10 o'clock
at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Baker in this city.
She has been ill for the last four or five weeks of
rheumatic poison and for several days her death has not
been unexpected. Mrs. Alexander was the widow of the
late Henry N. Alexander who died here in 1895. She was
65 years old and came to the territory in 1874, living
in Yuma till 1882 when the family came to Phoenix. On
the death of her husband she went to California where
his body was taken for interment in Rosedale Cemetery.
She returned to Phoenix again about a year ago, making
her home with Mrs. Baker. The funeral will be held
Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Baker residence.
The service will be conducted by Rev. E.A. Penick, pastor
of the Trinity Episcopal church. After the service the
body will be escorted to the M and P depot and will be
taken to Los Angeles where it will be laid beside the
last resting place of her husband.The pall bearers
named for the service on Sunday are Emil Ganz, J.
Thalheimer, W.H. Stilwell, John T. Dennis, Charles
Goldman, Frank Cox, W.I. Horner and E.J. Bennett.
All are old time friends of the family and Judge
Stilwell was a former law partner of the late Judge
Alexander.
WILLIAM E. ANNIN
April 2, 1903,
William E. Annin died yesterday. It may be said without
exaggeration that at the same time one of the most brilliant
men in the United States passed away. Those who knew him
well may easily believe that one of the most charming of
men in the world ceased to breathe. Mr. Annin was one month
past forty six years of age and for four years had been in
ill health. He first came to Phoenix three years ago last
September and remained until late the following spring.
He had been assigned to a place in the post office
department as inspector of rural mail routes. Before
leaving Phoenix, he was promoted to the head of a
division in the rural delivery service as special agent
in charge and Denver was made his headquarters. He
pursued his work in the postal service with the same
nervous but unremitting energy with which he had followed
every occupation in which he had ever been engaged and his
work was so easily distinguished in the service that he
was made the subject of special commendation by the head
of the department.During the last year he suffered from a
complication of physical troubles and it became necessary
for him to leave Denver. He was temporarily transferred to
Phoenix, though he was still nominally in charge of the work
at Denver.In the nearly three years that had elapsed since
he first visited Phoenix he had changed so much than when
his friends saw him they believed that they were looking
upon the face of a man who had not much longer to live.
The change though was all in the appearance. He was
otherwise the same Billy Annin whom they had known and
loved.He returned here late in the fall accompanied by
Mrs. Annin. There was no improvement for him. A few
days ago he suffered an attack of Pleurisy from which he
obtained only brief and temporary relief. The end came
yesterday morning about half past ten o'clock.Beside
Mrs. Annin who had faithfully ministered to him night
and day, present at his death bed was his oldest friend
and former associate in Washington, Watson Pickerell.
Late yesterday afternoon Bishop Kendrick of the Episcopal
diocese visited the house. Mrs. Annin left this morning
for Denver with the body. Mr. Annin was graduated from
Princeton University in 1877. Dr. James McCosh, then
president of Princeton said that the record of Mr. Annin
was higher than that of any man who left that institution.
After graduating he was employed on the Omaha Bee in the
news department. Subsequently he became managing editor
of the paper and remained there until 1877 when he went
to Washington as private secretary to Senator Paddock of
Nebraska. He was also the Washington correspondent of
the Bee and also represented several other western
newspapers at the capital. Mr. Annin leaves one brother
and several sisters in the east. His brother R.E. Annin
is the vice president of the New York Produce Exchange.
MRS. CATHERINE BALKE
Arizona Republican Newspaper
April 12, 1903
The funeral of Mrs. Catherine Balke took place at 10 o'clock
yesterday morning from St. Mary's Catholic Church. The
interment was at the Catholic Cemetery. Mrs. Balke was
a native of Providence Rhode Island and she went to Los
Angeles ten years ago, a sufferer of consumption. She
found no relief there and a year later came to Phoenix
and was married here seven years ago to Mr. R.L. Balke.
She opened a hair dressing establishment but was compelled
to abandon it on account of her rapidly failing health.
About a year ago her husband sent her to California in
the hope that the progress of the disease might be
stayed for a time. She got no better and any time within
the last six months her death was expected. She was
provided with nurses and the best medical attendance
and by their ministrations no doubt her life was
lengthened. She leaves beside her husband, a little
son, Otto, aged six years.
PETRONILO BALLES
Arizona Republican Newspaper
July 11, 1903
Metcalf, in this county, was the scene of a cold blooded
murder last Sunday morning, the assassin lying in wait
for his victim as he climbed the trail to the Shannon
mines on his way to work.
Deputy Sheriff Peralta, arrived in Solomonville on
Thursday and landed the murderer in the county jail
and from him the Solomonville Bulletin learned the
particulars.
The man who was waylaid and killed was named Petronilo
Balles and at the time of his death was on his way to
work at the Shannon mine, climbing in full view of
almost all the inhabitants in Metcalf. He had
proceeded only a short distance when his assassin
fired upon him from behind a rock. The first shot
missed, but as Ballas turned and faced the rock, the
assassin fired again and Balles fell mortally wounded
and died within 24 hours. The killing occurred in
full view of a number of people. Deputy Sheriff
Peralta was informed and within one hour was in
pursuit. The slayer traveled in the direction of
Harper's Ranch and after a chase of six miles he
was captured.
Before dying the wounded man stated that some woman
knew all about the trouble between him and Jose Amaya,
his assassin.
TRINIDAD BALLESTEROS
Arizona Republican Newspaper
July 11, 1903
Trinidad Ballesteros, the fifteen year old girl who was so
badly burned a week ago last Monday night, died yesterday
at noon notwithstanding there had been a growing hope of
her recovery. At the time of the accident the attending
physician, Dr. Stroud, did not believe that she could
recover, the destruction of the skin surface had been
so great. The accident happened in the course of the
lighting of a fire, the flame having been communicated
to her apron and before it could be extinguished the
clothing had been burnt off of her and her limbs and
body to the neck were seared. The face escaped the
marks of the fire.
When she had survived a day or two there began to be a
hope that she might get well, and the longer she lived
that hope grew, for the danger of death from the
destruction of the skin surface was growing more
remote day by day. There was though never a time
when she was believed to be out of danger from blood
poisoning.
A few days after the accident the Republican called
attention to the needy condition of the family and
suggested financial aid. The next day sums began to
be received. The lowest amount received was 50 cents
and the highest $5.
These contributions amounted to 38.25. Four others
were received yesterday before noon.
