J.H. THORNTON
Arizona Republican Newspaper
July 27, 1903
Benson, July 25 -- J.H. Thornton was killed by lightning
at his ranch in St. Davids, situated about eight miles
above Benson on the San Pedro River at 5 p.m. yesterday
afternoon. Mr. Thornton and another man whose name could
not be learned was standing on the bank of his reservoir
talking when he was struck. He was instantly killed,
while the other man was injured but not killed.
Mr. Thornton was a native of West Virginia where his
father and mother now reside and he has a brother
somewhere in this western country. They have been
trying to find him by telegraph but the dispatches
have not been answered yet. He was a K.of P. and
member of the Phoenix lodge where he formerly
resided going from there to the Ray mines and from
that place came here about three years ago. He was
about 40 years of age and unmarried. He was a good
citizen and neighbor.
MRS. JESUS TROSLAVINA
Arizona Republican Newspaper
December 3, 1903
Mrs. Jesus Troslavina died yesterday morning at 6:30 o'clock at
the advanced age of 70 years after an illness of five months.
She was the mother-in-law of Ben B. Celaya and was also the
mother of Blind Eugene who died here only a few months ago.
MILTON TURNBULL
Arizona Republican Newspaper
November 7, 1903
Word has reached Phoenix of the death last Saturday in the
southern part of the territory of Milton Turnbull, well
known in Phoenix where he had resided for a part of the
year during the last ten years. He had been an invalid
the greater part of the time. When he first came here
with his father, Luke Turnbull, a well known mining man
all over the west, he was in charge of the affairs at the
Vulture mine. Milton Turnbull was one of the survivors of
the Goddard massacre last February. He was saved by the
extinguishing of the lights at the supper table when Hidalgo
and Rentaria shot and killed Frank Cox and Charles Goddard.
MISS MAZIE VESTAL
Arizona Republican Newspaper
March 17, 1903
Miss Mazie Vestal died at the family residence, 320 East
Van Buren Street at 11 o'clock last night. Miss Vestal
came to Phoenix from Kansas City a year and a half ago,
a sufferer from consumption. Like many others, her
health underwent a marked improvement for several months,
but ever since last summer she had been growing steadily
weaker. During the short period of her residence in
Phoenix she had made a large circle of friends to whom
she endeared herself by her singular sweetness of
disposition and her hopeful, vivacious and unselfish
nature. The funeral will take place tomorrow at an
hour yet to be fixed, from the residence of Miss Eudora
Vestal, a sister of the dead girl and a stenographer in
the office of the surveyor general.
JESUS VINDIOLA
Arizona Republican Newspaper
June 12, 1903
The news of a sensational killing at the Van Winkle ranch
reached Bisbee Tuesday night. Jesus Vindiola, a Mexican
was shot and killed by Walter Brice, a cowboy employed at
the Van Winkle ranch, situated between Wilcox and Dos
Cabezas.
The account of the circumstances leading up to the killing
states that Vindiola had been drinking freely in Wilcox
and started for his home in Dos Cabezas. When he arrived
at the Van Winkle ranch, about twelve miles form Wilcox he
was in a humor for all kinds or fight or fun. A dog first
became the object of his attentions, and he whipped out a
six-shooter and threw it down on the dog. At this time,
two young boys who lived at the ranch ran out from the
house and Vindiola immediately covered them with his gun.
Brice at this time was in the corral, and seeing the
actions of the man, spoke to him and asked him to be
more careful in the use of his six-shooter as it might
go off and hurt someone.
Vindiola's reply to Brice was to ride toward Brice at the
same time yelling and flourishing his weapon. The gun was
discharged in the air, and Brice, not knowing where the
next bullet might be directed, drew his own gun and
before the man could get the drop on him, shot him four
times, killing him instantly.
J.C. WALKER
Arizona Republican Newspaper
December 21, 1903
Friends of the family in this city received telegrams Saturday
morning announcing the death in Philadelphia of R.J.C. Walker
of this city. There are many people here who were acquainted
with Mr. Walker, who, with his family, spent last winter and
the preceding winter in this city for Mr. Walker's health, he
having suffered a lung affection for a long time and which
disease finally caused his death. While here, Mr. Walker
purchased the McCarthy place on Central Avenue. It was his
purpose earlier in the season to come here this winter but
he later planned to spend the winter at Thompsonville
Georgia, a famous resort, in which the family also owns a
home. He was taken desperately ill, however, too soon to
go anywhere . Mr. Walker was formerly a congressman of the
Fifth District in Philadelphia, a wealthy man and well
known both in political and business circles. His father
was at one time secretary of the treasury. Mrs. Walker is
a daughter of a Mr. Wakeman who is the leading figure in a
large chemical manufacturing company and who is now
accounted to be the largest owner of real estate in
Philadelphia. He is 93 years old but still devotes a
portion of his time to business matters.
HENRY WALTERS
Arizona Republican Newspaper
June 16, 1903
Shortly before 11 o'clock last night a stranger, supposed
to be Henry Walters from Butte Montana, sat down by a tree
at the southeast corner of the courthouse plaza and leaning
back against it placed a revolver to his right temple,
fired and died instantly.
Night Policeman McCord and Night Watchman Doheny, who
happened to be in the vicinity, heard the shot, though
the report was not loud enough to be heard in the
sheriff's office. They could not tell exactly the
direction of the report and it was possibly ten minutes
before Mr. Kaufman found the man, who had done his work
so thoroughly that his body had not even fallen over on
the ground. The wound was powder burned and the bullet
did not come out, but blood flowed freely from the point
of entrance, saturating his clothing on the right side
and the ground beneath his hand which held the weapon
of self-destruction, a 32 caliber revolver.
Coroner Burnett was summoned by Mr. Doheny, a jury was
impaneled, the remains viewed and his personal effects
taken charge of after the body was turned over to Mohn
and Dorris, undertakers and the inquest continued to 2
o'clock today at Judge Burnett's office. In his pockets
were found a small leather purse, a comb, a five cent
piece and various other trifles of no value, together
with a railroad ticket from Santa Monica to Benson, a
membership card in Oswego Lodge, Knights of Pythias,
of Butte and documents showing membership in the
Federation of Miners. The only person among those
viewing the remains who could definitely recall
having seen him before was Jack Raab, who says he
has seen him in Bisbee and thinks he worked there
in the mines.
The dead man was well dressed in dark clothes, shoes
blacked and had the general appearance of one in
comfortable circumstances. He also had a silver
watch and chain. He was presumably in the neighborhood
of forty years old and has a small dark mustache with
a very prominent and straight nose. He was a rugged,
healthy looking man, rather tall and though his hands
were soft they bore evidence of hard work. Nothing was
found indicating motive for suicide except the absence
of money in his pocket, which suggests despondency over
financial matters.
THE FUNERAL OF HENRY WALTERS
The funeral of Henry Walters, the man who committed
suicide in the courthouse plaza on Monday night, took
place at 4 o'clock under the direction of the Knights
of Pythias--the lodge here having been directed by the
lodge at Butte Montana to take charge of the burial.
The body was laid away in the cemetery of the order.
A very little more was found out about Walters yesterday.
Thirty six hours after his death it was learned that he
had been stopping at the Phoenix Hotel and that he had
arrived there on June 13. He spent two nights at the
hotel and those who must have seen him last say that
he seemed to be in good spirits. There is a sort of
an understanding that he came here from Jerome, though
there was found in his pocket a ticket from Santa
Monica to Bisbee. It is certain that he had been
employed at Jerome at one time. He was there two
years ago.
His baggage at the hotel consisted of a large canvas
valise filled with clothing and papers. Among the
latter were two documents showing that he was a
native of Prussia and had been in this country since
1883. He took out his first naturalization papers at
Florida, N.Y. in 1886 and his last papers at Butte in
1894. He was forty-four years old. There were several
photographs of people evidently residents of Butte but
there were no letters. There were badges of the two
orders to which he belonged, the Mill and Smeltermen's
Union of the Western Federation of Miners and the
Knights of Pythias. The clothing was of good character
and everything in the valise was neatly packed away.
It was reported soon after the finding of the valise by
Deputy Sheriff Duncan that Walters had deposited
somewhere in town $175.00 but inquiry at all places
where the money might have been put failed to
disclose it.
