The Board of Supervisors has the settlement of an state on its
hands. Last August a saloon keeper at Agua Caliente named Honest
John died leaving an estate consisting of a shot gun, a part of a
barrel of whisky and the ordinary fixtures which might be expected
to appear in a saloon in a place about the size of Agua Caliente.
The dead saloon keeper's life was not an open book but so far as
was known he left no heirs. The legal justice of the peace and
other prominent citizens held a semi official meeting at the
saloon. They made an inventory of the fixtures, sealed up the
whisky barrel, greased the shotgun as a preventive against
rust and forwarded a copy of the minutes of the proceedings to
the office of the Probate Judge.
But nobody wanted to be an administrator for there wasn't enough
of the estate to pay expenses. The Probate Judge could see no
advantage in an early settlement of the estate anyhow. The
glassware could not deteriorate in value by disuse. The shotgun
was so well lubricated that it would be a long time before the
decay of rust would set in. But there was whisky, that would
constantly appreciate in value. The worth of whisky increases
rapidly after it gets a certain age. Therefore, though the
estate of the dead saloon keeper would not justify the expense
of an administration then, in the course of a few years it would
take on enough importance to require the attention of a full
board of curators.
The people of Agua Caliente kept clamoring for some sort of a
distribution of the estate. They had no interest in it, but
there was a sentiment that it was a reflection on the camp
that anything should lie around unsettled. The barrel of whisky
was a constant menace to the peace of the community, an
inciter to burglarious deeds.
The Probate Judge has finally decided to begin proceedings.
LOUIS JOHNSON
April 10, 1897
A man named Louis Johnson died at Chaparral Thursday. No
particulars concerning his death have been obtained. He will
be buried by the Odd Fellows of Prescott tomorrow.
BYRON JONES
March 16, 1987
Byron Jones was murdered at Jerome Sunday morning by Richard
Cross, a barber. Jones who used to live at Mesa and was well
known in Phoenix was a bartender at the St. Elmo Saloon. The
barber was living with a notorious prostitute in a room near
the saloon. About 2 o'clock on Sunday morning Jones visited
her room and remained from five to ten minutes. Cross saw him
go in and waited with a gun for him to come out. As Jones
stepped from the room Cross fired. The ball sunk in his side
and lodged downward in the spine. He lingered until 2 o'clock
yesterday morning. Cross escaped immediately after the
shooting and as soon as possible fifty men were hunting
for him. They did not know whether he was hiding or
whether he had left town, but every avenue of escape was
quickly closed. The general sentiment was against putting
Yavapai County to an expense on account of Cross if he
should be found.
On Sunday afternoon Sheriff Ruffner and a couple of deputies
arrived and joined the hunt. Cross is described as a small man,
weighing in the neighborhood of 100 pounds.
Jones, who was a brother of E.T. Jones, also formerly of Mesa
as well liked in the camp.
March 17, 1897
The body of Byron Jones, who was murdered in Jerome last Sunday
was brought to town yesterday morning and sent to Mesa for
burial. No word was received yesterday of the pursuit of Cross,
the murderer, but the authorities at Jerome are confident of his
capture. They are sure he is not hiding in or about the camp
and they do not believe it is possible for him to get out of
the country with which he has no acquaintance.
The tragedy has shaken the usually peaceful town of Jerome to
its very foundation. At the hour named a pistol shot rang out
followed by the thud of a body falling to the floor.
The shooting took place in the rear of the St. Elmo Saloon and
the unfortunate victim is Byron Jones, a bartender of the St.
Elmo, and the would be assassin is a barber named Dick Cross.
Jones was found immediately after the shooting lying on the
floor in a pool of blood. He was laid on a mattress and carried
to his room. Dr. Woods probed for the bullet but it could not
be located.
The cause of the murder was jealousy. Cross had been living with a
woman called Oklahoma who followed him here from the East. A few
days ago she left him as his jealous disposition prompted him once
to draw a revolver and threaten to shoot her.
W.S. LAIRD
January 19, 1897
W.S. Laird, son of A.C. Laird, secretary and treasurer of the Gila
Valley Globe and Northern Railway Company died at Safford on Jan.
8 of diphtheria and heart failure. On the day previous he was
walking about and was supposed to be convalescent. W.S. Laird
was an exemplary young man and his sudden death is a sad blow
to his relatives and friends. The remains were taken to Los
Angeles for burial.
Willie Laird, who was reported as sick at Safford last week,
suffering from sore throat, died at the Sheddin Hotel last Friday
at 4:30 pm and on Saturday his remains, accompanied by his father,
were taken to Los Angles for interment.
Willie was only about eighteen years old but was possessed of
business habits and accomplishments rarely found at that age.
For the past year or more he acted as private secretary to his
father, who is Secretary and Treasurer of the Gila Valley Globe
and Northern Railway.
EDWARD LAWRENCE
March 17, 1897
Edward Lawrence, an old resident of the town and territory died
at the county hospital yesterday morning. He was picked up on
the street about a week ago and was taken to the hospital. He
never recovered his speech.
ELIZABETH LOCKWOOD
September 3, 1987
The will of Elizabeth Lockwood was admitted to probate yesterday
and her son, Albert Lockwood was appointed administrator under
it.
T.A. LOEBER
April 6, 1897
T.A. Loeber, a young man of 31, died on Sunday night of consumption
at Madison and First Street. The remains were shipped last night
to Chicago, where his relatives live.
CHIEF LOPEZ
August 8, 1897
The mistaken economy of the government contributed to the murder
of Chief Lopez at Maricopa last Thursday morning. A warrant for
the arrest of Luis, the murderer on a charge of selling liquor
to the Indians had been in the hands of Deputy United States
Marshal Porterie for two days, but the officer could not serve
it without loss to himself.
Luis was supposed to be at Gila Bend. It would have cost $3.85
to reach that point without taking into account other necessary
expenses which the government odes not pay. The government
allows 6 cents for mileage. The officer's profit from this
feature of his service would have been $1.54 which would not
have been a munificent remuneration for a sleepless night and
a lost day. Out of this sum the officer would have to pay for
his own meals. By rigid economy he might have kept his
expenses within this sum. But then there was a possibility
that he might not find Luis at once. If he could not do so
in time to return by the next train there would be more
expense and losses would begin to accrue. There is not a
possible situation which would result in a reasonable profit
to a deputy U.S. Marshal under the existing rules.
CYPRIANO LUCHESA
July 15, 1897
The will of Cypriano Luchesa was presented for probate
yesterday. Luchesa was a wine maker for John X. Jones of Mesa.
Half of his property is left to Jones and the other half to his
cousin Stephen Luchesa, of this city.
JOHN T. LUTGERDING
March 4, 1897
John A. Lutgerding died yesterday morning at his residence on South
Center Street after an illness of several months. His disease was
of a character which made death almost absolutely certain and his
only hope lay in a surgical operation from which there was hardly
one chance in a thousand that he would survive. He intended as
soon as winter began to go east and submit to the operation if
he should live so long. He set about arranging his affairs and
some weeks ago was prepare for the end.
He was born in Germany fifty two years ago and lived in Arizona
for twenty five years all of the time engaged in the stock
raising business. He was also connected with the Western
Investment Company. He leaves a wife and two sons, aged 15
and 8. The funeral will take place this afternoon at 3 o'clock.
