GEORGE WILKINS
Arizona Republican Newspaper
October 1, 1904
St. Johns: Word has just reached here from the little
mountain town of Nutrioso in the southern part of Apache
County telling of the killing of George Wilkins of that
place by lightning, while he was on his way to Magdalena,
New Mexico. The particulars cannot be learned at this
time, but it is known that he left home with his wife
and family to two children five days ago to resume some
work that he had been doing. He was raised in this
county, having come here with his parents over
twenty years ago.
MISS FLORENCE WILSON
Arizona Republican Newspaper
March 19, 1904
Miss Florence Eugenia Wilson died yesterday at the home of
her mother, Mrs. Harriet E. Wilson, at Wickenburg. Her
death had been expected for weeks. She had been a sufferer
from consumption for more than a year. Six months ago the
progress of the disease was hastened and all hope of her
recovery was abandoned. Her friends could only await the
end.
Miss Wilson was a most charming girl and one of many
accomplishments. She had won the love of all who came
to now her in the course of her residence of two years
in this city for admirable as were her mental gifts, the
qualities of her heart were superior. Therefore the news
of her death, though all had been waiting to hear it, was
received here with grief.
Miss Wilson had just passed her twenty first birthday.
She was born at Laramie Wyoming but her life until two
years ago was spent in Denver and she was educated in
the public schools of that city. She was quite well
known in other parts of the state for her mother for
twenty years had been extensively engaged in the newspaper
business throughout Colorado. The funeral will take
place at Wickenburg this afternoon and the interment
will be there.
MRS. ELIZABETH WILSON
Arizona Republican Newspaper
January 24, 1904
Mrs. Elizabeth M. Wilson, wife of Raymond E. Wilson died
yesterday at their temporary home in this city of pneumonia.
They came here November 22, 1903 and have friends in
Los Angeles, Kansas City, Chicago and Evansville Indiana
who will be sad to learn of Mrs. Wilson's untimely end.
She was between twenty five and twenty six years old.
DR. C.L. WISH
Arizona Republican Newspaper
January 26, 1904
One of the most sensational killings ever enacted in Graham
County occurred in Safford Friday afternoon at 8 o'clock.
Lawrence Wish shot his stepfather Dr. C.L. Wish, through
the heart killing him instantly says the International
American. The doctor had been calling upon a patient and
as he emerged from the door he was shot down.
Various rumors are rife as to the motive for the killing.
It is rumored that the doctor had been making systematic
efforts to poison his wife and son and that the latter,
hearing of it, took revenge on his stepfather. Lawrence
Wish was a resident of Morenci, where he is well and
favorably known and where he has the reputation of being
a peaceful citizen. He is married and has a wife and one
child. Dr. Wish is well connected in the valley and was
one of the most prominent physicians. The preliminary
hearing was to have been held yesterday.
This news, received in Phoenix yesterday, was a great
shock to friends of Dr. Wish who live here and know the
family well. Among them is A.O. Walbridge who considered
Dr. Wish one of his warmest friends. He did not know however
that the doctor had a stepson. Mr. Walbridge has been
well acquainted with him over six years and every time
he has visited Safford he has been a welcome guest of
both Dr. and Mrs. Wish. The former was at one time
greatly addicted to the use of liquor but on the
recommendations of a friend came to Phoenix to see
Mr. Walbridge who is the local representative of a
company making a remedy for the cure of the liquor
habit. Dr. Wish took the treatment and has since
been a total abstainer, frequently writing to Mr.
Walbridge and referring to a debt of gratitude which
he could never discharge.
His last letter from Dr. Wish was written on the 11th of
this month. In it he stated that Mrs. Wish was suffering
tortures from neuralgia of the stomach and he was almost
distracted lest she might not recover. He recounted at
length what a good wife she had been to him and how
desolate his life would be in the event of her death,
mentioning also, with fatherly devotion, a son, Walter,
who is yet a boy of tender years. He referred to the
fact that he was at the bedside of his wife constantly
and that he had three other physicians in attendance.
He also relates at some length his own shortcomings
previous to his reformation, with the statement that
since that time his home had been a happy one in
every way till his wife was stricken with disease.
The tone of the letter certainly indicates that he
would be the last man in the world to attempt the
poisoning of his wife and his friends here refuse to
believe such a suggestion.
Mont Woodward
December 14, 1904
Arizona Republican Newspaper
On a petition signed by many of the leading citizens of
Douglas, Acting Governor Nichols yesterday afternoon issued
a proclamation of a reward of $250 for the murderer of Mont
Woodward who was found dead near his home in the southern
part of Cochise County. Woodward is described in the
petition as a man of good character and excellent habits.
It is therefore surmised that the murder must have been of
the most wanton character.
The tragedy occurred on October 14. The dead body of
Woodward was found some distance form his house, and it
is surmised from the surroundings that he was killed in
the house where he was surprised and his body dragged
away.
The trail of the murders was discovered and was followed
by Arizona Rangers as far as it could be followed on
account of the boundary regulations. No other clue to
the murder has ever been obtained.
It is mentioned in the petition that the murder of Woodward
was only one of a series of bloody crimes which have been
committed in that vicinity within the last few months.
None of the perpetrators have been apprehended for the
murders were usually committed in isolated places and
days would pass before the discovery of them. There
would be nothing left but the dead body and a more or
less indistinct trail.
ALVA WORMELL
Arizona Republican Newspaper
July 10, 1904
A.H. Wormell received another telegram yesterday morning
from his wife who was in Douglas, announcing that their
son Alva had died during the night and that she would reach
home this morning with his body. Later messages were
received by the officers of the Odd Fellows and the K of
P lodges here stating that the young man was a member of
those fraternities in Douglas and asking the local lodges
to have the funeral conducted under their auspices.
The funeral will not be held till Monday and possibly not
till Tuesday, pending the arrival of the two elder sons,
one of whom, Roy is a street car conductor in San Francisco
and the other, Archie lives with his family in the Redlands
where he is engaged in the mercantile business. A married
daughter lives in New Mexico and most likely will be unable
to get here in time for the funeral.
Alva Wormell was a native son of Arizona being born here
22 years ago. Most of his life was spent in and near
Phoenix until the outbreak of the Philippine insurrection
when he enlisted in the 34th volunteer infantry and served
with that organization in the Philippines. His two brothers
served their country earlier in the same period of
hospitalities, one having been a rough rider and the
other a member of the First Territorial Infantry better
known as McCord's Regiment.
About the time Douglas first became a business center he went
there and was prospering well when taken with his last
illness, having a bakery with a good trade and also being
interested in some mines in Mexico. He was on a visit to
his mines several weeks ago when he was first taken sick.
Alva was an exemplary young man and was universally
respected by all who knew him. Not only will his relatives
have the sympathy of all in their bereavement but he
will be mourned by a wide circle of personal friends,
having grown up as the companion of most of the younger
people of this city.
Funeral of Alva Wormell
July 14, 1904
The funeral of Alva Wormell was held yesterday at the family
residence, No. 429 East Washington Street and was quite
largely attended. Though it was expected his two brothers
would be here from California, it was impossible for them
to come. Beside the young man's parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.H.
Wormell there were many friends of the family.
