James Sheer, an old teamster, well known in Phoenix, died in
Globe last Saturday of cancer of the stomach. He was about
65 years of age and had for forty years lived upon the
frontier. No estate whatever was left. He had gone to Globe
with a teaming outfit belonging to Henry E. Kemp and Company
to engage in hauling coke from Thomas to the smelters.
8
AGNES SHEPHARD
Arizona Republican Newspaper
October 26, 1895
Miss Agnes Shephard, aged 26, died last night of tuberculosis, the end coming in a
hemorrhage. She had been here but two weeks. The body was embalmed and will be
shipped by Smith and Company east this evening, the bereaved mother accompanying
the remains for burial at home in Gurnee, Illinois.
FRANK W. SMITH
Arizona Republican Newspaper
February 12, 1895
Another blood spot was made in Maricopa County on Sunday night. Another murder was
added to the already long list. There is another widow and another orphan.
Shortly after 1 o'clock yesterday morning, Frank W. Smith, sanjero, on the
Maricopa Canal was shot and instantly killed by an unknown man. Four suspects
have been arrested. One has been discharged but the others are held with
reasonably strong proofs of guilt against them.
The Smith residence lies about four miles east of Phoenix not far from the
Insane Asylum and about one hundred yards north of the Tempe Road. It is a
brick structure of three rooms, the quadrangular shape of it being completed
by a frame kitchen. A room at the southwest corner was occupied by Smith and
his wife and their child as a bedroom and living room. The room on the east
is occupied by a young man named Lory Powell, a lodger. The room in the rear
of the apartment is used as a kitchen. A lane leading from the Tempe Road runs
past the house on the west side about ten feet distant. There is a porch on
the south and west sides of the house and opening upon this are two double
glass doors form the sleeping room of the Smiths, one on the south and one
on the west. Neither door was locked that night.
Sometime between 12 and 1 o'clock Mrs. Smith was awakened by someone entering
the room by the door from the south. She called her husband and at the same
time sprang out of bed. Almost at the same time the husband reached the floor
and seized a chair. One of the robbers also armed himself with a chair, but
these weapons were dropped and Smith and the robber grappled. In the meantime
Mrs. Smith had taken hold of the other robber.
Powell, the lodger, was awakened by the screams of Mrs. Smith and the shouts
of her husband and ran into the room. Smith had succeeded in ejecting the
robber; the other, it appears, had already gone out on the porch. Smith
evidently believed that the robbers had fled. A match was struck and a whole
bunch were ignited throwing a glare over the room. At that moment a shot was
fired and Smith fell. He must have died instantly. Immediately after the
shooting Powell, who had just come into the room, saw the murders running
toward the Tempe Road.
When Mrs. Smith saw the robber come through the door she could see by the
moonlight an ax in his hand. This ax was found about half way between the
house and the road.
Sheriff Orme and Deputies George, John Slankard and James Gibson reached the
scene of the murder about half past two o'clock. Mrs. Smith, who had been in
a fainting condition, had recovered consciousness and told them that about
eight or nine the night before, J.C. Draper, a neighbor, living three miles
north had paid her husband, $200. There was suspicion shared by some of the
neighbors that this had afforded the motive for the crime and that no one but
Draper knew about it. Sheriff Orme and Deputy George went to Draper's house ,
arrested him and brought him to the county jail where he was held until in
the afternoon when he was discharged on the order of D.A. Millay and a
coroner's jury exonerating him from implication in the crime.
Deputy Gibson and Slankard and others followed the railroad track south. A short
distance this side of Tempe they overtook four strangers, one of which evidently
did not belong to the crowd. Two of the men tried to run, but were halted and
captured. One of them had a 41 caliber Colt's revolver and the other threw away
a 22 hammerless Smith and Wesson. Both seemed to be frightened. Three of them
were taken back to the Smith residence and the startling discovery was made
that their shoes fitted the peculiar short, broad tracks. They were confronted
by the wife of the murdered man, but what she said or did when she saw them is
withheld by Acting Coroner Kincaid until the close of the inquest. The men
arrested were Benjamin Earl, Harry Johnson and Thomas McDonald.
W.N. STANDAGE
Arizona Republican Newspaper
September 1895
The sad and startling news was received by telephone yesterday morning from Mesa
City about 9 o'clock that Will H. Standage, the popular chairman of the Board of
Supervisors and Water Commission of the county, had passed away.
The news could not a first be credited for but a few days ago he was in Phoenix to
attend a meeting of the board. He was at that time complaining of feeling ill, but
didn't ot attach importance to it, thinking it only a mild spell.
He returned to his home at Mesa Tuesday night and by Wednesday his illness had
assumed such proportions that he could not leave his bed. Dr. Charles H. Jones
of Tempe was called in attendance . Early yesterday morning he grew worse so Dr.
Purman of this city was called in consultation. He responded and had arrived within
a short distance of Mr. Standage's house when he was met by a messenger who stated
that he had succumbed.
The deceased was 43 years of age and came to Arizona in 1888 from Utah and located
at Mesa City, the present homestead and has continued to reside there ever since.
He leaves a wife and nine children, all of whom reside at Mesa. Mr. Standage made
many friends by his numerous manly qualities and his wholesouled generous
disposition. Five years ago it became necessary to appoint a water commissioner
to handle and apportion to each canal its share of water; Mr. Standage was
appointed to fill that position and has since done so to the satisfaction of
all concerned.
The courthouse was draped in heavy mourning and the flag placed at half-mast as
soon as the news of his death was verified.
The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock from the family residence at Mesa under the
auspices of the Mesa Lodge, no. 14, I.O.O.F., assisted by the lodges of Tempe and
Phoenix.
HENRY TWEED
November 21, 1895
Arizona Republican Newspaper
The funeral of Henry Tweed occurred yesterday afternoon at the family residence
on the Yuma Road. The services were conducted by Rev. C. Wilson Smith of the
Baptist Church. A large crowd followed the remains to the grave.
ALICE VAIL
Arizona Republican Newspaper
June 21, 1895
Alice Vail, the 14 year old daughter of Mrs. Fannie Nixon, residence at Fifth and
Washington Streets, died at 7:30 last night of abscess of the bowels. An operation
was to have been performed yesterday for the removal of the abscess but the doctors
found she was sinking so rapidly that it would be useless. She was a bright child
and much sympathy is expressed for the bereaved parents. The funeral will take
place at 4:30 this afternoon from the Catholic Church under the direction of
Randal and Davis.
LEW VAN HOLBERT
December 13, 1895
Lew Van Holbert, a young man aged 20 years died at thte residence
of W.H. Smith at 9 o'clock Wednesday night of consumption.
The remains have been embalmed and will be shipped to his
parents home in Birmington, NY. The deceased had only resided
in the valley about three weeks.
WASHINGTON baby
Arizona Republican Newspaper
September 6, 1895
Last Sunday morning the water in the Hayden canal at Tempe was turned out and a
party of people found the body of a infant below the millrace in the canal. The
ghastly discovery created great excitement in the city.
A coroner's jury was impaneled by Justice Smith who proceeded at once to hold an
inquest. Officers located an 18 year old colored girl named Isabelle Washington,
a domestic who was seen killing the child. When arrested she broke down and a
acknowledged her guilt. She stated that the child was born on Wednesday and
fearing that her shame would be made public she determined to get the child
out of the way.
The girl gave the name of a white man well known in Tempe as the father of the
child but in no way did she implicate him in the death of the infant.
JAKE WEBBER
Arizona Republican Newspaper
June 12, 1895
The friends of Jacob Webber, a late resident of Phoenix will learn with regret of
his recent death in Colorado.
Last Sunday morning a friend happened into Jake Webber's cabin and found the latter
in his bed, covered with blood, dead. The coroner was immediately notified and
took charge of the remains. An investigation disclosed the fact that his death
was caused by a hemorrhage of the lungs.
Jacob Webber was born in Rhine, Prussia and was about 40 years of age. He came
to the United States in 1872 and lived in Colorado almost constantly since.
For several years he had been engaged in the wagon business in this place.
