Tucson was startled and shocked this morning when the
news of the tragic death of Chinese Inspector B.F. Jossey
was flashed over the city. Coming at a time when a warrant
was in the hands of the United States Marshal for his arrest
and two detectives of the government were guarding his house,
it looked as though he had committed suicide. And there was
the report which spread like wildfire, giving his enemies a
chance to say, "I told you so; he has confessed his guilt."
But a coroner's jury went to the home of Jossey and examined
the place where he met his death. They found that he had
left his bed about 3 o'clock, this morning, secured his
shot gun and walking to the back yard of his home, started
to hunt for a skunk that had been killing his chickens.
Mrs. Jossey stood on the porch of the screened room where
they slept and watched the form of her husband as it moved
about in the darkness of the early morning. She heard a
shot fired and calling to her husband asked, "Did you get
him?". There was no reply but she thought she heard her
husband groan and waking a young man who slept in the house,
sent him to investigate. He found Jossey lying on his back,
dead, with a hole over his heart where a charge of bird shot
had entered. The gun lay twelve feet from the body and
there were no powder burns or other evidence that would
show that suicide had been committed. It was without
question accidental and this was the verdict of the
coroner's jury.
A great many people believe that suicide was planned by
Jossey and carried out in such a manner as to make it appear
that death was accidental. Persons who claim to know say
that the evidence against both Hoey and Jossey is sufficient
to convict them.
Inspector Jossey deported hundreds of Chinamen since he came
here from Portland Oregon a year ago. He was engaged with
ex-United States Marshal Griffith in developing the Copper
Matte Mine near Clifton and was the chief promoter of the
Texas Hill oil fields. Mrs. Jossey, wife of the deceased,
is one of the directors of the Tucson Milling Company.
Jossey was forty seven years old and leaves a wife and
daughter.
Collector Hoey has been re-arrested on additional counts
and his bond was raised to $5000 which was furnished.
August 30, 1901
The killing of Chinese Inspector Jossey at Tucson possibly
averted another tragedy. He was killed on Tuesday morning.
He had made an appointment with W.B. Fain of Yuma to meet
him at Tucson on Wednesday to arrange for the transfer of
certain property owned by Fain at Yuma. Fain is the man
who was charged with implication in the murder of Mrs. J.J.
Burns by Constable William Alexander near Yuma last winter.
Though he was acquitted at Prescott, lately the father,
Samuel H. King and the brothers Frank and Sam King have
held him responsible for the killing so that there has
been a well defined belief that more blood would be shed.
Frank King, who is engaged in the brokerage business in
Tucson, learning of Fain's intended coming, waited at the
depot for him. Fain having heard of Jossey's death,
abandoned the trip.
On Wednesday Frank King received a telegram from Yuma
informing that his father was probably fatally hurt.
The dispatch conveyed no other information and Mr. King
sure that a meeting between his father and Fain would
be fatal to one or the other, believed that they had met.
He left at once for Yuma accompanied by his sister, Mrs.
Powell of Yuma, who was visiting him. At Maricopa he
bade a friend who had traveled with him from Tucson,
goodbye. Said he, "if Fain has hurt my father, you may
not see me again; but if you do see me it will be a
sign that you will never see Fain again."
WALTER KELLY
December 3, 1901
On Saturday a Digger Indian by the name of Baker arrived
in Bisbee from the Sierra Madre Mountains near the Mexican
line. He was badly wounded and said that a few days before
himself and a partner named Walter Kelly, who were
prospecting in that vicinity, were fired on one night
while in camp by unknown parties and that Kelly was
instantly killed, while he managed to escape in the
darkness. Kelly was a colored man and was formerly a
member of the famous Tenth Cavalry. It is feared that
Baker's wounds are fatal. At last account the corpse
of the dead man had not been brought in and no news had
been heard from the officers who started to investigate
the matter.
ETHEL KENT
July 19, 1901
Word was received here yesterday of the death of Miss
Ethel Kent, at a mining camp near Congress, yesterday
morning. The cause of death was not mentioned. The
funeral will take place at 6:30 o'clock this evening
from the residence of the family, 515 North Fourth
Street. The pall bearers will be members of the Epworth
League of which Miss Kent was an active and consistent
member. Interment will take place in the Masonic
Cemetery.
Miss Kent was the daughter of Alexander J. Kent and
was 16 years old. She was born at Socorro, New
Mexico. Besides her parents she leaves two sisters
and a wide circle of friends for she was an extremely
lovable girl, to mourn her loss. A little more than
a year ago, Miss Kent was afflicted with a disease of
the brain, which rendered a removal of a section of
the skull and the insertion of a silver plate. For
days she hovered between life and death and her
condition became so critical that the slightest jar
might produce death. The street in front of her
residence was closed up and remained so until she
was pronounced out of danger. She recovered entirely
and gew strong and vigorous. She left here only three
or four days ago to visit her father, who is engaged
in mining near Congress. She then seemed to be in
perfect health.
Funeral, July 20, 1901
The funeral of Miss Ethel Kent was held last evening at
6:30 o'clock at the residence of her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Alexander Kent, 515 North Fourth Street. There
was a large attendance of sorrowing friends.
Since the operation on her skull, she has been very
susceptible to severe changes in the weather and
particularly to the heat. In order to escape some
of the hot weather, Mrs. Kent and daughter left here
a few days ago for a mining property owned by Mr.
Kent about sixty miles west of Congress on Bill
Williams Fork. Mr. Kent met them at Congress and
the journey to the mine was made without incident.
Two men who had been hunting pigeons came into their
camp and one of them leaned a gun against a rock some
little distance form Ethel. In some unaccountable
manner, for no one was near it, the gun fell down
and discharged its contents in one of Miss Ethel's
feet, tearing away the greater part of the foot.
The return to Congress was begun at once, as medical
aid could be obtained no nearer. The accident
occurred about 7 o'clock and it was 10 o'clock
Wednesday night before Congress was reached. The
heat was intense, the water scant and the quality
of the water was bad. Even with the use of hygienic
tablets to retard stagnation it was hardly fit to
drink. Arriving at Congress Miss Ethel was given
medical attention but her terrible wound, together
with the intense heat of the desert had sapped her
strength and she died at 8:30. The grief stricken
parents arrived here on yesterday's train escorting
the remains.
CLARENCE KING
December 25, 1901
Mr. Clarence King died yesterday morning about 2 o'clock
in his residence, No. 600 North Second Avenue of an
affection of the lungs with which he has suffered for
some time. He was a native of Rhode Island and was 58
years old. He was never married and leaves no family except
an aged mother in his native state. The only relative who
was at his bedside in his final hours was his brother-in-law,
Captain Townsely of the United States Army. He arrived here
a few days ago by special train in response to telegraphic
summons. Mr. King was then suffering from hemorrhages but
rallied for a day or two and hope was expressed that he might
recover or at least that he might enjoy temporary improvement
in his health. However, he was too weak to rally for any
length of time and he finally sank into that final slumber
that awaits all humanity. The remains will be sent east
tonight for interment.
With the passing of Mr. King there closed a life of unusual
activity devoted almost entirely to a line of work that has
made riches for others and that has contributed largely to
the progress and prosperity of his country. He was a mine
expert of rare attainments and as an engineer stood at the
head of his profession. He was in reality the founder of
the United States Geological Survey, having organized and
had charge of that service for a long time. He was sent by
President Lincoln shortly after the Civil War in charge of
an expedition party for the "geological exploration of the
fortieth parallel". This expedition was engaged for about
three years in the work assigned and Mr. King was present at
the meeting of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific
railroads, then in course of construction. His service
to Arizona was of vast importance for during the work of
this expedition Mr. King and party explored fully the
whole region of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. This
expedition was conducted in the interests of the
Smithsonian Institution and Mr. King became the earliest
and most valuable contributor to the literature of the
Grand Canyon.
Major Ed Schwartz of this city, then in the regular army,
had charge of the escort for Mr. King's party during 1867-8-9
so that their relations were very intimate. Major Schwartz
said yesterday that no better man than Clarence king ever lived.
Mr. King had made his home of late years at the Century club
in New York though he was a member of several New York clubs.
Though his latest visit to Arizona was so short and has ended
so sadly, it undoubtedly gave him some lease of life and
Arizona will mourn sincerely with the friends who have
known him even more intimately.
