A thrilling tragedy was enacted yesterday morning at the
ranch home of Charles Bauer, eight miles southeast of Tempe,
when he shot and killed Charles Kinstler for assaulting Mrs.
Bauer, almost in his presence. The story is a sensational
one and with it pathetic features but the outcome is
gratifying for according to the findings of the coroner's
jury, death claimed a deserved victim.
After the shooting Bauer went to Mesa City at once and gave
himself up to the officers of the town. Coroner Will
Megquier was notified, a jury was summoned and as soon as
possible an inquest was held at the Bauer home, the verdict
exonerating Mr. Bauer from all blame in the matter. As the
jury was about to leave the place, having completed its
duties, Mrs. Bauer rushed into the room where the men were
assembled. Without waiting to inquire the result and
assuming that every man who kills another must stand trial,
she implored the coroner not to take her husband away from
her till after Christmas. The scene was a touching one,
and when the woman was told that her husband was free from
all blame, she was so overcome with joy that she could
scarcely realize the situation.
The witnesses who testified at the inquest were Mr. Bauer,
Mr. Adams, a nephew of Mr. Bauer, Mrs. Bauer, John M. Vance,
Adam King, the mother-in-law of Kinstler, A.N. Porter and
G.A. Dobson. Mr. Bauer's story is that for a long time he
has suspected that the relations between his wife and
Kinstler were in some way of an improper nature and his
suspicions were further aroused about a month ago when on
going around a hay stack, Kinstler, who has been pursuing
Mrs. Bauer, accidentally ran right into his arms.
Last Friday he noticed that his wife had been weeping and
on pressing her for an explanation of her troubles she
refused at first to answer. Finally, after promising her
that she would be freely forgiven if she had sinned in
any manner, Mrs. Bauer told him that during his absence
Kinstler had repeatedly entered their home and used
violence toward her. At the time of the haystack incident
Bauer had warned Kinstler to never enter the house again,
though he had not forbidden him to come on the ranch by
reason of some financial matters between them. But with
this information, he was determined to take some steps for
the protection of the honor of his home.
Saturday morning he came to Phoenix, having had reason to
believe that Kinstler had also come here. His intention
then was to take legal steps for the prosecution of the man
but he failed to find him here. Someone to whom he had
confided his trouble also talked him out of a legal
prosecution, saying it would create an undesirable scandal.
Bauer then went to Mesa City and purchased a pistol, returning
home in a very depressed state of mind. His nephew, Adams,
presumably not knowing the cause of Bauer's melancholy,
arranged with him for a hunting trip yesterday, thinking
to get his mind off his business.
Yesterday morning when Adams drove up to the house he was
accompanied by Kinstler, whom he had asked to accompany
them. Adams went to the door, but Mrs. Bauer seeing
Kinsteler in the buggy told Adams that her husband was
not at home. Bauer had in the meantime stepped into a
closet and secreted himself. When Adams reported to
Kinstler that Bauer was not at home, Kinstler immediately
got out of the wagon and going to the door, knocked. When
Mrs. Bauer opened it, Kinstler grabbed hold of her in spite
of her struggles to avoid him. At that moment Bauer stepped
out of the closet and got his six shooter into action. One
bullet took effect just below the left ear, one in the chest
and the third entered his left shoulder. G.A. Dobson
testified that on one occasion Mrs. Bauer had run to his
house for protection form Kinstler, who she said, had
attacked her on the road. Mr. Porter testified that he
had told Kinstler one day, "You had better look out or
you will get into trouble," and he replied, "Oh, I ain't
afraid of the Dutchman, it's the old woman who is hard
to handle." The remains of the dead man were taken to a
Mesa City undertaking establishment.
W.C. KNOX
March 11 ,1901
Arizona Republican Newspaper
Last Saturday night a man by the name of W.C. Knox was
found dying in his room in a lodging house in Nogales.
A physician was called who found he had taken an
overdose of morphine or opium and was beyond all
help. Mr. Knox was quite well known in this portion
of Arizona, having at one time tended bar for Mr.
J.T. Brickwood. Later he worked in mines adjacent
to this city, but lately has been out of work,
owing to ill health. He was about forty years of
age and was born in Kentucky. There was nothing
to show that he had relatives living and after
having an inquest held before Squire Neumann,
the body was interred in the cemetery. Nogales Oasis
MR. LAMB
April 25, 1901
Wickenburg: The father of G.E. Lamb, one of the officers
of the Oro Grande, died at Coronado last night, the result
of an injury received in a railway wreck last January.
The dead man was a millionaire and his home was in Clinton,
Iowa.
WALTER LANGFORD
September 12, 1901
Walter Langford, the 12 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin
R. Langford of West Huachuca was accidentally and fatally
shot Friday by his little comrade and playmate, Paul
McIntyre. The Tombstone Prospector says the two boys
were together, camped with W.C. Shinn at the Soldier's
Garden in Tanner's Canyon and were expecting to get an
early start through the canyon on their return home. While
Mr. Shinn was absent from the house the boys had arisen and
were playing. Somehow in their play a shot gun was
accidentally discharged by Paul, killing Walter instantly.
Mr. Shinn, arriving on the scene, hitched a team to a
convey and took the boy to Fort Huachuca hospital where
everything possible was done but to no avail. (Print
too faded to read) The coroner's jury exonerated Paul
McIntyre.
MRS. F. LANSDON
September 7, 1901
Mrs. F. Lansdon died yesterday morning at 1:30 o'clock at
her residence, No. 547 South Fifth Avenue. She had been
suffering with heart disease for the last twelve years,
though there was nothing especially alarming in her
condition and her death was rather sudden. The dead
woman was the widow of A.C. Lansdon, who died February
1899 and leaves to mourn her loss three sons and two
daughters. The funeral will be held this afternoon at
3 o'clock at the parlors of Mohn and Easterling.
MIGUEL LASADO
January 31, 1901
Arizona Republican Newspaper
A young man who arrived here from Ajo mining camp,
south of Gila Bend, yesterday morning brought the
news of a killing at that camp several days ago.
It appears that Thomas Childs Jr and a Mexican by
the name of Miguel Lasado had become enemies through
their mutual regard for a Mexican girl. They met in
the store of a man named John Heavey and began
shooting at each other. The result was a funeral
at which Lasado played the leading part. No
further particulars of the trouble were learned
but from the fact that Childs was not arrested
it is presumed that public sentiment justified
his conduct.
JOSEH LAWLER
May 22, 1901
Speaking of the death of Joseph Lawler, his home paper,
the Advertiser of Calais, Me., in its issue of May 8 said:
"Joseph Lawler, whose death was previously reported at his
home here April 21 and sincerely mourned by all in the
community. Mr. Lawler held the postmastership during the
administration of President Cleveland and also served
two years as one of the selectmen here. He had traveled
extensively for his health, having visited California,
Colorado, Arizona and other of the western states. Mr.
Lawler was a genial, kindhearted man and was beloved by
all. He leaves a widow, daughter of the late Charles H.
Rolfe, who has the sincere sympathy of all. Deceased
was 43 years of age and was a son of John D. Lawler of
Balleyville."
W.S. LAWRENCE
August 8, 1901
W.S. Lawrence, formerly senior partner of the firm of
Lawrence and Clark died on Tuesday. News of his death
was brought to town by Mr. Clark who brought the remains
to town last night. The end came in the Cave Creek
country where Mr. Lawrence and his family were on a
camping trip. Mr. Lawrence was a native of Virginia.
He came here eight years ago from Wellington Kansas
where he was agent for the Santa Fe until his health
failed. He is survived by a wife and daughter. W.D.
Buck of this city is his father in law.
The funeral of W.S. Lawrence took place yesterday afternoon
from the undertaking rooms of Mohn and Easterling, the Rev.
Frank Mayo officiating. The services were conducted under
the direction of Phoenix Commander Knights Templar. The
worth of the deceased was testified to by the large
attendance for his residence of six years in the city
had acquired him a good reputation and a man of quality.
The pall bearers were those who had been his intimate
friends and business associates: W.S. Pickerell, E.J.
Bennett, H.L. George, D.H. Burtis, Vernon Vaughn and
S.M. McCowan.
