WILLIAM A. McDermott
Arizona Republican Newspaper
October 6, 1890
Tucson-William A. McDermott, a pioneer and prominent
Democratic politician committed suicide here this morning
at 4 o'clock by shooting himself in the head. Death
resulted instantaneously. The cause is supposed to be
reverses in gambling and the influence of liquor.
SARAH MCHARRIS
Arizona Republican Newspaper
August 1, 1890
Fort Thomas, July 31-Frank Nelson, who since his release
from the army has been leading a dissolute life, murdered
Sarah McHarris and her three year old child in a fit of
jealousy. The woman had left her husband, who is a soldier
at Fort Apache.
TONG NUEY
Arizona Republican Newspaper
June 17, 1890
In the District court yesterday, Ah Chee indicted for the
murder of Tong Nuey was convicted of manslaughter. The
case was called in the morning. Two witnesses were placed
upon the stand by the defense to contradict the evidence
offered by the prosecution as to threats made by Ah Chee
to the deceased Chinaman.
The defendant himself took the witness chair. His story
as the material points came out about as follows:
"Tong Nuey, he owe me $230 and he pay me $36. That night,
after supper, I take my book out and ask him to pay me.
He say, "I no want to pay you." Then we both go to bed.
Tong Nuey he cursed me then and I curse him back. Tong
then threw a hatchet at me and that hatchet fall near by
bed. He then say, "Well I go to get up and kill you."
I get up, put on my shoes, pull out my pistol and shoot
right at Nuey's bed. After that I put on my hat and
start to run. I much afraid and come up along the road
and get to a wood pile and stay there twenty minutes.
Then I go to town."
After defendant's testimony his case was closed. Assistant
District Attorney Williams opened the argument for the
prosecution. He made quite a hit by warning the jury
not to place as much credence in Chee's hatchet story
as they do in the George Washington episode. Messrs.
Buck, Edwards, and Steiglitz addressed the jury in
behalf of the accused and Frank Cox concluded for the
territory. The case went to the jury at 2:30 pm.
Shortly after the jury requested permission to visit
the scene of the killing. The request was granted
and the Sheriff escorted them out to the vegetable
garden. The jury returned in about an hour and
after a brief consultation announced a verdict
"guilty of manslaughter." The prisoner received
the verdict with evident satisfaction.
DR. T.N. OSBORNE
Arizona Republican Newspaper
May 20, 1890
A little before 10 o'clock last night Dr. Osborne blew out
his brains. Perhaps there were few men in the city of
Phoenix better known than Dr. T.N. Osborne. He came here
more than fifteen years ago and has been in the continuous
practice of his profession here ever since, having a wide
circle of friends and being held in the highest repute
both amongst the laity and by men of his own profession.
He was a native of New York State and was about 35 years
old.
For several years past Dr. Osborn has been a nervous
sufferer and to allay his pains had resorted to stimulants,
finally taking morphine in so large a quantity that of
late his close friends had begun to fear that he was
becoming slightly unhinged mentally.
His casual acquaintances, however, noticed nothing out of
the way and he ahs been about the streets and in his usual
places of resort latterly as was his usual custom.
Yesterday, however, he remained in the house during the
greater portion of the day and toward evening laid down
upon a bed in an inner room, dressed only in his shirt,
trousers and stockings. He must have gone to sleep there
for he did not get up to supper. Shortly before 10
o'clock he arose from the bed and came to the door of
the front bedroom where his wife was laying down and
asked her if there was any supper.
Mrs. Osborne replied that there was and that he would find
it upon the table in the dining. A few moments afterwards
she heard a shot. Although she had not seen her husband
go out of the house, becoming alarmed, Mrs. Osborne went
into the dining room and not finding her husband there,
quickly ascertained that he was not in the house.
Hearing what sounded like a groan, Mrs. Osborne became
thoroughly alarmed and passing out of the front door of
the adobe residence, which stands on Washington Street
at the extreme western limit of the city she was
horrified at the ghastly discovery of her husband's
body lying weltering in blood in the dust of the
street.
With a cry of horror, Mrs. Osborne ran to the house of a
neighbor for help and very shortly afterwards the news of
the suicide was brought up town and Sheriff Gray, Deputy
Sheriff Davenport, Marshal Davenport and a Republican
reporter were on the way to the scene of the tragedy.
The body of the suicide still lay in the dust, and there
was about the head a great pool of blood. The face was
covered with blood also, that had run down from a wound
in the left cheek and close by lay a forty-four caliber
Colt's revolver with one chamber discharged.
Death must have been almost instantaneous. A the news
spread, a crowd was quickly collected and Marshal
Blankenship then came up to town and securing Justice
Richards, returned with him to the scene for the purpose
of holding an inquest.
Dr. Osborne leaves a wife and three small children, two
girls and a boy and his aged mother is also a resident of
Phoenix. Several weeks ago he requested permission of the
city authorities to carry a pistol but as he could give no
very intelligible reason why such action on his part was
necessary, the permit was refused him.
The doctor was a member of the A.O. U. W. and his widow
will receive $2000 from that order. He will be buried
by the Order today. Inquest this morning.
MRS. PARSONS
Arizona Republican Newspaper
October 24, 1890
Mrs. Parsons, a lady afflicted with the read consumption
who was brought to Phoenix about twelve days ago in the
hope of relief died yesterday at the home of Mrs. Williams
on Monroe Street. Deceased was a daughter of Dr. M.C.L.
Miller of Oconomowac, Wisconsin and was accompanied to
Phoenix by her husband and mother. A brother T.B. Miller
is general freight agent of the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy Railroad and arrived with the party by special
car on October 11. Two children were left at Marshall
Minnesota. The remains will be embalmed and shipped
back to the home of the parents.
D.A. REYNOLDS
Arizona Republican Newspaper
October 22, 1890
Globe-This afternoon D.A. Reynolds, better known as "Kid"
Reynolds was shot four times and almost instantly killed by
Alexander Graydon, a prominent citizen. There was no witness
to the killing, which occurred in the office of Graydon's
corral. Reynolds was drunk and is known to have made
threats against Graydon and had entered Graydon's premises
several times during the past two or three days and abused
him. Both men have resided here a number of years and
both have families. Graydon is under arrest and a Coroner's
Jury is investigating the killing. No weapons were found
except a knife. Graydon bears an excellent character and
is a citizen of some means, being in the feed yard and
blacksmith business.
FINIS E. RICE
Arizona Republican Newspaper
July 27, 1890
Mr. Joseph Brannan yesterday received word from his wife at
Gunnison, Colorado, that the youngest brother of Mrs.
Brannan, Finis E. Rice, was killed by lightning in the
famous Tin Cup Gold Mine on Thursday. Mr. Rice was a
young man, only 22 years of age and unmarried. He had
many friends throughout Colorado who have been terribly
shocked by his tragic death.
