The death yesterday, by apoplexy at the residence of B.F.
McFall, of Rev. Dr. F.D. Rickerson was a shock to the
entire community.
Since February 1898 Dr. Rickerson has been an honored
resident of Phoenix and as pastor of the Baptist Church,
he won the admiration, respect and love of all with whom
he came in contact.
Dr. Rickerson was born at Waterloo, N.Y. November 23, 1837,
where he lived for a number of years, until he went to
Rochester where he received his education.
He moved west in 1858, to Des Moines, Iowa where he was
first licensed to preach in October of the same year. He
was regularly ordained at Grinnell, Iowa, in April 1859,
from which time until the day of his death he was a hard
worker in behalf of the Baptist Church.
During the doctor's life he was stationed at the following
places: Moline, Ill, Jenessee, Ill, Chicago, Ill, Quincy,
Ill, Hannibal, Mo., Springfield, Ill, Des Moines and Sioux City.
T.H. SEELIG
March 9, 1892
The trial of T.H. Seelig, under the charge of embezzlement
was set for yesterday at 2 o'clock p.m. but when that time
came Seelig had been arraigned before the court of eternal
justice, and received his reward or sentence whichever it
might have been.
About 10 o'clock he got shaved, went and dressed himself
in the best suit of clothes he had, taking a spread from
the bed, laying it on the carpet he placed a pillow on
it and lying down, placed the muzzle of a Smith and Wesson
38 caliber revolver in his right ear and blew out his
brains. Death must have been instantaneous for his
hands lay on his breast, the right one clutching the
revolver with which he did the deadly work, and the
position of his body showing that he had died without
a struggle.
Mr. Seelig has lived in Phoenix for many years and was
well known throughout the coast. For some time he has
had the cigar store near the Capitol Saloon and personally
was well liked by all his acquaintances. He is a prominent
Free Mason and was also a Knight of Pythias, being treasurer
of the Phoenix Lodge. Some time ago, he experienced some
business trouble and some members of the lodge swore out a
warrant charging him with embezzling $600 belonging to the
order.
The matter was hushed without an examining trial, he giving
bond to appear before the grand jury. It was thought to be
a mistake and consequently was kept out of the papers.
However, the trial was set to come up yesterday and early
in the morning his friends settled the matter up and it
was said, so informed Mr. Seelig. This was about 9 o'clock
and the matter kept brooking on his mind until he determined
to take his life.
The shot was heard by a number of people and the physician
was at once called to his room which was in Mrs. Luke's
house, though, he had been dead some time and nothing
could be done. A number of his friends feared that he
was contemplating suicide and two or three had been
watching him but when the accusation against him was
stilled, they thought that would be an end of it; but
it was no and rather than face the disgrace of having
his friends protect him he took his life.
Henry L. Wharton had a jury of inquest summoned at once,
and they viewed the body just as it lay when he fired the
shot. They also searched his pockets and room and he left
no letter or anything stating why he committed the deed.
They jury consisting of E.S. Gill, H.R. Leonard, R.F.L.
Robinson, E. Ganz, Frank Luke, E. Engleman, Geo.F. Davis,
H.I. Walker and J.M. Gregory found that death resulted
from a gunshot wound that was self-inflicted.
BABY SEIP
March 8, 1892
On Sunday night, March 6, the infant daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. S.N. Seip, aged two months died. The baby had been
a constant sufferer during its entire life and death came
as a welcome relief. The funeral occurred from the residence
of the parents yesterday afternoon, Rev. G.L. Pearson
conducting the services.
LEE WONG
D. MONG
February 9, 1892
Gila Bend, Az -- Last night two Chinamen , Lee Wong and D.
Mong, were murdered at Harqua Hala, it is supposed with the
object of robbery, as their watches and jewelry were gone.
No one knew of the occurrence until this morning, when they
were found in bed with their throats cut from ear to ear.
Money and jewels to the value of several hundred dollars
were taken and not clue to the murderers has been obtained.
GEORGE WOODS aka Willis aka Wiley
January 28, 1892
The peculiar sensation one must naturally feel upon awakening
from a sound sleep and finding a bed mate dead was experienced
by a man who is known only by the title of "Mike" in one of
the rooms of the Pioneer Hotel shortly before two o'clock
yesterday morning.
As soon as the half frightened man could regain his senses
he made known the facts of his discovery at the office of
the hotel and the proprietress, Mrs. Coyle, believing that
a doctor might prove expedient in the emergency sent a
messenger for Dr. Helm, but as he was unable to respond
then another physician was summoned. But before his
arrival it was demonstrated beyond doubt that the man
was dead.
Owning to an array of names found among the effects of the
deceased it is difficult to directly establish his identity
or trace his relations. He was known at the hotel and also
by his employers, the Arizona Canal company by the name of
George Woods, but from letters and other documents found in
his clothing he is represented as George Wiley and George
Willis, respectively. One week ago yesterday, the man
registered at the hotel as George Woods, and he paid for a
week's board and lodging in advance. He stated that he had
been employed by the Arizona Canal Company at their dam and
complained of feeling the ill effects of having been
exposed in water waist deep for several days in the
discharge of his labors.
Woods spent the greater part of the intervening days around
the lobby of the hotel and in his room, and paid occasional
visits to the barroom where he became quite intimate with
the man who was with him when he died. Everyday presented
a marked difference in Wood's physical condition and he
consulted and was treated, for a presumably severe cold
and the usually accompanying fever by a neighboring
druggist. The prescription did him no good and on
Tuesday the invalid waited on a regular practicing
physician who told him that he was suffering from a
severe attack of la gripe. After partaking of a light
supper of milk toast and tea Tuesday evening, Woods
retired at a reasonable hour and nothing more was
heard from him until his room companion announced his
death.
Undertakers Randal and Davis were summoned and the body was
moved to their undertaking establishment where it was
prepared for burial, the deceased having enough money
coming to him from the Canal Company to defray the expenses.
A search of his clothing presented a puzzling state of
affairs. His pockets were filled with a number of letters
treating on various subjects, and the names under which
they were indicated were George Wiley and George Willis.
None of these letters, however, are calculated to furnish
any positive proof as to his former home, family ties or
relatives, the nearest to this being furnished by a strip
of paper written in a feminine hand in which a place
called Farrington is referred to. Farrington is believed
by those who have interested themselves in the strange case
to be somewhere in Illinois, as a man who called at the
hotel yesterday afternoon, but refused to make known his
identity, stated that the deceased had a wife an three
children living in Farrington, Ill. but further than that
he would not speak.
The strip of paper referred to reads as follows:
"Now George you write me more than one line for I want
to know what you are doing and perhaps I will come out
there this fall, if you will meet me somewhere on the
road so I would not get lost. Now, George, if you send
that diamond to me, put it in a box all nice and send
it to Farrington, Box 542 and write me at once a good
long letter. Your sister, Carrie Leighton. P.S.
Everything looks green and nice here now."
As will be observed the foregoing contains neither post
office or calendar date.
There are letters which refer to the dad man as George
Willis, signed by the president of the Postal telegraph
Company and dated San Francisco, January 31, 1887.
Also are letters showing George Wiley worked for the
MacKay Bennett Cable Company in San Francisco in 1887
and are dated September 1, 1882, signed by W.H.
Simmons, repairer of the Mutual Telegraph Company.
Other written matter shows that George Wiley in
November 29, 1889 was having some difficulty with
Wells, Fargo Express Company through their Visalia,
California agent regarding the miscarriage of some money.
Among other effects is a printed card giving locations
of the fire alarm boxes in Oakland, California, the
constitutions of the Grant Council Order of Fraternal
Argonaut, San Francisco, a card with the name
"E. Barnett, 843 Broadway, Oakland Cal. and an
envelope addressed to T.C. Batchalder, Phelan
Building, Market Street.
The Funeral
January 2, 1892
Unmourned and unsung for the body of George Woods, alias
Wiley, alias Willis, the man who died suddenly at the
Pioneer Hotel, was consigned to mother earth in Fuqa's
cemetery by undertakers Randal and Davis yesterday
afternoon and along with the burial goes the unexplained
mystery of why the man found it necessary while in
life to adopt so many names.
The funeral expenses were paid for out of the $80 that
was coming to the deceased for labor while in the employ
of the Arizona Canal Company and the remains reposed in a
handsome casket. In the absence of friends the details of
the funeral were carefully and considerately carried out
by Mr. Randal and when the appointed hour arrived for the
obsequies to take place not a man had appeared to even
assist in carrying the casket to the hearse which stood in
grim solemnity in the street in front of the undertaking
rooms. Mr. Randal had to employ two men to help him pay
the last respects due to the dead, and upon invitation
Rev. Mr. Pearson visited the cemetery and there offered
a prayer for the soul of the departed.
Which of the three names assumed by the dead man is the
correct one is still unexplained. A telegram sent to
Farrington, Ill. by Mr. Randal brought back an answer
that nothing was known there of the deceased, or the
woman who had written to him under the signature of a
sister.
