A shooting scrape occurred at Turkey Creek the other night which
was the cause of the death of Ernest Arnez and Joseph Campbell,
another man who is also dying from the effects of his wounds.
Just how the trouble originated is hard to ascertain as reports
are very conflicting. It seems, however, that Arnez and a man
named Payne called at Campbell's house. Campbell ordered them
away from the house, but would not state the reason for not
wanting them there. All parties agree in saying that all had
retired some time previous to the shooting and Campbell must
have arisen for the purpose of compelling them to leave. It
was then probably that the trouble occurred. Several shots
were fired on both sides.
August 9, 1895
Sheriff Ruffner, District Attorney Morrison and Justice Moore
returned last evening from Turkey creek where they held an
inquest on the remains of Ernest Arnez, who was shot early
Monday morning by Joe Campbell, dying a few hours afterward.
From the testimony taken at the inquest some of the mystery
surrounding this affair is cleared up. Arnez arrived at August
Thorbecke's place about noon, somewhat under the influence of
liquor. He lay down and slept for some time and about 3 o'clock
in the afternoon left for Campbell's place, taking a bottle of
whiskey and three bottles of beer with him. These were disposed
of by him and Campbell when the latter went up to Thorbecke's
place and got another bottle of whisky and three more bottles
of beer. About the time this supply was exhausted, or about
six o'clock, Ed Payne, a youth of 22 or 23 years, put in an
appearance on the scene and he visited Thorbecke's place,
procuring the third bottle of whisky and two bottles of
beer. Payne, it seems drank but little, while Arnez and
Campbell as can be readily seen, after disposing of this
quantity, were well under its influence and when Mrs.
Campbell had prepared supper, were unable to eat much.
A few weeks since Campbell and Payne were arrested and bound
over to a grand jury on a charge of killing a steer belonging
to Joe Mayer and during early part of the evening they had a
quarrel over this transaction, Campbell accusing Payne of
having gotten him into the trouble. During a scuffle which
ensued over this quarrel, Campbell received a black eye.
About 11, Arnez went upstairs and went to bed, lying down
without undressing the others remaining up. Sometime after
midnight Payne and Mrs. Campbell attempted to get Joe to bed
but were unable to do so and called Arnez down to assist
them. The three then succeeded in getting him on the bed
and after a whole seemed to drop off to sleep when Arnez
again went upstairs and went to bed. Mrs. Campbell retired
also with her husband and two children.
About 2 o'clock, Campbell awoke and not finding his wife in bed
arose and going to a closet procured two six-shooters, and with
a gun in each hand, went into Payne's room and asked him what
he was doing in bed downstairs. Payne arose hastily and instead
of going out of the house ran upstairs followed by Campbell.
As he got to where Arnez was sleeping he called to him to get
up and go out as Campbell was coming with two guns. Payne then
ran to a window and jumped out and by this time Campbell had
reached Arnez, who was getting up. He told Arnez to get his
horse and get away. The latter said he would but did not know
where his saddle was and Campbell told him where to find it.
Campbell then retraced his steps downstairs, Arnez following
him. The latter started to get his horse while Campbell
went to the door to look for Payne. When Payne got out of the
window, instead of leaving the premises he went around the
house, Campbell also starting around in the opposite
direction. When within about fifteen of each other they both
fired. Payne's shot took effect in Campbell's chest and
Campbell's shot in Payne's leg. Payne then started to run and
Campbell kept firing and struck Arnez in the back.
Payne went up to Thorbecke's place where he remained the
balance of the night. Arnez ran a short distance and fell
in the creek where he remained nearly all night.
Campbell grew faint from the shot and went into the house,
falling on the kitchen floor. As he did so he handed the
two guns to his 7 year old boy who had been awakened by the
firing. Mrs. Campbell stated that when the trouble commenced
she ran upstairs and hid under a bed until it was over.
Later it was learned that Campbell died Wednesday night of his
wounds. He made a statement before dying that he had been
shot by Ed Payne and that the killing of Ernest Arnez was
accidental.
HARDY ATKINSON
W.C. BASCOM
Arizona Republican Newspaper
January 10, 1895
That was an awful thing at Tempe yesterday. The light and
maybe the life of Hardy Atkinson, was shot out. It was the deed
of a maniac under the impulse of liquor, suffering from
delirium, produced by a six months course of dissipation in
which he tried to drown the memory of the death of an
idolized wife.
The principal actor in the tragedy was W.C. Bascom, the miller
at the Sacaton Indian Agency and he now lies dead from a gun
shot wound inflicted in an attempt to capture him. Soon after
12 o'clock yesterday persons in the vicinity of the Gregory
house at Tempe were startled by the appearance of a madman
armed with a rifle on the roof of the hotel. He fired at
three persons, narrowly missing them and there was a general
rush for shelter from the range of the gun.
Several persons started toward the roof of the hotel to
disarm him. The foremost was John Plummer. The first he
saw as he climbed over the roof was the maniac with the
rifle drawn upon him. He fell back just out of the jaws
of death for in his fall a bullet grazed the top of his hat.
"I can bring him down," said Hardy Atkinson, "he knows me,"
and he started up the stairway in the rear of the building.
He never afterward saw the man he went to bring down for a
ball from the rifle struck him in the right temple and passed
out of the left eye socket. The young man fell in a heap to
the ground, fifteen feet below. Instantly there was horror
and confusion in the midst of which the maniac leaped from the
roof of the hotel to a one story building adjoining and
thence to the ground. He took refuge in Goldman's warehouse,
half a block away.
The wounded boys father, Col. George D. Atkinson was in
Phoenix yesterday. He received information of the shooting
in a few minutes after it occurred and was at home thirty
five minutes afterward.
The maniac lingered until after eight o'clock last night and
died, directly from the shock from his wounds. When he had
been taken back to the hotel he seemed to have recovered his
mind and asked that a telegram be sent to his brother in
Kentucky. He soon lapsed into delirium again and asked how
many men he had killed.
Bascom was about thirty five years of age, a native of
Kentucky and has been at the Sacaton agency two years.
His early life had been dissipated. He had long been in
love with a Kentucky girl, Miss Ella Rankin, who made it a
condition of their betrothal that he should reform his
habits. He set about a reformation and was successful
and they were married in Phoenix on December 27, 1893.
His wife died at the Lemon Hotel in this city last June.
The husband rapidly collapsed and his reformation was
undone. Late last fall his friends sent him to California.
He returned to Phoenix and took lodging at the Commercial
hotel last week. During his stay in town he drank heavily
and gambled recklessly losing in two or three days more
than $400. He was pursued by imaginary foes furing his
stay here and one night went to the Colonel Saloon and
begged James Rennie, the night bartender to give him a
revolver. He went from there to Tempe last Monday.
The maniac's victim is a young man of 20 and liked by all
who know him. He has been employed about the Gregory Hotel.
An hour before the shooting he had a prescription filled for
the man who has deprived him of his sight if not of his life.
January 12, 1895
The condition of Hardy Atkinson who was shot by W.C. Bascom
at Tempe last Wednesday has taken a turn for the worse. Both
eyes have been destroyed and recovery is doubtful.
The body of Bascom was brought over from Tempe yesterday
under the direction of Indian Agent Young and was interred
in the Phoenix Cemetery.
February 5, 1895
After a gallant fight of three weeks for life Hardy Atkinson
died at Tempe on Sunday morning of the wounds inflicted by
W.C. Bascom. His death was somewhat unexpected and was
therefore more grievous as his parents and friends who
had passed through the first horror of the situation had
come to hope that he might recover. His recovery had in
fact been almost assured and it was even believed that he
might be saved one if not both eyes, which had been nearly
ploughed out by a bullet from the maniac's Winchester. The
funeral took place in Phoenix on Sunday afternoon.
