Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-07-23
Tine Sauta Rita Homicide.

Sheriff Paul arrived home last evening having among his prisoners Frank Nor ton, the murderer of old man Roberts ID the Santa Rltas, who after the killing gave himself up to Justice Mercer ana was by him on his own statement, dis charged, 1t being believed at the time that there was no evidence by which he could be held But 1t appears that peO- pie fearing harm to themselves hesitated telling what they knew. On his dis charge Morton went to Sonora and then the facts of the case leaked out. A war rant for hls arrest was issued and Sheriff Paul being at that time Tn So- nora, 1t was forwarded to him to serve.
 On leaving Arizona, Morton went to Magdalena, but immediately left on PauIs arrival at that place, and with two others camped in the bush. An h. dian who had been sent out to find them returned and reported the camp deserted and that the men had backed into Ari- z0na. Sending party of Mexicans on the road towards Calabasas, Sheriff Paul took the one leading to La NOria, and there be found his man. He was taken to Tubac and again given hear ing before Justice Mercer, who con- mitted him without bail to await the ac- ton of the grand jury.
 Morton's first statement was that he had quarrelled with Roberts, and that RObers had attempted to kill him, by shooting him with a rifle, exhibiting as proof bullet hole across and through the front of hls vest, and that he had taken the gun from Roberts and killed him Tn self-defence. As none came for ward to cOntrovert his story he was dIs- charged, although at the time the facts Of the case were believed to be far other wise, as others were Tn the neighOOr- n cd who heard the shooting, and would have known had any altercatiOn taken place: and furthermore Roberts, al though an old man, was hale, rugged aud a much larger and stronger man than Morton, who IS angular, awkwardly formed and does not weigh more than about one hundred and twenty pounds At the last hearing it was proven that the killing was premeditated, cold blooded and without excuse, as he had been by three Mexican women seen to break into a little store kept at the ba- cicnda by Philip Ament, take ont rifle and cartridges, and fire three shots at a mark. At the last shot he stumbled and and fell. On getting up he passed round the house and into the corral that faced Roberts cabin, when tbe last shot was fired. Roberts was killed while appar- ently in the act of entering his cabin, as he had been shot from behind, the bull let striking him back of the head, com ing out in front and taking off the whole top. Morton then went tO where several men, unconscious of the murder, were firing at a mark. Among them vas a man against whom Morton held an old grudge, and with an oath raised his rife to kill hIm, but as Morton was instantly covered by shotgun in the hands of another man, he deemed it ad- visable to retreat.
 When brought back from Sonora the feeling was very strong against him, and Sheriff Paul is under the impression that had 1t not been for his interference Morton would certainly have been lynched. He is said to be both bolster. ous and quarrelsome, and that this wat not his first murder. Both his men were shot from behind.