Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-08-16
AN OLD STORY.
Rsminiscence of a Terrible Crime and
 swift RetributiOn.

Eleven years ago yesterday a scene of retributiye justice was enacted in Tue son that struck terror to the hearts of evil doers for a space of time. On that day four men paid the penalty with their lives for the great crime of murder. The circumstances are matters of record, and the docket of Judge Meyers court will furnish the framework of facts around which the following details of Unwritten history were woven.
 There lived, up to the night of August 9th, 1873, at the corner of Convent and Cushing streets. pawnbroker and the keeper of a small store, named Herman dez. He was man highly respected by all his neighbors, and was considered well off in worldly goods, and without an enemy in the city. He was mar red man, but without children, and lived in the same building occupied by the store.
 On the morning of August 1th, 1t was noticed that the doors of the place were not opened at the usual hOur, and GUS toners waiting outside became lmpa- tient at hearing no resDOne tO their re- peated knocks. At last neighbor went to the rear wall where she could look into the open back door, and was bOrTI fled to see bloody footprints upon the threshold, and just within the door the ghastly spectacle oi the murdered pawnbToker and his Nife. The alarm soon brought q crowd, when 1t was fornd that Herman deg and his wIfe had been killed during the night by being beaten upon the head with huge mesquite club, which was fonnd lylng beside the bodies, and Is now in Judge Meyers possession, and the house was robbed of a large amount of jewelry and money. The deed had been executed in d most horrible man ner, as tue victims were sleeping just within the door. The first bow must have been given to Hernandez with the club, which crushed his skull, and a sec. ond was dealt his wife, with like result They then literally pulverized the heads Of each. and still fearing a possible re- suScitatIOn they deliberately cut the throats of the dead people from ear to ear, and proceeded with lighted candles to rifle the house.
 The only clew to the perpetrators of the ndish deed WAS the footprint upon the doorstep, and this was at once rec oCnized by dozen people. There was no other footprint like It in the world; the small, sbapely foot, with archei in- step, giving Ru imprint like two spheres of rubber would make, could belong to no other person than the handsome, dashing human tend, young LeOcardU C1rioya, whose hand had often before been crlmsoned with the blood cf many a gringp. He was hunted down, and a dozen arrests were made. An eXamna- tiou conclusively fixed the guilt upon Leocardo CordOva, Ciemente Lopez and Jesus Sahuaripa-three young men of the most depravci instincts. Their clothing was saturated with fine bloc of their victims. and about their persons were found articles known to have be- longed to the dead pawn broker. Oa the night of August :, one of the mur- derers was placed Tn an ambulance, heavily ironed, and was taken down the lane towards Warmers mill, and he pointed out the spot where they had hidden the stolen goods. They were all recovered, and the murderer made full confession.
 On August Sth, two crotched posts were quietly erected upon Court plaza, in front of the jail. The whole Popula- tion-men, women and children-turued out to the funeral of Hernandez and his wife. They were buried in the old cem- etery at the corner of Stone Avenue 8n1 Alameda street. After the burial, 1t was announced that the sequel would take place on Court plaza, and the crowd went thither. The three murderers were taken from the jail, together with man named John Willis, condemned to hang for murder. The four were led to where the forked poles had been planted and piece of timber laid across. The people were all squatted upon the ground in an uncOncerned manner. A spokesman addressed the crowd aud asked that all who favored hanging the four men, should stand up, whereuDoa everyone rose instantaneOusly. Two carts were procured; the criminals Were placed in them under the extemporiZed gibbet; the ropes were adjusted, and the doomed men were asked 1T they had a last word to say. They all exhibited a sullen disregard of the events transpir- ing. Cordova only asked for a cigarette, which was given him, and, after few whIffs of smoke, the carts were driven from under the men and they were left dangling in the air, few moments journey from eternity.