Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-08-23
Letter from SOuoita.

SoSoITA VALLEY, Aug. r, 1884
 EDITOR CITIZEN: The happiest cattl' men in thIs country are to be found il this beautiful and historic valley, whIci has been blessed with more rain thii season than other part of southeastern Arizona, owing to the devoutness of 1t, residents.
 The center of attraction ID the valle. at present Is Con Ryan's ranch, wher, enough has transpired in the last few months to furnish material for a first class blood and thunder romance. The latest is the murder of Fred Keister About the middle of last June Con went to Tucson on business connected with the Flux mIne, and left Keister in gen. eral charge of the ranch and Mir. Douglas in charge of the store. On the evening of the 23d of June, between and o'clock, just as they were going to bed, man came Tn through the back door, with a knife in his right hand and pistol in his left hand, showed Douglas 10 one side and attacked keIster. Doug lRs ran out by the bar, where two pistols were, and told a man by the name of kelly and a teamster, who were lying down under some trees, to run; that a man was murdering old Fred, and told the teHmster to rul to Ssnford's, about mile and a half down the valley, which he did. Kelly took to the hills, while Douglas went to the Flux mine, about two and half miles distant, ar irving there next morning between ? and 3 o'clock.
 No more has been learned. Douglas has left the country. Mir. keister was supposed tO have between Sl,2O0 and l,SOO. Mir. Ryan says he paid him l,lOO. taking some checks and a certifi- cate of deposit on the First National bank for like amount
 On the llth of thIs month the Public Administrator commenced proceedings against Ryan for the money, claiming it as the property of Kester. The case was tried before tn Probate Judge, and occupied tha greater part of last week, when 1t was finally agreed that Con Ryan should disclose the whereabouts Uf the money; that It WAS to be put m escrow ID the First National bank tO await the decision of the court Con immediately give to Judge Wood, Probate Judge; C. c. Stephens, counsel for public administrator and Judge Hoover his own counsel, u perfect writ ten description of the place where he had the money cached on his ranch. The Judge cautioned Con on bis word and honor that he should not write, paint, print, indlte nor make any sign, syllable or character, whereby the whereabouts of the hidden ducats might become known tO anyone under the high canopy of hesyen-Only to the regularly appointed officer Of the court; to all of which, Con solemnly assented.
 Yesterday, (Saturday,) ID the after noon Con and the officer arrived. Sev- eral of us not seeing any papers for several days asked them how Tucson was. How the Citizens and Taxpay CTS party was iiOurshIng? How the devll dId Strauss get the best of BrOwder and Stevens? Who had the inside track for the nomination for Representative. Sheriff-Giiford or Pauly How Car peuter looked since he came back from New York. but no answer to any of our questions. The officer produced a strong money sack like Lambie uses; shook it out, while Con went for large crOwbar that be uses tO dig holes for fence posts and a long handle shovel. The officer then pulled out large legal paper. knew It wRs legal for on look ing over hIs shoulder I at first thought IL was a map of Cons ranch, showing how badly 1t was cut up by the road 10 n.ass ss. haul ore from the Flux-;he mine they bought and never pa:d for. The officer kindly informed me it was a legally written description of where the money was cached. Con came with crowbar and shovel; the officer deciphered out the written description which was per. feet; there was the brush corral. south west from the house; there was ihe dead tree inside the corral; there ~ere the bars. Opposite the bars and tO the left Of the tree under brush fence. Con pointed cut the place; also, told the officer to dig and get tke money. Con filed his pipe and directed the officer like a Union foreman compelled tO boss S3 day miner. A few Of us outsiders watched the proceeding with good deal of interest. The officer worked with a will; when he came to some paper and an old bottle he re- doubled his efforts; after digging hole that would pass for good assessment work Cbacked up by few affi1avits) he gave up and said the money wasn't there. Con took a long whit at bis pipe and said: There is where put it. IL is gone. l guess now them judges and lawyers m Tucson will let me alone. l learn from MT. Green aud James Abott that a few nights age between three and four o'clock m the morning I UT hOrsemen rode up behind the brush corral where the money was, staid there about 10 to l. minutes and left. Messrs Green and AbOtt not know ing that there was any money on tine premises did not think any more about 1t until Con and the officer came after the money. NIL ADMIRARL