The St. Johns herald. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 1885-1903, 1885-03-12

! "At about one O'Clock this morning a
most unfortunate affair took place at E
Z. bfezick's saloon On the piaza--the f;.-
tai shooting OF John Singer, German
cattle buyer, by Col q. W. Stoneroad a
prominent stockman and influential
democrat OF San Miguel county. Both
men had been drinking and both were
under the Influence OF liquor, Singer be-
| ing the drunken and more abusive of the
! two. About y O'Clock there were sew
eral stock dealers in tic saloon and the
topic OF conversation naturally turned
IN that direction. The protection OF a
bill OF sale to the purchasers of stock
was preached and discussed in IL friend
| ly manner between drinks, Joe Gray,
a plaza butcher, was in the room and he
! took umcrage at remark OF Col. Stone
road, remark that was not intended to
| be offensive to him. But he would not
have it that way and wrangling dis
pute was engaged in between Stoneroad
and Gray, The former offering an apollo
go for anything he may have said that
lacerated the feelings of Gray. lie even
said that he was man enough to get
down upon his knees in order to settle
the matter at last Col. Stoneroad pro-
posed that they go to the bar, take a
drink with him, and let the angry dis
cussion drop. With the exception OF
Gray, the whole crowd, including John
Singer, approached the bar and called
for their drinks, Gray soon followed
and renewed the quarrel. Stoneroad
turned upon him and insisted that he
would have no more abuse heaped upon
him without cause, but he again invited
Gray to join them in social glass. At
last he did so and the matter between
the men was dropped. they shaking
hands with each other and going out OF
the saloon together, we believe. The
above is mentioned in order that our
readers may have better understand
ing OF the condition OF mind Of Colonel
Stoneroad in his difficulty with John
Singer. When the trouble came up be-
tween the men there were several per-
sons in the room, but, there being more
Or less confusion and loud talking, very
little notice was taken of the remarks or
threats OF any one man.
An eyewitness said to a reporter to-
day that the men were talking over
cattle transaction with which they were
both familiar and reference to the &C.
ton OF Singer was alluded to by Stone
road. This fred Singers blood Hot
words ensued and then came an invita-
ton from Singer for Stoneroad to lay
down his cane and they would soon de-
eide who was the better man OF the two
Stoneroad was now thoroughly enraged
at such a proposition, and not being en-
tirely at himself, he laid his cane to one
side, at the same time prudcntly cndea-
voring to avoid the inevitable alteration.
Before he fairly realized his position,
Singer struck him blow in the face,
then another, and had Stoneroad pinned
to the wall in corner OF the room, rea-
dy to administer the third blow, when
the discharge OF q pistol rang out on the
air and Singer began to cry out ard
drops OF blood were seen upon the floor.
The wounded man was cared for as
well as possible, until a physician was
summoned, when he was removed to his
sleeping room in the Gonzales building,
on the northeast corner of the plaza
Ee is mortaliy wounded, the ball hav-
ing taken effect in the vital part of the
human system, the abdomen.
Col. Stoncroad is not man addicted
TO excessive drinking. However when
in liquor, lie is OF Il quarre!some DISPOSE
ton and Will not submit to the abusive
treatment that lie has been known to
brook, when he was in the full posses
sion of his senses, while the other party
was not. He is usually very prudent
man and has made it rule OF his life to
keep out of as many personal difficulties
rs possible.
John Singer has long been resident
OF New Mexico. He has travelled al
over the territory while engaged in the
avocation Of stock buying. He was a |
quiet, industrious man VIXEN not in his
cups. but when his brain was crazed |
with liquor he was regarded as Il dan
ge:ous individual He died at noon to-
day ard coroner's inquest is held Oh
his body as we go to press.
At three O'Clock this afternoon Col. |
Stoneroad appeared before Judge Axtell !
in open court, accompanied by T. 3.
Catron, his attorney. The judge fixed |
the bail at $50, OGO and the following na-
med gentlemen were accepted as sure
ties by the sheriff: n. B. Stoneroad, A. |
NJ. Blackwell, A. G.. Austin, Chas. W.
Haynes, A. GryzeIachowski and +. n.
Page. The case will come before the
grand jury at the present sitting and
may yet be heard at this term of the
District Court.