The Arizona sentinel., 1889-08-03
Shooting ARRAY.

A difficulty occurred on Thursday after
noon between Deputy Sheriff F. D. Wells
and Neal Murphy, guard at the Terri
torial Prison, in which the latter was as
saulted but not seriously injured. Wells
was arrested and his examination took
place Yesterday afternoon before Judge Ira
Mabbett, who after hearing all the testi-
mony bound the defendant over ia the sum
of $1,000 for his appearance before the
Grand Jury. The following is a summary
of the testimony taken at the examination.
Neal Murphy being sworn, said: "That on
the afternoon of Thursday, August lst,
about o'clock, I noticed man walking
to- ards my station, with head down, but
could not distinguish his face. Did not paw
any attention to the man approaching, as 1
supposed that he would pass by my station,
which is station number one, located On the
South bank of the ella, and about one
hundred yards from the back wall of the
prison. After little while heard a noise
as if some one was climbing up the steps of
my station; looking down l saw a man
coming up, using both hands to assist him
self in climbing; upon calling out what do
you want, defendant sprang upon the plat
form replying, you --I have come
to kill your with that he drew his re-
volver and struck at me, l warded off the
blow with my arm, which is marked from
the blow, l then got as close to him as pos
sible to stop the blows, when he aimed the
revolver at me which pushed to one side
just as he fired, the powder burning my
hand. He then struck me on the head,
knocking me down, ard for a few seconds
stunning me, l asked him to desist, but he
said he would kill me, and was making
ready with his revolver to carry out his
threat when Messrs. Behan, Cottreall, and
others rushed to the station und overpower-
ed him."
John H. Behan testified that he was mott
fed of the disturbance, went over to station
one, disarmed defendant, and afterwards
torney Revolver being shown, Mr.. Behan
identified it by mark made on the cylinder.
Joe Cottreall's testimony was about the
same as that of preceding witness.
w. A. Werninger testified that Wells in
quired for Mr.. Murphy about half past
twelve and waited until Murphy went to
his station. Witness said that Wells did
not seem angry or excited when he left to 90
to Murphy's station.
The defendant, F. D. Wells, then made a
statement, from which the following is
taken: "Some nights ago, Neal Murphy
called me out from the Court House and
we had talked about certain matters, and he
invited meup to his station as he wanted to
have talk with me. l went up on Thurs
day afternoon, and upon asking him what
he wanted, he replied! 4 will
show you, you and backing up
towards his chair where his revolver was
lying, warned him not to touch his re-
volver, drawing mine and striking him to
prevent him reaching his weapon, he grasp
ed my pistol and in jerking it away from
him, the pistol went off, he continuing to
try and reach his revolver, | struck at him,
ne then fell either from the blow or by acct
dent. He begged me not to kill him; told
him would not, but 1 wanted to know
why he was lighting Sam Purdy's battles,
that if he was going to fight Purdy's bat
ties wanted to know it, so that l could
look out for him. l could have killed hima
dozen times if | had wanted to, but did not
go there with the intention of either killing
or injuring him, and only did what l
thought necessary to protect myself under
the circumstances. Mr.. Behan and others
then came up" Mr.. Wells furnished the
required bail bond and was ordered released.