Arizona republican., 1893-05-23
THE INQUEST. The Beginning of the Tragedy a Mystery. How Was the Fatal Lamp
 Overturned?
The Improbable Story of the
 Dead Girls Partner.
1t Can Only Be Known That Tessie Murray's Awful Fate Came of
 Drunken Carelessness.

Bitlon into the cases 0f the death Of Tessie Murray was acted upon by Mar shal Blankenship, who was surprised to learn that the body was to be buried at 8 o'clock without an inquest.
 Having ascertained that by reason of the absence or sickness of both justices of the peace of Phoenix precinct that there was no local official qualified to act as coroner, he hastily consulted the law and having been advised by the district attorney, followed out the re- commendation of THE REPURLIcAS by telephoning to Justice ot the Peace Chas. O. Austin, of the Tempe pre- cinct. He stopped the funeral and on the arrival of Justice Austin had se- cured the following gentlemen as jury men: T. A. Cochrane, w. M. Nichols, A. J. Wilson, D. l.. Bewley, R. B. George, Eugene Angleman, Jas. T. Hervey and A. J. Tweed,
 He had also collected together as witnesses everybody who might be sup posed to know anything about the ter rible affair.
 The proceedings of Sunday cons is ted
 
 the dead girl and hearing the testimony of Dr. Helm, who had been summoned to make an examination of the body and discover if possible if there might have been conLributory case of death. While there had been nothing on which to base suspicion that che had been previously wounded or been given poison, thus rendering her unable to escape from the burning room, it was thought best 10 let such theory be made part of the investigation. The doctor gave it as his opinion that death resulted solely from fire. There were no bruises or marks about the head other than those evidently made by burning, and the stomach was not distended indicating the administration of poison.
 The burial was allowed 10 proceed and took place at o'clock on Sunday. The inquest wes adjourned until yes. terday.
 The first witness was Dr. Ward, who described the condition of the girl when he was called and her su bseqnent death, which was no doubt the result of the burning. Dr. Walsh, the next witness, was of the same professional opinion.
 Minnie Powers, the keeper of the house, was next called, but her testi. mony added nothing to what has already been published. The testimony of Mrs. St. Clair, Rose Ames and Mrs. Somers, was only a reiteration of the keepers.
 The next witness was Ruth Reed, the girl with hai. of more than auburn hue, who had been an actor in that fearful tragedy. She had kept herself con- cealed on Saturday and her testimony was therefore awaited with more than ordinary interest. She was pale and nervous, but it was doubtful whether her pallor and nervousness was the result of the horror or the dissipa- tion of last Saturday morning.
 She sad that when they returned to the house about 30 in the morning the dead girl was drunk and wanted to continue the ride. She was accord. ingly carried into the room and lad on the floor. The witness was preparing the bed for her and knew nothing about the overturning of the lamp. Her attention was attracted only by the blaze behind her. Here she intro- duced remarkably improbable story. She said that when che ran out of the room coal oil was dripping from her hair; that her hair was thoroughly saturated by it. This fiction was cor. roborated by other witnesses. She could afford no suggestion as to now it happened, unless by the explosion of the lamp.
 J. A. Hitler. who was of the party and assisted the girl into the room, was unable to say how the lamp was over turned. Jas. Rennie, Frank Lisenbee and w. Harrison arrived when every thing was ablaze and could add nothing to what was already learned. Dove, the fourth member of the riding party, was hitching the horses and reached the room only after everything was on fire. Those who were in the roo n when the fire broke out or arrived there immediately after, had vague recol- lection of seeing the burning girl "wrggling" toward the hallway, but it appeared that no one made an effort to save her or assist her.
 After having heard all the evidence the jury went to the scene of the dis aster and carefully inspected the room and the surroundings, after which it returned to Justice Wharton's office ard completed its deliberations.
 The result was far from satisfactory. Only two things were certain, the girl was dead and just before the fire, she and her three associates had been al- most helplessly drunk. The lamp was broken, but the fact that the pieces lay altogether on the floor, pre- cluded the belief that an explosion had occurred. If not. how could the oil have been thrown upon the dead girl in such a manner as to saturate her as it must have done as shown by the charred condition of her stomach, breast and face? And if not, how could the hair of the girl Ruth, who was standing have been drenched by it? On the other hand, if tbere was an explosion, how had the bed two feet away escaped, and why were there no coal oil marks on the carpet?
 Tine jury believed there had been terrible drunken carelessness, but was unable to define it and accordingly re- turned verdict of accidental death, without either duplicating or excusing anyone