Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1893-03-29
4 MYSTERIOUS DEATH. Was 1t a Suicide or a
 Murder 1? \ MAN CUT LITERALLY IN TWO. Finding of the Body of a Man Yesterday on the Grade
 of the New Road
 Below Whipple.

or the New Road
 Below Whipple.
 A FRIoHTFUL SPECTACLE.
 A death, as frightful in it's sp-
 pearanoe as it is mysterious in it's
 cause, has occurred near the grade of the s. F., F. & F.. below Whip-
 pie, and opposite the ice house be-
 longing to John Smith. What | prompted it, if suicide was the in- | tent, is a mystery, or who the vic tim is, no one will ever know. The
 finding of the remains is due to an
 accident, on account of the isolated region in which they were found. ] John McDerInot, a boss in the rail-
 road camp, was the first to run onto
 the ground, and it was while look
 ing over the country, last Sunday, that he ran across them. Return ing to his camp that night he in
 formed several of the men there of
 the fact, and on returning yester-
 day could not locate the exact ra-
 vine until after dark. Again finding
 the body, he came to town and gave
 Judge Andrews the information, when the latter left in private conveyance at 9 p. m. Finding the remains, the latter official returned to town, it being so dark that fur ther search for the missing half of the body could not be carried on.
 Summoning a jury of six this morning, the entire party left for the scene, and commenced an ex- animation. The body was f0uad in the gulch indicated, about 400 l yards east of the grade of the s. F., P. X P. Nothing but from the hips ] down was found together, while | after diligent search in the brush | and hills around, an arm and hand, | intact, and part of the elbow was found. They were fully fifty feet from where the body lay. Further examination of the ground and country revealed pieces of the gar ments worn hanging to the brush, in many instances 8 hundred feet away. The head could not be found nor could the remaining parts of the body. It was the de- sire of the party to secure the up- per portion of the body, in the hope of identifying it, but such proved proftless, and whoever he i was will probably never be known.
 The party feel convinced of one fact, however, and that is he suic- ided, and used giant powder in | which to accomplish it.
 An examination of the ravine | shows such indentations in the ground that he must have used con- siderable powder, for the body was found at least twenty feet away, | while over the hole many fine pieces of clothing were found still elinging | to the limbs of the bushes.
 His death must have taken place | at least two months ago, if not l longer, for the exposed flesh was dried up, and showed such preser- vation on account of the recent cold | weather as to justify that belief. He | was dressed in blue overalls, and i wore a canvass coat besides pair of | shoes of the horseshoe brand were worn by him. 4 small piece of his black felt hat was also found. This comprises the character of his cloth ing. His pockets were examined. in which was found a giant cap, and a small pocket knife. Nothing else whatever was to be seen or procured which might lead to his identity, and he was buried where he lay.
 The sight was ghastly one and it is made SO from the fact that the lower portion of the body was torn in- to shreds where it separated, an arm and hand were found higher up in the ravine, while everywhere around pieces of clothing and other eYiden- ,es too plainly indicated the fright- iull method the deceased adopted to end life.
 With all the clear facts attending he manner of his death and the head and trunk missing here is something mystical sur his death. What has become )f the missing partsf .:
 Is 1t reasonable to suppose the Nnoie upper portlon or the body vas blown to antoms, while q large portion of the canvass coat woEn vas found. The head could not , nave been washed down the ravine ior the thick undergrowth of brush would not permit it to go far. The coyote could not have eaten the lesh, neither could the hogs that 'un over that section deyour one portion and leave alone another.
 If it is genuine suicide the pants pockets ought to contain of nature in pocket Soods everyone usually has.
 Like many who have come and zone and at sonlv time enjoyed air consideration of this worlds yoods, only to meet with diversity ater on, may not this be another 'ase where a life of despondency las ended and with it is taken all 'arthly trace of him who controlled