Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1893-05-30

-AN EAAN ~ AAN WWH AAN"
Several Hours Before the. Nan he
Killed.
The report Of the killing at Mogollon
on the 10th, which was received here
early last week, was incorrect. 10 was
reported that John r. Eberle had killed
Sam Settle but IL appears that he has
bad no difficulty with Settle at ell. The
man he shot was named Edward Phe-
nix. The relations between the two
mon had been strained for some time on
account Of trouble over the Consolidated
mine. The two men met on Eberls's
ground on the afternoon Of the 10Th and
after some words Phoenix threatened to
throw a rock at Eberlo. Phoenix turned
to look tor a rock and Eberle shot him
in the right breast with a Colts Al cal
iber revolver. The ball entered about
an inch and a half above aud 10 the right
Of the right nipple and ranged down
ward through the right lung, lodging in
tho back. The two men we're about
four feet apart at the time Of the shoot
ing. Eberle was arrested Immediately
by Deputy Sheriff Sanders. Threats Of
lynohing we're made and Sanders, hav-
ing secured help, took the prisoner into
a tunnel near by and guarded him there
until The excitement had abated.
The only eye witness to the affair was
Capt. NJ. Cooney who testified at the
preliminary examination that the shot
was fred from a revolver which Eberle
held just above his hip. Eberle told
Deputy Sheriff Sanders that the shoot
ing was accidental; that the revolver
was a double action revolver and that
he was very nervous at the time Of the
shooting and had no idea of shooting Phoe-
nix. He seemed to DO anxious 10 get
away from Mogollon, probably because
he feared that be would be lyuched.
The justice before whom the examina-
ton was held committed Eberle 70 Jail
to await the result of the shooting and
on Monday the officers started with him
to Socorro by way of this place. They
arrived here Tuesday evening and Eber-
le said that he did not want to go to
Jail but wanted TO go TO the Broadway
Hotel. He promised the deputy that he
would not attempt to escape and the
deputy took him TO the hotel. Eberle,
Deputy Sheriff Sanders and Langtord
johnson occupied the double room in
the northeast corner Of the building on
the second floor. Sanders remained
awake all night watching his prisoner
and about SIX o'clock in the morning he
went down stairs TO order breakfast,
leaving Eberle in the room alone. A
double barreled shot gun had been
brought along and wal left in the room
by the deputy who had no idea that Eb-
erie would commit suicide.
Sanders could not have been out Of
the room more than ave minutes when
Eberle committed suicide. He placed a
chair by the side Of the bed which had
been occupied by Sanders and johnson,
pulled of one boot and stocking and put
them on the bed which he had occupied
and taking the gun, which had short bar
rels, placed the butt on the floor In front
OF the chair, leaned over until his fore
head rested on the muzzle Of the gun
and then pulled the trigger with his toe.
The gun fell on the floor In front of the
chair and the force of the explosion
threw his body back so his shoulders
rested against the back Of the chair
with his head leaning to the right. The
charge entered the head about on a leveI
with the eyebrows and made a wound
nearly tour inches wide. The gun was
loaded with No. 6 shot, lone of which
came out Of the head. An inquest wa
held and the body was removed to HIN
mans undertaking rooms. A message
was sent to his brother, +. x. Eberle
who resides in Los Angeles, and tele
graphic instructions we're received tC
ship the body to Los Angeles which wa
done the next morning.
After the shooting of Phoenix, Eberle
seemed very much disturbed and after hi
arrival here said that he would Civ,
$500 for a physician to go out to Mogol
lon to do all he could for Phoenix
Within three hours after the suicide d.
, Wood was on his way to Mogollon bu
before be arrived there he heard tina
Phoenix was dead. He died about /
o'clock on Wednesday morning, only
few hours after the suicide Of Eberle.
Eberle was a man Of considerabl
wealth, having property in Los Angelo
which is said to be worth about $500
3 in addition to very valuable minin
. property IN the MogollOn mountains
3 His wife had obtained a divorce from
{ him some years ago since which tim
they have been living apart.
Although Eberle had done more 70
the Mogollon mining district than an
other resident Of the camp and was
b generous man he had few friends in th
a camp
= The train which left FL Paso for TIL
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