Mesa free press., 1895-02-15

In the history of the ter 'itory was
committed on road three and hall
miles this side Of Phoenix SulIav
night. III. w. Smith and wife were
awakened late at night by the pres
ence of two men in their room. A
struggle ensued, the wife brave.y
assisting her husband, with the re-
sult that the intruders were elected
from the room. While they were yet
on the porch, and the door being still
open pistol shot rang out upon the
night air and Frank Smith fell dead
with q bullet through his heart. The
neighbors we're aroused and search
began for the murderers. The next
day three tramps were arrested near
| Tempe but after investigation the
officers were convinced they were not
the murderers.
Henry G. Thompson, sheriff of ella
county was visitor in Mesa last Fri
day evening. Soon after his arrival
from Phoenix, a few of his old-time
friends who reside here, went TO work
and got up dance in Patterson hall
in his honor. Although the dance
wa> gotten up on short notice the
hall was comfortably filled with mer-
ry dancers. The occasion was social
and pleasant. the music furnished by
D. E. Fa!coner with piano accom-
paniment, was excellent. Mr.. Thomp-
son left Saturday evening and no
doubt he carries plea ant memoir es
of his cordial reception in Mesa.
There was to have been show of
some kind in town last Saturday nj ght
The show was on deck, hailihg from
fair Italia, and no doubt the pater
familias and his two acc on,pli.hed
and handsome daughters would have
charmed the audience If they had had
one. But the audience was conspio-
uous for its absence. No doubt If the
great violinist travels very long in
the west he will learn enough to call
at the newspaper Offices and at least
tell all hands to go to hades.
Frank Murphy, president of the
North and Sou;h road declared the
other day uneorivocally that it the
county of Maricopa would raise her
proportion of the money, surveyors
would be put in the field and the work
of construction at once commenced TO
Mesa. Phoenix will raise her po zion
at once, Tempe has raised hers and
it remains for Mesa to show her band.
If anything is to be done it must be
done at once.
The past two years have witnessed
the most oppressive financial de-
preston ever known; and yet Mesa
has novel right along with steady.
healthy g'ow.h. A record Of the
building operations fof the past year.
and-a half shows that the have been
seventy-eight residences erected in
Mesa and vicinity. Besides th;s, the e
have been eight brick business houses
erected, all but two of which are 4wo
story.
Why in the deuce don't the Phoe-
nix papers stop 2oking fua at that
town William goat? By special o.
d;nance he has the fteecom of the
city and it's shame TO be ete"na'ly
making game of him. BE has no
mate and the only amusement he has
is to devour old clothes, occasionally
sweetened by nibbling the eds;lg on
the lower part of delica.e garments
hanging on the clothes line. Let that
goat alone /!
Our Board 0fSupervisors ha> m ade
new departure in the solution of the
tramp problem. By an ordinance all
vagrants sentenced to the county Jail
are pnt to work on the county roads.
In addition to this the Supervisors
offer employment to the unemployed
at fifty cents day and board. Under
this there need be no excuse for any
one being idle.
That's pret.v pic.l-e furnished by
the Colorado legislature. While &
ladv member is hobnobDing and can
l.:.. L.. l.,.