The herald., 1896-04-11
THE Killing At PUEN1E
DETAILS OF THE MURDER or JOHN
HAYES BY ROBBERS
Shot Down In Gold Blood In His Store-Tes.
tIm,ny OF WITNESSES to the Afiair-Two
Suspects Under Arrest In this City
Tho Evidence So Far Obtained

Sheriff Burr and Coroner Campbell last
night returned from Pueute, where they
had been all day investigating the cold
blooded murder of John Hayes BY masked
ruf1ians on Thursday night. As brought
out by the testimony Of Witnesses at the
coroner's inquest the story of the killing
is as follows:
Together with his brother, Thomas
Hayes, the deceased conducted general
merchandise store in Puente, and in con.
nection held the office of postmaster. At
about 8 80 in the evening Tom Hayes
went home, leaving his brother to close up
for the night. The latter went over to q
saloon kept by Mrs. Dietzel and had two.
glasses of beer, in company with the pro-
prietress, her 14-year-old son and an old
man named Bryant. Then Hayes left and
returned to the store.
A few minutes later the Dietzel boy went
over to the store to secure q newspaper to
read, and on reaching the place saw
through the window two masked men with
revolvers holding Hayes up. Dietzel quick.
ly comprehended the situation and ran
back to the saloon. secured his revolver
ard called to Bryant to come along, ex.
planning what he had seen. Both entered
the door but were received by the bandits,
who ordered them at the muzzles of their
revolvers to pass through to the rear of the
store. This they did.
In the meantime John Hayes had gone
into his bed room and secured lamp and
his revolver, returning just after they had
passed behind the partition into the rear
room. At his appearance with his weapon
the robbers opened fire, fatally wounding
Hayes, and then made their escape. All
OF the witnesses of the affray gave their
testimony, but none were able to throw any
light upon the identity of the masked MUIR
derers.
W. P. Bryant was first seen. He is a
rancher but resides in room next door to
the .Dietzel saloon, which is some fifty
yards from the Hayes. store. At about
93O he and Hayes had two drinks with
Mrs. Dietzel and her boy Johnny, after
which Hayes left to lock up the store for
the night. The boy shortly followed to
fetch paper and returning quickly said
that two men masked with gunny sacks
we're robbing the store and had Hayes COW
cred. Bryant and the boy started for the
store and on the way the lad discharged
his pistol, Arriving, they went in and were
received by the men and ordered to pass
on to the rear. They did SO and when
Hayes appeared with the lamp Bryant
shouted to him to drop it, upon which the
men fired two shots and fled. Bryant then
ran to Tom Hayes house and gave the
alarm, returning later with the brother,
when Hayes was already dead.
The Detzel boy next testified. His name
was John William Dietzel and he was Id
years of age. All of Bryant's statements
were corroborated, save that he said he did
not discharge his revolver while on the way
over to the store. When the robbers forced
them back of the rear partition Dietzel said
that Bryant did not stop, but skipped out
the back door. He, however, waited be-
hind the wall. AS. Hayes appeared with
the lamp and the revolver in bis left hand
some one cried out, "Drop that light" and
the shooting began. Johnny insisted that
the taller of the robbers fired one shot,
Hayes fired one as he dropped. and the lad
took a pop at the men in the darkness.
Hayes fell forward on his face, the lamp
the murderers meanwhile escaping by
means of the front door.
He described the men as one tall and
the other shorter and stouter. Each had a
gunny sack pulled over his head with holes
for the eyes. Over his sack on his head
the taller wore a white slouch hat, and
had on black coat such as is commonly
called "slicker.'' When the men con-
versed they spoke in q shrill, assumed
voice which, added to their disguise, eff.
fectually prevented Identification.
Thomas Hayes said that he lived some
ten minutes walk from the store. and af-
ter he had started horneward, on reaching
the corner of the hotel, he heard pistol
shot and saw the flash. This was thought
to be signal that Tom had gone home,
and that the coast was clear. At the time
he thought nothing OF it, however, and pro-
ceeded to his house. He had been there
but few minutes, when old Bill Bryant
came rushing in with the news that two
men were holding his brother up at the
store. When they arrived at the spot, all
was quiet and John was dead ON the floor,
the only light being that given off by the
flames of the burning oil from the shat
tered lamp. Near Johns left hand lay his
revolver.
DR.. Fred p. Gave explained the nature
of the fatal wound. The ball, of Al cali
Der, penetrated the right breast, and
passing through the lung, lodging in the
spine just under the skin.
George B. Mills told of having seen two
around his place that evening just before
dark. Their description tailed with that
of the robbers in some respects. The tall
man wore white hat and black coat,
and the short one a black crush hat and
light overcoat.
brought in verdict of death bya gunshot
wound at the hands of parties unknown.
The body was brought to Los Angeles and
taken to Sharp d Samson's, where it will
be prepared for shipment to San Fran
cisco.
DUNG the afternoon two arrests were
made by Sheriff Burr at Puente and the |
parties were brought to this city. No
names were given and the men may be un-
Justly suspected. Certain circumstances, |
however. not developed at the coroner's in
quest, caused their detention pending in |
Until further and more con-
elusive evidence has been obtained their |
identity will not be divulged.
cyclone of applause greets the good |
work done by Prices Baking Powder.