Phoenix weekly herald., 1897-10-28
LETTER FROM FRED HUGHES
In Which He Explains the situa-
 tion Fully.


 from Fred G. Hughes by Supervisor NJ. G. Samsniego yesterday morning and will explain itself:
 GUAYMAs, SONORA, Oct. Is; 1897. II. c. Sanadniego, Esq Tucson.
 FRIEND SAMANIEGo:-No doubs you will be surprised to hear from me at this place. But what has been done cannot bs undone, and God only knows what the future will be. Ia the past few days have suffered the bangs of a hundred deaths, bub I must endeavor 60 keep stiff upper lip. Hit was not that I have family to support, no psr- son living would evsF read another stEstcb from pen of mine, but 1 must live and face is on their account and see if can be of assistance to them.
 To begin with "Sam," gambling has been my ruin. To think of is, to with in the past few days the man did not exist thst l fesred to face; now l cannot face the humbliest being without shame.
 The Pioneer money Is all gone, not B dollar is left. You will wonder how l could have done It. We'll, I will tell you all. About two years ago the board cut down my salary so 1 could not live on 1t. I bsgan gambling again to tPy and make ends meet then Jacobs came with his mortgage and threatened to foreclose, which would have left me wishout home. I Ia year when bad luck ovsFsook ne and everything vent. When you and Charley came to me about the money l thought to sell my property and try to setble everything, but is would not coveF it. and l could not tell my oondi- sion to my family, who knew nothing of how 1 stood.
 "Thus misfoFtunes never come sineIy," the court house fire came and that dastsrdly article in the Star. Of course it WAS no trouble to cleaF my skiRts of thst mesteE, but it had gone out, and could not see what people would think and say. To stay then, there was no light, no hope for the future, so I dsteFmined to try some other country. where could be of as- sietsnce to my family and endeavoE to pay back the money had missppropFi- stsd, which I shall endeRvoF to do. I shink shall go into che Yaqui country and if there is no chance there try some other place where there Is. I be- lieve will be able in time to pay sll, for you know I an no idleF
 l have given So Elizs the keys to hand to you. Shs does not know thas I have gone. I told her was going to Nogales to hunt @ new place. that I had trouble with the supervisors and had quit. The combination on the safe is binations are in the little money draw eP in the safe.
 I want to tell you of my movements on the night OF the fire, that one one will accuse me of that, for that is the most vile ocousation of my life. I went down to the office about o'clock, met 8 man named BeFney, and talked to him little while, then went and read the evening paper. and vent down town with Under Sheriff Taylor, stopped st McNsil's and took drink k with him and Lsehy; they vent towards the post of foe, and I went so the Fashion where essrted to play psngiDge, this was about half past six OF 8 qosEter to seven. About 8 o'clock, John Anderson from GrestervilIe. came to me 60 get 8 oonu oP tho Ia aro sbak ruapa ;o 4ha ofToa went with him to.the office, gave him She book and Fs*uFned with him to the Fashion and continued with the pan ginge game. I played until half past ten or little later and quit to go. home; in going home I passed through the stopped me for drink; after taking the drink I started homs again and had just resched the corner of Convent street about 200 yards when I heard shot fired. and the fire bell began ring ing I staFssd back towards the saloons front of DFsohmau's soms one hallowed out to me that she court house vas gone up. I then Fsn over to the couFs house and assisted in putting out She fire and helping rescue the prisoners. It was not more than fouF OF five minutes from the time I quit playing psnginge until the shot was fled and the fire bell rang The men who were playing cards with me were - and a young msn -, who has, 8 faro game in She Fashion.
 I make this statement fer the reason that hsvs enemies taRt will not stop at any shing, and although my disgrace is bad enough God knows, they will try 1 to paint it blocker. I wish you would | see all the parties I have mentioned and l verify what I have written; would like l b be there myself, but what c4u I do | now. Good bye, Mariana, when I am Iocet- ,d will write again and hope I will | Ioon be able to pay all. Yours etc,
 FRED G. HUGHES. -TucsO7l Citizen