The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-24

All of the "bad land" districts is in mourning. On Saturday morning at about So'clork William BeIcher better known as Cockney" shot and instant. ly killed Rose K. Gregory better knowh as Minnie Powers, and then shot hi.n- self, at the Villa Road house No. 72O NaJtFJaI Avenue
 Rose Gregory is English ana about 4S ears of age, She has lived in Phenlx for about twenty years and has always been known by the name of Minnie Powers.
 She came to Phoenix in pioneer days. was a beautiful woman and made many friends by her kind acts, and was today kindly spoken of by many an old settler who had known her in younger days. But she was fond of sporting life and like all such characters will, came to a sorrowful ending.
 William Belcher is also English and has been in this country for a long time. He was an eng-aver hy trade and an ex-
 
 ago Belcher received Il windfall of about $6 900 and immediately quit hIs trade and began to enjoy hls money. He naturally drifted into a sporting life and for the past three pears he and Minnie Powers have been keeping house" together. 6elcher has been getting remlttances regularly from England slnce his windfaTl and man aged to spend it as fast as 1t came Tn.
 "COckney" has been frequent Tod .. ger in the ely jail during the past year and that left Minnie Powers at home alone miny days It is understood that during "Cockney's" confinement in jail other men used 10 stay at the house, the Villa road house.
 It IS stated shat Cnckney became e jealous of these parties and several times threatened to take the life of Mi nnie Powers.
 Saturday morning he was released from the city itil and after geiung & drinks procured II caIihre pistol and ....i. ..of.-s 7. -1 ..lrt Q e, 's.la,.ll .It seems suat le cuf4s.. lue n.o.e from the rear and proceedrd 10 Minnie Powers room and from the rear of the room which was close beside iie hpd put The pistol to Minnie roWprs' head, as sAe lay sleemng. and fired the bail passing through her ram, and by the peaceful expre >sIon on her face as she lay in tie bed of blood, II Is evident she never knew what happened. Not be- ing satisfied with one shot Ire took an other, this one passing through her body. "Cockney" evidently moved about lhe room for some little time and after seating hinself on the rdge Of tue bed towards the front of the room pnt the fnnzzle Of the gun Tn his mouth and fired, lhe ball shattering his head and passing out the back Instant death must have followed as Cockney" fell back across the body of Minnie Powers.
 ihe.e the two bodies lay in pud uIH OI DIOOl Sii'l ltiFIH lucy htIS uio- covered by Cora Wilson and an thtr girl as they entered the house about l o'clock in the afternoon. Both bodies beIng cold and stiff. The alarm was given at once and officers sent for. 4 cononur's jury assembled and the bodies taken care of by w. 4. Davis x Go.
 The firing was heard by many people who say they distinctly heard firsttwo shots and then shortly atter q single one, but as shooting Is very often in- duIged in that vicinity no one gave it a second thought.
 The cororer's i1ry will meet Monday before Judge Johnstone,
 Several purses with small sums Of money werl found about the house. A letter was also found. from nephew, George H. Johnstone of ClaremOnt avenue. Oakland. California. The let ter included 9 receipt for S27 for two months interest on a load from her neice Mrs Nellie Johnstone of Oak tend. California. North Temescal P. O.