Arizona republican., 1898-09-18
MURDER AND SUICIDE
Minnie Powers Shot to Death
 in Her Sleep.
Her Slayer, William BeICher. Alias the CoCkney." Blows a Hole Through His Own Head.

Minnie P0WerS was murdered while sleeping yesterday by William Belcher, otherwise known as 'fthe Cockney." ]" He crowned his bloody performance by shooting himself and falling across the body of his victim.
 The tragedy occurred at resort kept by the woman at the corner of Seventh and Jackson streets. The time is not definitely known, but per sons in that neighborhood heard shots about 10 o'clock and supposed that they constituted a pa-t of the flag end of the Mexican independence celebra- tion. Near 1 o'clock two women, Cora Wilson and Leo Dubois, went to tho Powers place, curious to know why so long silence reigned there where was wont -o be SC much revelrv and con fusion They passed through the sa- Icon fronting on Seventh street and entered an adjoining room occupied by the proprietreas as 9 sleeping room They were at first bswildersd and then mortified at what they saw The wc man lay on the ped on her right side covered There was Q hole in he1 temple and the side Of her face ar5 the pillow was b ackened by powder The Cockney'' reclined against he knees, his head thrown back. H mouth was mutilated and a hole tw inches .n diameter had been blow in the pack of his head Both bodie were rigid and cold
 A telephone nessa1e was sent to tl sheriffs office and Deputy Boyd weD down to the place of the tragedy. Jus tice Johnstone and Dr. ylie werf sent for later. Though there hef been no witnesses of the bloody per formance it was easy to trace the me tions of the murder. He had entere5 the room while the woman slept Fl had placed the niuzzle Of the revclve' against her temple and fired. Deat' was instantaneous and painless, foi the eyes had not opened Not satis fled, he had put the revolver against the bed covering and fired through 8 comforter and sheet into the dead woman's stomach. A hole three inches in diameter had been burned around the hole in the bed clothing. Whether he extinguished it or whether it had gone out is a matter of conjecture. After firing this shot he walked around the bed and sat down on the other side, with his back toward his vic tim. He put the muzzle of the pistol in his mouth and fired The explosion
 
 from either corner of the mouth to- ward the chin. A section of the skull had been blown out in the rear and the blood of murderer and victim had mingled, per.olated through a heavy mattress, Cwo thicknesses of a comforter and had run dewn to the floor.
 After a corone~'s jury was impan- eled and the bodies viewed, they were taken to Davis undertaking rooms.
 The house of death was searched for whatever might light up the tragedy. Then it was locked and put in charge of a keeper.
 The real motive of "the Cockney" may never be known. He may have been jealous and was likely crazy from drink. He was arrested on Friday night by Officer Molloy for drunken ness, but having sobered up yesterday morning he was released on his own recogI izance. He was about town early in the morning and wherever he went was seen carrying a bundle which no doubt contained the Colts 45 which a little later wrought so much destruction.
 The last place he was ng.iced was at McNamara's saloon, where he wrote two letters and put them in the mail box at the corner of Washington street and First avenue. Coroner Johnstone has made an arrangement with the postofice autf critics for an examina tion of these letters. which may con tain a reference to what he intended to do.
 He had for more than a year been living at the Powers house, but he had lately grown 50 quarrelsome that les than week ago the propriedress wis ited the sheriff's office to have him re- moved for the reason that he was driving trade away. It is likely tha immediately after writing his letters ne went to the house and aid what hs had been threatening to do for nor than mrntb, but which no one was afraid hr would do.
 This is all that is known of the muT der, though one witness relates stor which may fix more direct motive f l.