Arizona silver belt., 1899-07-20
TIFF CAMP VERDE MURDER.
Capt. ]. D. Boyd's Account of the
 Tragedy.

EDITOR SILVER BELT:-Having been one of the actors in the tragedy enacted here on Sunday night, July ?, in which k. NJ. Rodgers and Clint. Wingheld lost their lives and l was wounded III the leg, and wishing to give you true version of the occurrence, send you the following facts relating thereto;
 Between the hours of n,ne and ten o'clock on the evening of July ?, while R. M. Rodgers, Dick Hopkins, Lew Turner and myself were sitting on the porch in front of the store, man, presumably stranger, came and sat down on the east end of the porch. After remaining there probably fifteen minutes, without speaking to anyone, he arose and went around the corner of the house which attracted the ntten- tion of Mir. Rodgers, who arose, went to the end of the porch aud spoke to the man, inquiring as to where he was going. The man asked for drink of water and was directed to the barrel kept for that purpose, which stood near the centre of the porch, and immedi- atcly in front of which l was sitting. After getting drink the man passed west of Mr. Rodgers and sat down on the porch facing him. Tine stranger addressed his conversation to Mir. Rodgers, inquiring the road to Jerome and about work there. After sitting few minutes Mir. Rodgers arose and stood on tbe porch talking.
 About this time Mir. Wingiield re- turned from the post (the old fort) as it is called, where he had been Co spend the evening He entered the store, closed the blind and barred the door to the business room preparatory to re- tiring. as it was about ten o'clock. The stranger inquired if they were closing up and upon being asked by Mir. Rodg- CTS if he wanted anything, replied that he did not.
 After barring the front door MT. Wingfeld passed into side room and out onto the porch and iu a few moments again entered the side room. Just at this time the stranger arose, saying as he did so, ''get in there Mack k'-meaning Rodgers who was standing within few feet of him. Rodgers turned quick as flash and ran into the side room, almost collid- ing with Wingfeld who had turned to come out. Rodgers ran into the sales room and thence into the room where the safe is kept and where there was al- ways pisto! lyIng. But before he reached the pistol his pursuer shot him and he fell headloug to the floor. The assassin turned and ran out, and as Mr Wingfield passed the outer door imme- diately in front of him, the fend pre- sented his pistol within few feet of his second victim and fred, and Mir. Wlngfeld fell on his face, mortally wounded.
 All of this occurred so quickly that the three Of us sitting on the porch had hardly time to realize what was happening. After shooting Wingfeld the murderer passed to the edge of the porch, saying as he did so, "you s-- of b-s, if you won't run I'll kill you all, and firing as he spoke, the ball striking me in the leg just above the knee. Turner and Hopkins ran around the east end of the building. I turned to Mir. Wingiield, who said, "giYe me your hand Captain, am bad ly hurt. asked where Rodgers was and he said he did not know then l looked to see where he was shot and found the ball had entered his back Having tied handkerchief around my leg, l started for the doctor. Upon reaching the nearest house, l had one of the family go for the doctor and l returned to the store, arriving there ai the same time as did Turner, who had aroused some of the people of the neighborhood and returned with guns.
 The assassin was evidently alone, as his track was followed to where he had tied horse, there being no evidence of an accomplice in the crime. Hrob- bery was the object he certainly did not make any attempt to carry it out after the killing, as he did not again return to the store, instead of which he ran to his horse, mounted and rode off.
 R. M. Rodgers leaves wife and two children.-a daughter eleven years of age and son nine years. MT Rodg- CTS was a native of Arkansas, and was , 3S years old. He was a kind and lov- ing husband, an indulgent father and q staunch friend.
 Clint. Wingfeld was also born in the state of Arkansas and came to Ari- zona when small child, and has resided here ever since he was 26 years of age. l had known him for twenty years and cannot express my high estimate of his worth.
 Rodgers and Wingheld both worked in the store for w. $. Head for several ,,oo,o o,1 hoJ olae too, ;,, tlo ao.t,