The St. Johns herald., 1899-06-10
FOUL MURDERt
James R. Las:ator is Killed in
 His Bed Room.
The Red Handed Assassin Shoots Him Though the Window-Twenty- eight BackSh0t Enter Ills
 BreaSt-Tw0 Men Un-
 der Arrest.

murder Tn the history of this county was
 committed at Stafford last Monday nigh
 about 9 o'clock. The details of this re-
 volting and horrifying crime brings the citizens of this county to 8 stand-stil
 It is time to stop and step aside from the daily routine of business and turn our attention so the conviction of criminals until the last of tie criminal element in this country has been put out of the path of innocent citizens.
 The father with his wife and two chil- d-en, had come out into the yard after the evening meal and were enjoying that rest and content that comes after & day of hard toil. Friends stopped in on their way and sat awhile to chat. About half past eight the last caller took his leave and the little family rturned into the house and prepared for bed. The mother busied herself with undressing the children. and had inst put their old. est boy in his sleeping gown and turned her attention to the youngest, little girl about six years old. With the as- sistance of Mir. Lassastor the little one was soon ready for her bed, which stood near the fatal window in the west side of the room. Kissing mother and father loving good night she was laid tender ly to rest by her father, who stood a second by the bed as he watched the Ilt tie one fell into tired steep after long day of romping in the fields about the farm. Strengthening himself up, with his right side toward the window, he started around the foot of the bed toward his wite, who was busying her selfin the other end of the room. He had taken about three steps when there was crash, like the report of cannon. The husband pitched forward on the floor. Blood began 10 trickle through his closed lips. The wife stood paralyzed with tear for an instant, then with a scream that could he heard for a bali a mile, she threw herself beside his body. Her clothes mingled in the blood of her dying husband. Rushing to the back door she callod for the hired man, who slept in the grainary. and then sped a. way down the road quarter of mile, to town. to call tor help, and spread the news of crime that startled the listen CTS everywhere and which, at first, was almost incredible.
 Stafford, Graham Co.,, Ariz
 May 29, 1899
 We the jury summoned to investigate the cause of the death of James R. L ,ssator find that the deceased rame to his death by gun shot wound inflicted with murderous intent by parties to us unknown. Wilhurn Hams. J. D. Dow ile. Hump Freeman Chas Freeman. Ling Birdno, Lorenzo Watson William Piahl A. D. Webb.
 Who desired Jimmie Lassator's death?
 What was the motive and who would he inc benefciaries?
 The coroner's jury was summoned al- most immediately by Justice Hunter and they went immediately 10 the scene 1 of the killing examined few witnesses i that night. viewed the body and re- turned the above verdict. The exam ination was continued all the next day before Justice Hunter and eight or ten witnesses testified. There were no eye witnesses to the killing and no one WAS on the ranch at the time ecept the fami- ly and the Frenchman who was hired tl.ere and WAS asleep in the granary. Mrs. s. E. Lassator, wife of the deceased was the first witness examined at the coroner's inqnesttn the night of the killing. The testimony taken at that tim was as follows:
 I am the wife of the deceased. I had finished work and went outside where MT. Von Arnim and deceased were talk ing. Afterwards we came in to go to bed and were in the room in the south eastern part of the house. was in the south end and he was in the north end when heard shot. picked him up and screamed for help"
 The next morning Bulletin reporter visited the home in company with B. W. Olney former under sheriff. Mrs Las 'ator was in the front yard surrounded | by group of lady friends. She seemed ! to he suffering severe mental anguish an np on seeing Mir. Olney made anxious Inquiries about the officers of the law and what was the reason they were not on the ground early.
 When asked If she knew of any mo. live whatever for the killing of her hus. band she said:
 Why wonld any one want to kill Jim mic. He never had an enemy in the world that know of."
 Continuing in an almost incohernt manner, she told the story of the killing. II think it all happened about ! nine o'clock. Ican't say exactly. MT. Van Armin, the cattle man from over at was here and stayed until Hbont 8 80 and he and Jimmie were talking about cattle and other things. After he had left Jimmie and went in to the house and Jim lit the lamp, re- marking that he thought it was about