Mohave County miner. [volume] (Mineral Park, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1882-1918, 1901-06-22
Horrible Murder and Suicide.

Last Monday at noon a report was
brought to town from the Indian camp
west of towu that Indian Tom McCor-
mick had murdered his squaw and
then committed suicide. The sheriff
and coroner visited the camp and
found that one of the most horrible
crimes In the history of the county
had been committed. The squsw had
her head crushed to pulp with rock
and her body was partly consumed by
fire. The Indian had evidently killed
the squaw, poured coal oil over the
body and then set it on fire. After de-
stroying all camp utensils he had
loaded up doub barrel shotgun, sat
dow by the body Of the dead wife,
and after removing his right shoe.
placed the muzzle of the gun to his
forehead aud pulled the trigger with
his toe. The charge tore off the whole
top of bis head. His clothing caught
fire from the burning body of the wife
and the flesh on his lower limbs was
partly burned. The gun lay upon the
| body, where it has fallen after accom-
plishing its deadly work, the stock
broken off by the recoil against the
solid ground. The sight was one of
the most horrible that can be imagined,
and the smell of the burning flesh was
too much for some of those who went
to the camp to stand.
The facts Of the killing are practic-
ally as follows:
Tom Mccormick and his brother
J Powse got on drunk on the first of
June and rode into the Indian camp
west Of town, where they raised con-
siderable of a row. Indians ran into
town and reported the matter to the
officers and the two Indians were ar
rested by deputy sheriff Templeman.
| At the time it was stated that the H.
dams had gone into the quarantined
Indian camp, but the Indians denied
this. The two Indians paid a small
fine and we're allowed to go. Agent
Ewing hearing of the case ordered the
Indian policeman to arrest the two H.
diaus and take them to blackberry for
trial before the Indian courts. The
Indians complained to the white Of
ficers and asked that the matter be
stated to the Agent and get them off
from further persecution. The Indian
policeman was told not to make the
arrest until Mr.. Ewing was seen about
the matter. Agent Ewing was in town
Tuesday aud ordered the Indians tax.
en- to blackberry, and although i'm por.
tuned to let the Indians off refused to
do so. Tom Mccormick seemed to
feel very badly over the arrest and the
policeman and he had a struggle when
the arrest was made aud Toms shirt
was torn off. Justice Smith advised
the Indian to go with the officer and
he went to the depot. 1t was arranged
that he would go up on the east bound
passenger train before noon. Before
the train arrived be told one of the In
dams that he wanted to go to his camp
to get another shirt and his coat and
started off 10 that direction. His
squaw accompanied him. That was
the last seen of him alive. The po
liceman claims that he tried to find
him and sent a boy on horseback tc
the camp, but the boy came back and
= reported that he was not there. He
went to the top of the hill himself and
looked over into the camp, but could
see nothing, not even fire, although
at that time the Indian and s9uav
we're both dead aud are supposed tC
I have been on fire. The story OF tn,
/ policeman Is very conflicting and it i
!. thought by some that he may bav
! gone to the camp and in a quarre
9 killed the two and fixed it up to ap
r pear like murder and suicide. In
/. dams are very cunDiug individuals ant
1 when it comes to covering up thei
Y tracks can give the white man pointer:
q An inquest was held on the bodie
y of the Indian and squaw and verdic
n that they came to their death at tn
;. hands Of parties unknown, was rer
|. dered.
The matter is being carefully il
#