Arizona republican., 1901-02-06
ourwIrrED THE OFFICERS
W. [. Curtis, Wanted For Stage Rob
 bsry, Hits tho Trail.

WHnam l.. CurtiS, believed 10 be tle man that robbed the stage that runs to Briggs. Arizona. and some time later robbed q store at Colunbia in Yavapai county. was located in fhoanix. Mon day. and an attempt was made to ar rest him Monday night He eluded the officers and is now at large.
 The stage robbery and the robbery of the store q. Columbia ;cck place last December and for some time the Yava- pal officials have been convinced of the Identity of the man who iid the work. The sheriff's office here was notified. and local officers have been watching for some one who would answer the description.
 Just how the man was located and the evidence against him Is the private business of the officials and of course will no. be told until the man Is cap tured or secrecy is no longer necessary. But it transpired that Deputy Sheriff A. A Johns of Prescott was in Phoe- nix Friday and the records of the pro- bate showed the issuance of Q marriage license on January 3i to William l.. Curtis. the man wanted. and Mrs. NJ. Knapp of this city. Mrs. Knapp lives in house on Madison street. jus; west of Center and adjoining the Blinn lun,- Der yard. where she rents number of rooms.
 It a,s, transpired that about 10 o'clock last night Deputy Sherlff Jones of Prescott, Deputy sheriff Slankard of Phoenix and City Marshal Hooker went to this house to sec what they could fini. Mir. Hooker was stationed at the rear of the house and tae other two knocked, The door was eventually opened though the hall was so dark 1t could be distinguished only that man opened the door. Mir. Slankard asked for Mrs. Knapp and was told that she was in bed He said he wanted to see her and the man who opened the door went and tapped on her door, He told the officers that she could be seen pres ently. The man then stepped into room on the opposite side of the hall. Mir. Johns remained at the front door and MT. Slankard interviewed Mrs. Knapp, telling her his mission. She said she felt sure the man they were after was the wrong party. but they could see him. SO she led them into the room the man had entered minute or two before, but 1t was vacant. Then they passed through door into an ad- joining room and through an open French window onto a screen porch In the rear of the house. There was no man in sight. Two little boys were sleeping on the porch and they said he had passed out through door at the east end. Mir. Hooker. who was at the farthest corner of the house had failed to see him. From there he got through the fence into Bhnns lumber yard.
 The officers secured lamp and made a search for him and while Hooker was up in enc cf the sheds In the north part of the yard he saw the man near the south end making for the fence. He called to him to stop but he did not do so and Hooker fired two shots at him neither taking effect As quickly as possible they gave pursuit but the man was barefooted and q sprinter of the old sch5ol The shots also seemed to have wonderful effect in pacenlaking and the man fairly flew over the ground i He lodged around the rear of the train and turned west on Jackson street un- til he reached vacant lot opposite the
 
 dllagonally. He then cleared a fence and crossed the porch of hous" on the rear of one Of the Prcwell lots on the south side of Jackson street. This was the last seen of the man. and sometime during the last part of the chase Hook CT took another shot at him. but missed him. For the next two or three hours nearly all the officers in town were en- gagged in locking for him. but at last rsssort there was no knowledge Of lis whereabouts.
 Curtis came down from the north a few weeks ago and has been stopping at Mrs. Knapp's lodging house Little seems to be known of his employment since coming here or at least little is told. When he got the marriage license he requested the probate judge to re- quest the papers not to mention 1t, at least till after the wedding. which he said was to take place that night. and lt is said. though not authorita- lively. that they were married two CT three days ago. The man seemed greatly agitated and deference to his wishes was shown. In connec- tioa with the getting of the license there was an incident. supposed at first to be joke. but which now adds color to the belief in the mans guilt.
 He applied first to Neri Osborne. clerk of the board of supervisors for the license. Mir Osborne questioned him closely as to name, residence. con sent of the prospective bride. etc. His examination was so searching that the applicant became very nervous and fldgety. Mir. Osborne thought at the time that he was simply verdant and bashful. but he can now see a reason for the mans discontinue when the questioning became too strong. Finally he told him he could net! issue license but would introduce him to man that could. and he did so.
 The amount of the booty obtained in the two robberies is said to be about SEQ Curtis Is B years old, has dark complexion and moustache and weighs between 16o and 1S0 pounds He is wlthal a very good looking man,
 Mrs. Knapp Is well known in Phoe- nix and bears good reputation. It is believed she has been duped by the