Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-12-24
ASHOCKING TRAGEDY JOHN KiRWAGGEN CRUELLY MUIR DERED IN HIS HOME NEAR
 JEROME.
Al C1wles, who Committed the Deed,
 Blows His Own Brains Out.

This community was startled last
 night by the receipt of news from Jer-
 ome that John Kirwaggen, one of the
 old time residents of this county and
 the well known fruit grower of Jer-
 ome had been murdered. and that his
 murderer had afterwards committed
 suicide.
 The man who committed the bloody
 deed was Al Cowles, a man who had
 been in the employ of the above
 firm on their fruit ranch for over
 twelve years.
 The story as told from Jerome was
 that Kirwaggen and Cowles had been
 in Jerome yesterday and had taken number of drinks together being slightly under the influence of whis-
 ky on their return to the ranch, late in the afternoon. They took their last shrink at saloon as they were on their way home and appeared on the most friendly terms, as they did also on arriving at the ranch.
 About o'clock Mr. Haskell. one of the ownres of the ranch was engaged in milking when Cowles came out and said to him: "If you go up to the house, you will find a dead partner there. He took me by the whisl1ers and said, If you do not do so and so, I will kill you. ''
 Cowles did not seem at all excited in his manner or speech. On going to the house Haskell found just what Cowles told him he would. Kirwaggen was lying dead on the kitchen floor with bullet wound in his head, and a dish cloth in his hand, the latter indicating that he had been engaged in doing house work when the fatal shot was fired.
 Haskell immediately left for Jer ome on foot and it was late in the evening before his arrival there. He notified the officials there who imme- diately proceeded to the ranch and on their arrival there found the dead body of Cowles also.
 During the interim between Has kell's departure and the return of the officers Cowles had taken a loaded | double barreled shot gun, placed the muzzle to his head and discharged the contents into it blowing the entire top of his head off and scattering his brains through the cabin in which he lived.
 The bodies of the two dead men | were taken to Jerome last night.
 Deceased and his partner, A. s. Haskell gained national reputation as fruit growers. during the Worlds fair where apples from their ranch took first prize over all others exhib- ited there.
 John Kirwaggen came to Prescott in 1873 and had resided in this section ever since, for the past twelve or if teen years being engaged in fruit rais- ing near Jerome. He was peaceable man and the news of his violent death comes as a great shock to his friends as he was almost the last man that one would think would ever give provoca- tion to any one to shoot him.
 The above was practically the story received last evening. of the tragedy. In conversation today with the Jour nal Miners correspondent at Jerome, by telephone it was learned that about a year ago Kirwaggen and Cowles had trouble in Jerome. when the former pulled Cowles' beard After this in- cident Cowles warned Kirwaggen not to do that again or he would kill him.
 They brought a load of apples to Jerome yesterday and on the way home, after taking friendly drink at the saloon, en route, they had another and Kirwaggen again pulled Cowles' whiskers. Neither was armed at the time and 5Cowles, as far as known, did not repeat his threat. On arriving at home they put up the team and Kirwaggen went in and ate supper with Mir. Haskell, the latter having already prepared the meal. Cowles was asked to eat but said he did not want any supper. It was af- ter supper that Haskell went out to milk and at the time he was shot Kir waggen was washing dishes. Cowles evidently came to the door and fired while his victim was at work, the bull let entering the side of his head un- dre his ear, death being instantane- ous In relating the circumstances of the killing to MT. Haskell, COwles told him that he had warned Kirwag gen that he would kill him if he ever pulled his whiskers again and added that he had shot to kill him and was glad he succeeded.
 Cowles was 58 years old and na tive of Ohio. He is supposed to have a wife living some place but where is not known. He has a son living in Phenix and daughter in Los An geles.
 The charge of shot which COwles fired into his own head entered under the chin, passed through his mouth and carried the top of his head with it iii its course.
 Cowles Was buried at Jerome this afternoon and Kirwaggen's funeral will take place tomorrow.