Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-04-10

I and imbedded itself in his right arm.
AS the man fell to the ground he
dropped the shotgun, which Houci1
! picked up and brought to the sheriff.
at the same time surrendering himself
to custody. saying he had shot a Mex1-
can he believed fatally. The shotgun
was cooked, so Mr.. Houck says, when
he picked it up.
Coroner ]. H. Robertson was notified
and summoned a jury as soon as poss1-
BILE, and Padillas body was removed
to Mohn & Doris undertaking par
lors. Montoya was not arrested, as his
wound, while probably not fatal, is
ghastly looking one and will keep him
in bed for some time. He was shot m
the left check, the bullet narrowly MISS
ing the larger blood vessels of the neck.
The entire side of the face and wound
is powder burned, split and lacerated
in such way that only those of strong
mind and well-ordered stomachs couli
witness the operation of dressing 1t,
which was done by DR.. Stroud. Mon
toya was resting easily last night and
said he was feeling better.
The inquest was begun yesterday
forenoon and resumed again at o'clock
being finished about 5 o'clock, when the
jury submitted the following verdict:
We, the undersigned. the jurors sum-
moned to appear before j. H. Robert
son. coroner of the county of Maricopa,
at the city of Phoenix, on the 9th day
of April, 1903, to inquire into the cause
OF the deat tn of Francisco Padflla, found
lying dead in one of the streets of the
1,,Ir-
moned according to law. and after talk
ing such inquisition, having inspected
the body and hearing the testimony
adduced. herein attest upon our oath
/ ard each and ell do say: That we find
the deceased was named Francisco Pa
dilla and was native of the state of
/ Nevada. aged about forty years; that
! he came to his death on the 9th day of
! April. 1903. in this county, by being
shot by James D. Houck.
And we further find that such killing
! OF the said Francisco Padilla By the
said James D. Houck was IN self-de-
/ fense and justifiable, all of which we
/ duly certify for this inquisition III
/ writing by us signed this 9th day CT
| April 1903. (Signed) w. L. George,
i foreman; J. T. Boyd, P. Nealis, James
| Dodson, D. F. Greenwood. r. H. Drane.
! Francisco Padilla IS on the great reg
! lister as a native of Nevada. but some
who knew him personally say he was
| born in Sonora. He was a very tall
and athletic appearing man, much
larger and heavier than most of his
! race, and was we'll known around this
/ city. where he has lived for grea,
many years. Many who did not know
his name will remember him when it
! is stated that he had but one hand, his
right hand having been blown off with
/ giant powder many years ago at a cele-
| bra ation of Mexican independence day.
| He spent a great deal of his time hunt
| ing rabbits birds, etc, and peddlins
! them around town. He leaves a wife
and six children. The wife and eldest
daughter testified at the inquest and
told freely and fully all that they knew
saving Padilla had come home intoxl-
Gated about AIS. and getting his shot
gun told them he was going hunting
They feared at the time that some
trouble was brewing and were alarmed
for his safety, so they sent word as
, soon as possible to Captain Joe Bush
to try and find him and induce him c
! go home or give up MS gun But De-
fore Captain Bush could get there Pa
dilla was no more.
Montoya says that he and Padilla al
no time had any intention of holding u
Mr.. Houck or anyone else except then
friend, and him only for fun But Mr.
Houck thought he was the intended
victim and the incident was one 81
those serious practical jokes that be
gin in a jest and end in graveyard.