Williams news., 1903-08-08
FROM SCAFFOLD
 INTO ETERNITY
Two Mexicans Executed at Pres cott---Both Men Faced Death
 in a Cool Manner.

Prescott, Ariz., July 31.-Hilario Hidalgo and Francisco Renteria, murderers of c. E. Goddard and Frank Cox at Goddard station in February last, were hanged in the jailyard here this morning. Both men exhibited the greatest nerve, and the former smiled as he as cended the scaffold and saluted a number of acquaintances in the crowd.
 The death warrant was read to them in the cell by Sheriff Roberts through an interpreter, and as he concluded it, Hidalgo laughingly remarked to the latter: "I have heard that repeated so often, if it was song I would sing it to you"
 The men were accompanied to the scaffold by Father Quetu and knelt on the trap and repeated the prayer after the priest.
 The trap was sprung at 11:2O, and in ten minutes and forty-five seconds life was declared extinct. Hidalgo's neck was dislocated and he died without a struggle. Rem teria's body twitched for several minutes, death occurring from strangulation. The execution was witnessed by 200 people.
 The execution recalls one of the most shocking crimes on the calen- der. The men found guilty accord ing to law were hanged solely on circumstancial evidence, and it is believed by some that the wrong men have been executed. The chain of evidence, however, points directly to the Mexicans, and the authorities are satisfied that they are the right men. The sinister countenances of the pair and their nervous actions have convinced criminologists that even though they should stand convicted of a crime never committed by them, they are paying deserved penalty for life of sin.
 The murder which led to the hanging was committed on the night of February 21, at Goddard's station. fifty miles north of Phoe- nix. Charles Goddard, a sheep owner and one of the most popular men of the territory, and his fore man, Frank Cox, were killed by unseen hands. Early in the even- ing Goddard admitted into his cabin two Mexicans travelling through the country. The sheep man, his wife and his foreman sat at the supper table with the two Mexican guests. After supper the guests took their departure and the remaining trio entertained them selves at the dinner table.
 Suddenly there sounded sharply a gunshot, which was followed by a series of reports and rain of bull lets. Mrs. Goddard fled into the adjoining room of the cabin. If the murderers intended robbery. they evidently feared to approach closer to the cabin while there was a living inhabitant. They had marked also the woman for their prey, but missing her. probably moved off. Goddard and Cox fell dead, their bodies filled with lead.
 It was an anxious night of wait ing for Mrs. Goddard, and in the morning her worst fears were veri- fled by finding the dead body of her husband. Until daylight she had not dared to move into the lighted death chamber. Then she saddled q pony and rode to Jim Gibson's COW camp. Here a posse was quickly organized and couriers reached Phoenix and Prescott, where other posses formed to join in the man-hunt. Officers all over Arizona sought to cut off the retreat of the murderers; and finally there