Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1904-11-23
An Outsider Gives a DeciS= ion and Death Fellows
 as the Result.
En Unfortunate Wrangle at Mayer That Terminated in the Killing Of TilfOrd and the WOunding of Rich by Frank Averi!I. all industrious Miners. .-AveriII Escapes.

For the first time in the history oi
 Mayer there has been a serious crimi- raJ deed to record against its hereto fore peaceful and law abiding career. As is usual in that place men congre gate to play cards for the drinks, while others pass the time in one way or the other, and this rule was in or. der on Wednesday evening like it ha- been for years the custom to follow.
 On that evening a game of slough was being played, and question arose on one play that led to a discussion, and later to words. The services of a referee were called to decide the point i at issue, and the unfortunate man tC settle the same was T. J. Tilford. The men interested in the game were T. A. Averill, George Rich and a man named Anderson. Immediately after i Tilford gave his version of the play, Averill quit the game, still disputing i the decision in favor of Anderson. Rich taking up the matter in an abus- i've way. and Tilford also contending that he was right The men all went outside, and it seems each was going | to his room, when without any warn- | ing TIlford tried to strike AverilI with a beer bottle when Rich stepped in. | The latter was thrown to the ground, or pushed over by Averill, and after getting on his feet, Averill whipped out gun and fired the bullet striking Rich in the foot. He fired again but the bullet missed. Then be took de- liberate aim at Tilford and fired for the third time the bullet hitting Til ford in the pit of the stomach. Tilford fell to the ground and never spoke afterward death resulting in a few minutes.
 Inn nediately after the shooting that occurred about 12 o'clock AverilI went to his rooo and stated that if he was wanted they knew where to find him. Several residents of Mayer congregat- ed and it was deemed advisable to place a guard over Averill's room and when the crime became known and the particulars were given threats of lynching were indulged in and which Averill be ;ame aware of. Accordingly Sheriff Roberts was telephoned to about ? o'clock to this effect, and this officer was requested to come at once and get the prisoner. At 2:30 the sheriff left Prescott, accompanied by Ed Golightly informing the people to hold Averill. The sheriff reached Mayer about daylight and was of the opinion that Averill was still in GUS tody. But such was not the case. At about O clock that morning Averill evidently appreciated that to remain any longer was to afford the friends of Rich and Tilford an opportunity for revenge, and accordingly he crawled odt of window and made his escape.
 The statement made that be was still in, custody when Sheriff Roberts reached Mayer is erroneous.
 Since escaping nothing has been seen or heard of him and outside of a statement that he was tracked near the Blue Bell mine going south toward the Bradshaw mountains with Sheriff Roberts on the trail this is the only information to be had of him.
 The shooter has been employed as a years and after losing his wife by death about two years ago he has been at time more or less morose saying that he was desirious of leaving that section but the memory of his wife had such a fascination for him in the scenes of their happy life that he would regret to go away under the circumstances. Averill was always re- garded as an industrious miner and up to the time of the unfortunate affair was not considered as a desper- ate man.
 Tilford, the victim, was also held in high esteem, while Rich was looked upon as a good citizen. Both the above were miners also, one working in the Iron Queen and the other in the Hack kberry both under operation by the Treadwell company.
 1t has been learned since the shoot ing took place, that Averill had S277 on his person, and he stated that he would pull out and go to Mexico, as by so doing he would escape incaIcer- ation in the county jail at Prescott for months, and besides when the time came for his trial he would be