Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-11-22
MANY INDICTED BY THE GRAND JURY.
(Frem Wednesdays Daily.)

$ scheduled for tonight, the Journal
 Miner is able to announce what has
 been accomplished by the inquisitorial
 body, despite the fact that its mem
 bers are sworn to absolute secrecy,
 and the same seal of silence is placed upon the lips of the district attorney and the officers connected with the sheriff's office.
 As forecasted yesterday, James P. Sias has been indicted for embezzle- ment while acting as a bookkeeper for ex-Sheriff Jos. I. Roberts.
 John Skaggs was also indicted for the murder of George Clark, there be- ing nineteen witnesses examined by the grand jury.
 More startling yet is the news that Sadie Easley, Mrs. Cora Olin and F. Peterson have also been indicted, the first named for an assault with intent to kill, and the last two for aiding iL her escape from the officers.
 E Pete Abeyia, of Jerome, who shot Juan Mirabel in the neck in his own home, is also on the black list, he be- l ing charged with murder, his victim Il having died two days after the crime. 4 Carter and Clark of Jerome, two men < who compelled Chris Jackson to walk & out of town one night under threats of l violence, are bound over to the next \ grand jury with bonds at $1,000 as E heretofore fixed. The reason that they were not indicted is that Jackson was not present to testify, being in California. Another indictment is that of Wm. Oliphant, who while de- putty sheriff at Congress, shot and killed drunken Mexican. Jim Sias has asked to appear before the grand jury, and probably he will be heard to- day. He threatens to make sensa- tional disclosures.
 There were indictments in other minor cases yesterday, but the most aggravat- ed ease IS that of John Skaggs, who is accused of one of the most cold blooded murders that has disgraced the annals of any community in Ari- zona for a number of years. The crime was committed on the 3rd day of last September on a ranch in the Oak creek section in the eastern part of Yavapai county, which is peopled by as law abiding citizens as can be found in any community in the United States.
 It appears from the evidence before the grand jury that John Skaggs had rented the ranch belonging to George Clark last year and had raised crop on part of it, and when Skaggs and Clark had gathered their crops that Skaggs offered to purchase that part Of the crop which belonged to Clark, offering him, it is said, the sum of SI1 for it. Clark refused the offer made by Skaggs, so the story goes, and the same afternoon Skaggs told Mrs. Clark that he would blow the head of George Clark, her husband, if he did not sell the crop to him at the price he offered for it. Mrs. Clark, it appears, paid no attention to the threat, and matters drifted along for a while. Some days later Mrs. Clark visited the home of her sister, Mrs. Hutche- son, in the neighborhood, and later m the day Skaggs called at the same place. When Skaggs appeared Mrs. were standing on the porch of the HutchesOn home, and after the usual greetings were exchanged, Mrs. Clark stepped inside the house, leaving Mrs. Hutcheson and Skaggs on the porch. While on the porch together, Skaggs made an improper proposal toI Mrs. Huteheson to accompany him to- neighboring cornfeld, offering as al recompense the sum of 5, which she indignantly refused. A few moments later Mrs. Clark came out of the house and suggested to Mrs. Hutcheson, her. sister, that she would accompany her. to the cornfeld to gather some corn for the hogs, which the ladies were making preparations to do before Skaggs ar rived. Skaggs offered to accompany them. to which Mrs. Clark objected. Mrs Uutchason then informed Skaggs that she would use a club on him if he attempted to go with them across al fence into the cOrnfeld. He persisted, and crossed the fence, whereupon Mrs. Hutcheson, true to her word, hit him over the head with club, which she picked up on the way. stormy scene ensued in which Skaggs threat ened to proceed to the Clark ranch.