Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-08-30
Deputy 0liphant Says He Acted In Self
 Defense
Victim Of Tragedy Said To Have a Good
 Reputation
(From Tuesdays Daily.)

Deputy Sheriff William Oiphant, who killed Mexican at Congress by shoot ing him, arrived in Prescott as a pris- oner yesterday morning in the care of Sheriff Lowry. Prosecutor Ellinwood also returned after his trip to look af ter the interests of the county in the event of Oiphant agreeing to a pre- liminary hearing. There is nothing of importance to be learned from the off cials that were in Congress, it being plain that the first story of the shoot ! ing practically covered all the facts in the matter.
 When the time came for Oliphant to appear for his first hearing before Jus tice Hall of Congress, he announced that he would waive this first hearing, and requested the court to pronounce the amount of the bond needed to hold him pending further action. Judge Hall placed the bond at $2,00O, and Oiphant explained to the sheriff that he was ready and willing to be taken to Prescott. This was in fact all that was done in legal way at the scene of the shooting.
 From those who should know the details of the shooting nothing new is to be learned It is evident from what Oiphant stated to the Journal-Miner that he believed the Mexican was about to attack him with knife, and that he took no unnecessary chance in dealing with the stranger. A post mOrtem examination showed that the bullet had passed through both lungs, having entered the abdomen, and rang ed slightly upward. It was found en- bedded in the muscles of the back near the surface and on one side of the spinal column.
 Juan Silvas, the Mexican who was killed, is one of three brothers whose parents have a small dairy place near to the town of Congress. They are re- ported to be as well behaved and indus trious as the majority of their na- tionality in that vicinity, and there is no reason to doubt that because of the sudden manner in which he was met by Oliphant, and the lack of sufficient light, together with the fact that the officer believed the man was about to draw a weapon, that Oliphant acted just as any other officer might do un- der similar circumstances
 Oliphant takes the matter as one of those occurrences that could not be avoided, and it is expected will be re- leased on bail possibly today. .s-.s-.-s-s-ss-.-.-s-4-s-s-s-s--s-s-s. will leave for a sojourn in eastern cities.
 MT. J. c. Herndon and MT. Charles Herndon, who have been enjoying a va cation of six weeks visiting different points of interest in California, arriv- ed in Prescott Wednesday evening.
 Mrs. H. D. Ross, accompanied by her two sons, Davis and Teddy, who have been spending the summer months in San Francisco, returned to Prescott Saturday morning.
 Miss Maude Norris left Saturday morning for visit to Iron Springs, where she will be the guest of Mrs. Mcqueen.
 Mrs. Leroy Anderson is planning a trip for the near future to Ann Arbor, where she will visit her father, MT. A. s. Gale, for several weeks.
 Miss Florence HerndOn, a popular guest at Iron Springs, is spending few days with Miss Ruth Doris.
 Mrs. Stanley Metzgar returned Satur- day night to her home in Tempe after having spent several days visiting her numerous friends near this city.