Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1906-12-19
lie MEANT MURDER
SAID THE WITNESSES
Charles Davis Held % The Grand Jury
For Assault With Intent to Kill Mat
tie FuIkcrson

Charles Davis colored. was yesterday
given a preliminary examination be-
fore Justice tombstone on a charge of
assaulting Matte Fulkerson. light
colored mulatto with intent to commit
murder. The assault took place last
Sunday evening at the residence Of
Mrs. Fowler on South First street.
/ The prosecuting witness was in
court. her head bandaged so that only
a part Of her face was visible. She
told the story of the assault which
was corrobOrated in every particular
by Mrs. Fowler. who was presenC
throughout the trouble and by several
other witnesses who saw the latter
part OF the assault
The FulkersOn woman said that she
/ had been at Wickenburg. and that on
Sunday. Davis came there and de-
manded money from her and threaten
ed her life. She said that she decided
TO return to Phoenix, and went to the
depot with a Mrs Noals. who was also
coming to Phoenix. Davis followed
them still, making trouble He took
possession Of her valise and frequently
threatened her on the way down.
About four o'clock he came TO the
residence OF Mrs. Fowler. bringing her
valise. of which he had retained pos
session. Coming i'm. he again made a
demand for money and jewelry. and
when none was forthcoming he drew
pair OF brass knuckles from his pocket
and struck the woman. Mrs. Fowler
seized him and called to the Fulkerson
woman To run for her life. She did so
and Davis drew revolver and putting
II against the breast Of Mrs. Fowler.
commanded her to let him go. She did
So and Davis ran out and overlook the
fleeing Fulkerson woman. He struck
her I'm the back OF the head with the
brass knuckles and when she fell ne
stopped over her and struck her sew
eral times.
The complaining witness said that
Davis had frequently threatened 10
XIII her because she refused to live
with him, and Mrs. Fowler said that
she had heard him make such threats.
Mrs. Noeis. who is a white woman
with no definite ideas about the color
line. told Of the trip down from Wick
enburg- She said that the language
used by Davis toward Mrs. Fulkerson
was so vile and his manner SO threat
ening that the other passengers left I
that part OF the car in which they
were travelling.
As the train approached Phoenix. |
Davis became more friendly and point |
ed out TO his companions various OBJ. |
jects Of interest among them. the can !
itol building. He told them that a it, 4
tie farther on there was something else 1
which would probably be Of greater
lD1rnaHiafa
them-the grave yard. where he said.
both Of them would shortly be lying
Mrs. Noels. who lives i'm the neighboi.
mood OF the Fowlcrs. saw that part or
the assault which took place in the
street.
Another witness Of the street affair
was Mrs. Brown. who in answer to
a question about her occupation. said
that it was that Of actress. or per
formah" as she called il. but she was
not now working at 1t. being engaged
in "washin' an Fnin."
DR.. Dysart testified as to the nature
Of the injuries of the woman and said
that they had been inflicted by blum;
Instrument. The brass knuckles.
which had been partially Identified by
the witnesses were then introduced. At
the time Of the arrest Of Davis he had /
denied that he had struck the womsL /
with them; he said ne had none. But
the next day Constable PROOFS. armed |
with a. search warrant. found them in
the house where Davis lives, concealed
In an unused flue. Marks Of dried
blood were on them.
Davis wanted to cross examine the
Witnesses for the territory. His styIe
Of cross examination amounted To
discussion OF the whole affair and was
not permitted. After that. he con-
lined himself To securing reiteration
n damaging statements and assumed
an air that indicated that the witness /
was about TO get into trouble for per-
Jury.
He also desired to make a statement
under oath. II was so different from
hat of the witnesses for the territory
hat II could hardly be recognized as
relating to the same incident
He admitted that there had been
some trouble at the house of Mrs. n
Fowler. but there had been no gun or
BRASS knuckles. The woman was run
nut of the house, but he did not chase (
her. On cross examination he adj
nitted that he left the house soon Al
er. and said that his meeting with the /
woman was quite casual. He had
come acrost her"