Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1907-05-15
OLD PIONEER DIES A PEACEFUL
DEATH.


last Friday morning about q O'Clock.
That he died without struggle Is mp.
parent from the position In which he
was found. for he never changed the
position he took in the chair few
hours before, when he moved into IL
from another part of the room, at the
request Of the night clerk, who feared
that he might catch cold from sitting
ia draught in the front Office.
About 2 O'Clock in the morning he
moved into the chair where he was
discovered dead about four hours later.
lie seated himself near the long table
in the reading room, with one arm rest.
ing on the table and the other gripping
the chair, and in this position he was
found dead, the only apparent change
being the dcathly pallor which had
spread over his features, long since
bronzed from age and exposure Incl.
dent 10 outdoor life.
AZ 4 o'clock, the porter, In the usual
discharge OF his duties in the hotel, no
ticcd that Dodson was alive, and again,
when he passed at clock, he noticed
nothing unusual in his breathing, which
appeared TO be normal. AZ q o'clock
he came around again aud discovered
that he was dead, after trying to
awaken him, in accordance with instruc.
tons he gave to the night clerk before
he fell asleep.
The coroner was al once notified, and
n coroncr's jury impanclled, which rem.
dcrcd n verdict that the deceased came
20 his death from natural causes, pre-.
sumably heart disease. The remains
were then turned over 10 the Merry
man undertaking establishment, to be
prepared for burial.
Deceased was aged about Te years,
and n native Of Missouri. lie came to
Prescott in the latter sos, and was
later elected chief Of police, a position
which he filed with credit TO himself
| 'u' 'UWn NsuFh,
before he resigned the position 10 ne.
ccpt place rs guard in the Territorial
prison AT YUM. After serving the
prison for several years, he resigned.
and moved to Phoenix, which has been
his home for the pnst nine years.
True to his friends, brave and gencr.
Gus 10 a fault. James Dodson cnjovcd
wide acquaintance all over the Ter
ritory. In the discharge 81 his duties
as mn officer In this city. he was ter
ror TO evil doors, and even the most dcs
pcratc criminals feared him. as on nj
least two occasions while chief Of po
lice Of Prescott, lawbreakers lost their
lives 10 his uncrring aim, after refusing
to surrender TO him.
During the stirring times 81 the Civil
war he was n member Of the famous
Quantrell gang in Missouri. In The
campaigns Of which he took part, ia
was recognized as among the most fear
less and active Of the command. Aftei
arriving in Prescott, he became n char
b ter member ~ Aztlan lodge. No. I, =
b and A. NJ. In the affairs Of which h
v was active for many years.
!. when he rendered his resignation nj
/. chief 81 police here the citizens 81 th'
!. city presented him with n car'ridg'
g belt as n token Of their appreciation
!. aud many years before. while acting n
( chief. General Crook, while stationed
y AT Fort Whipple, presented him with
:. valuable hunting knife, which he high
n y priced. lie also kept until the enc
a his irus,y six shooter whose bark ba'
J. saved his life on many occasions, her
4 and elsewhere. and had many othe
n relics ~ pioneer days, collected in IN
h stirring times Of the suppression Of law
e lcssncss in the Territory.
4 Ia direct contrast 10 his life, .whie
was so hrimful 81 stirring incidenti
1. worthy Of the pen Of tho greatest o
@ novei-ts. was his peaceful end. whic
- is deeply regretted by his acquaintance
:, all over Arizona, who enjoyed hi
Is friendship and remember his iovinl nm
Il congenial disposition.
o. lie leaves surviving him broihe
ir Berry =. nodson. and \ sister, Mr.
~ Lucinda Mir, both residents Of Bc
II ton, Cass county, Missouri. 4 nephew
Charles y. Dodson. ~ Argentine, Kan
{. called upou him few days beforr nj
~ death. while On routo So the Snriuor'
be- festival In Los Angeles. Tho ncphr'
a requested the deceased Ia accompan
NJ him to Los Angeles, and 20 return
he Argentine % reside with him Ia futur
20 | L ~ L. rnfnanI ALntinn lhnl he nrnfnrrn