Bisbee daily review., 1907-05-08
RANGER HOLMES CLEAR IF ALL
 CHARGES
Accused of Cruelty to-a Negro Prisoner, He Is 'Vindicated By Several Reliable Wit neSSeS.

Regarding a story which appeared first in Stafford paper concerning Ranger Holmes alleged brutality to William Baldwin, the Roosevelt mur- derer. the Phoenix Republican says:
 "A story was placed in circulation some time ago and found its way into print in certain quarters, very dis paraging to the reputation of Ranger Holmes, the officer who arrested Will liam Baldwin near Roosevelt, when suspicion lodged against him as be- ing guilty of the murder of Mrs. Har- yey Morris and daughter. and for one of which crimes he has since been Iconyicted and sentenced to be hanged. It was charged that he maltreated his prisoner, dragged him by the mech with a rope and otherwise abused him in the most inhuman way. The charges soon found their way to the governor, who proceeded to investi- gate them. He referred the matter to Captain Wheeler for a report and at the same time requested the recla- nation officers, who are very largely m charge of affairs at Roosevelt to in quire into the charges and report as a matter of mutual interest in good government and good order. The re- quest was forwarded through the of flee of Supervising Engineer Hill, to Constructing Engineer Smith at Roosevelt That official reported to his superior and copy of his findings was transmitted to the governor. It is now made public and is as follows:
 Department of the Interior, U. s.
 G. s. Reclamation Service, Roose-
 welt, Ariz., April 16, 1907.
 |" MT. Louis c. Hill, supervising en-
 gineer, United States Reclamation
 Service, Roosevelt, Ariz.:
 ' Dear Sir:
 "'In reply to yours of April Il, en- closing copy of letter from Captain Wheeler, would say that Ranger Holmes was not guilty of any ex- treme or any brutality to the negro Baldwin. Any report that he was guilty of such is a gross and willful exaggeration.
 Immediately after finding the bodies, Holmes went for Baldwin, who was in the yard adjacent to the house occupied by c. P. Hill. Baldwin was rather obstinate and did not seem to be inclined to submit to arrest; moreover. he had shotgun standing close at hand; Holmes hit him once or twice with a light tin dipper over the head, and think he knocked him down with his fist during the process of handcuffing him. After the arrest was effected Holmes did not hit him. Holmes put a rope around his ne"F and started in to Roosevelt at a pace only equal to what man woulu or dinarily walk. Baldwin was not dragged at all.
 "'On the way to Roosevelt Dr. Pen nell joined them and made an eKaTnI-' nation of Baldwin. Baldwin in his struggle with the Morris woman, had received a cut in the neck. and con sidering that this wound might be- come infected from contact with the rope, DT. Pennell suggested to Holmes that the rope be put around Baldwin's waist, instead, which Holmes did.
 "1 saw Baldwin as he was enter ing Roosevelt. and he showed not the slightest evidence of having been dragged or even hurried, on the way. Any report to the discTedit of Holmes undoubtedly originated with some en- emy, such as any efficient man in the position of Holmes would be sure to have.
 ''I would add further that Holmes is most efficient man, and one whom the law-abiding part of the community would like to see held up in every way. It strikes me that the affair is scurrilous attack upon one of the best men of the force. Yours very truly,
 CHESTER W. SMITH,
 Constructing Engineer
 The findings of Captain Wheeler are