Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-02-18
CROOKED CONDUCT
A LEMON EOR LEMONS
The Near Escape of Convict Phil Re-
pier From the CHA County Jail

United States District Attorney ]. L.
b. Alexander. returned home from
Globe on the late train Saturday night.
where he had been for the purpose of
prosecuting the case against James w.
Lemons and his wife, Matte Lemons.
The accused were tried jointly and
both We're convicted. At the conelu-
sion Of the trial Judge Nave handed
lemon to Lemons. that it is expect
ed will hold him in the penitentiary for
about two years. less such time as
shall be allowed him for good behav-
Tor. The sentencing Of Mrs Lemons
was postponed until May by reason Of
the alleged delicate condition of the
defendant, and in the meantime she is
out on bail.
The LemOnses were convicted for
the passing Of checks on the govern
ment, which they had secured from
Philip Rapier. who was tried in Tomb
stone in December for passing similar
checks which he had drawn himself by
filling out blanks stolen from the re-
clamation service at Roosevelt. and
for which crime Rapier was sent TO the
penitentiary for about seven years. It
was like getting home again for him.
for about seven years ago he was sent
TO the penitentiary for three years
from Flagstaff. for grand larceny. He
has a family and other friends living
in Graham county.
The Lemonses desired the presence
of Rapier as a witness for the defense
and on an order Of the court. he was
brought from TIE penitentiary by the
L. :. marshal. He is a very crafty in
dividual and makes il a point not to
overlook anything. The first night he
spent in Globe he was reported as hav-
ing been very busy prisoner. He
seemed to have more work to do than
most men who are confined in so small
a sphere of activity as a cell in a coun-
~ Jail In the morning it was discOv-
cred that as the less industrious slept,
Rapier had been busy with a steel saw
and had two bars Of his cell sawed off.
With a little more time he would have
sawed his way TO liberty He was
searched and his saw was found Sc
GREETED in a convenient place in his cork
leg He said he had secured the saw
in the penitentiary and brought it
along with him. hoping he might have
a chance 10 make good use OF it. The
only way the officer felt sure they
could induce him to remain and testify
for his friends the LemOnses, was to
take his cork leg and whatever it
might conceal. away from him, and
keep il in the sheriffs office until the
hour came for his official departure. \
cork leg has a great many virtues, but
like many other devices Of man, conf
dence in it may be abused.
At the conclusion of the Globe trial
Lemons and Rapier were taken to the
pen, chained together. The Lemons
Rapier story has often been told in
part. but connected it makes quite a
tale of intrigue and criminal adventure.
Matte Quinn. later Mrs. Lemons. was
an inmate of a questionable resort in
Pierce. Lemons. whose mother con-
ducts a boarding house there. got ac-
quainted with her and when she went
10 Globe. as an entertainer in the en-
ploy Of a saloon there he followed her
and performed the office OF banker for
the time being. taking her earnings
and saving for her what he did not
care TO spend himself. About this
time Rapier. with his pocket full of
government checks, appeared on the
scene. and became smitten with the
charms of the woman. He proposed
three weeks tour with her, for which
he was TO pay her $500 and expenses.
She consulted Lemons. who gave his
and Rapier and the woman
departed. going to Douglas. Demins
and other southern points. thence to
end Of the tour she returned 10 Pierce,
where Lemons had also gone. She had
secured her expected fund of $500, $500
of which was in forged government
checks. advanced by Rapier. and, it is
alleged by the Lemonses, believed at
the time to have been genuine. Lemons