Arizona republican., 1908-01-17
IN A CELL
 JOHN CLINE
Protests His Innocence of
 the Edwards Murder
He Says That He Will Be Able Easily to Establish an Alibi.

John Cline. Who was arrested at Mesa on Wednesday afternoon was brought to town yesterday by Deputy Sheriff Jeff Adams. He will be held pending the arrival of Sheriff Thomp- son of Globe, who may arrive in the city this morning. Cline, who is about fifty-three years of age, does not look like man who would engage in as- sassination. He quietly denies that he knew anything of the killing though he heard the shots. for Edwards was kill ed within less than a half mile of his house. He says that he will have no trouble in establishing an alibi for him self as well as for his son Joe, who, however. has not yet been charged with participation in the crime, though Edwards, when he was in Phoenix a little more than d week ago, said that if he should be killed in that part of the country. his slayers would be John Cline and his son.
 Speaking of this statement. Cline said that he had never had any serious trouble with Edwards. For years they had lived near each other and had had trifiing quarrels growing out of Ed wards hot temper As an instance of his relations with Edwards he said that the father of Edwards, the late Col. Edwards of Globe. years ago commissioned him to keep Charlie out of trouble into which his bad temper might lead him. Twice he said he had intervened when Edwards would have killed man or have been killed. They had had some quarrels, but they were trihing and Cline said that he entertained no lasting animosity and he did not think that Edwards did
 The killing. Cline said, took place on Friday evening abort sundown. He and his son were taking hay from stack near his house and George Harris was with them. While they were there Guy Solomon came to see Cline about rounding up cattle. After talking with him awhile. Cline said he resumed pull ling out hay from the stack and while he had his head in the stack he heard a shot. Solomon and Harris were still there. but Joe Cline had gone to the house of a neighbor Mrs. Thompson. 10 borrow some coffee and was still there when the shooting was heard There were two other shots. Curiosity was eNpTtSStu DN 1illle UT lIle olHtTSs who were with him, regarding the shooting. The body of Edwards was found the next morning. Cline said that the dead mans revolver was still in his holster. The first shot had evil dently struck him on the left side. passing through the right side. There was another wound in the left should CT and another in the head. They were probably inflicted while Edwards was falling or after he had fallen.
 Cline said it had never occurred to him that he would be suspected of the killing He had been with Sheriff Thompson after the arrival of the of ficer from Globe and had separated from him at Roosevelt. when he was starting to Phoenix and the sheriff was going back to Globe. There was no hint by the sheriff that Cline was un- der suspicion. and Cline is now at loss to account for the sudden turn that things took after the arrival of the sheriff at Globe. He says however, that he is not concerned at his plight.
 Ben Hur will be presented in nov