Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-04-07
DRINKS
 HIMSELF |ATO ]. CRAVE
UNREQuTrED LOVE REsPoNs1DIE FOR OBSERVATION or LATE
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E0uAluAc0Nsc|0usMH HOTEL
HIS BRILLIANT WIT WON FOR HIM REPUTATION IN LAST
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Suffering the pangs of an unrequited love, Respondent and careless of what became of him, Assemblyman R. "A Hightower of Yuma died at the Sisters hospital at o'clock this morning, the victim of excessive drinking, which has extended over period of four months says the Phoenix Democrat.
 1 Hightower case is one of the sad dest that has come to the attention of local people in several years. We'll ed ucated, brilliant and witty, Hightower was destined for better things had he turned his talents to good account. From Hightower' own lips the mo. tive for his excessive drinking became known during the session of the last legislature. It is said that he was on gagged to an estimable young woaaE in Yuma, but that the engagement was broken, following which be sought su. cease of his sorrow. in strong drink.
 For ten months previous to his cleo tion in Yuma county, Hightower did no drinking, and prospered in the con tracting and building business at Yuma, in which he was engaged with his bro ther. Shortly after his election he en- tered upon period of excess that only ended with his death this morning. Hightower was found unconscious and in convulsions in the New Dennis, Thursday and taken to the Sisters hos pitai. He never regained consciousness and gradually grew weaker until he died at l:55 clock this morning. His brother arrived yesterday and will take the remains to Tucson for burial
 During the session of the legislature Hightower won for himself a wide rep utation as the wittiest member in either house. He never lost an opportunity to explain his vote, and in doing it al. ways phrased his statement in words that brought forth laughter.
 On one occasion Hightower explained why he voted against bill to make trains stop at county seats. "lf a county seat is so small that the rtains will not even stop there," said he, "I can t vote here to make them do it. 1"
 When the local option fight in the house was the hottest, Hightower ex- plained his vote. "I know that my people don want local option" said he. ''and I m going to represent what my constituents want, even if l have to stay drunk to do it.
 Speaker Webb once called Hightower to the chair to preside over a committee of the whole. It was the most amusing incident of the whole session. Members tried to confuse Hightower by piling one amendment on top of another.
 When Assemblyman Duffy asked the chair how many of the amendments were before the house, Hightower promptly remarked, According to in- ternational law, the chair recognizes four amendments.
 In many of Hightower witty retorts there was much real wisdom, and things he often said in joking manner drove home some telling point that more sedate speaker could not have said in such few words.
 S-cEcfHi VI tsc iocdI edioono Ieluseu to sell Hightower liquor, but he man. aged to get all he wanted in some place or through his acquaintances.
 Hightower was g years old and was born and raised at Fort orth, Texas, where his parents now reside. He has two sisters and four brothers. His bro ther, J. E. Hightower, is here from Yu- ma.