Bisbee daily review., 1910-08-30
MURDERER Of
VALENzUELA
IS CAPTURED
Jose Romero, who Escaped
From Phoenix Two Years
Ago After Brutal Crime
Returns and Is Nabbed

PHOENIX. Aug. 27.-Charged
with the murder of Francisco valen-
zuela, which occurred during a drunk
en- brawl over two years ago in Mesa,
Jose Romero was this morning ar
rested at the home Of his mother in
this city: the arrest being made by
Deputy Sheriff Adams.
Romero was arrested by the Mesa
authorities when the crime was first
committed and locked up in the town
jail, but with the assistance OF friends
on the outside Of the building he
managed to escape the night follow
ing his arrest Immediately making
his way to Mexico, remaining In the
sister republic until a month ago.
when he returned to this locality.
The murder OF vaienzuela which
took place two and a half years ago
In the very heart Of the city OF Mesa
was a very brutal affair, the deed be
ing the result of fit OF insane an
ger.
in big freight wagon together ccai-
ing toward Phoenix and seemingly
were the best Of friends. They had
both partaken heavily of liquor and
were under the influence Of alcohol
they had drank While driving
through Mesa they got into a quarrel
over some unimportant matter and
harsh names were passed as the
trouble progressed.
Suddenly Romero stopped to the
bottom of the wagon and when he
emerged held in his hands a large
piece OF two by four with which he
struck yalenzuela over the head sew
eral times. killing him almost in
stantly
Romero frightened at his deed
leaped from the wagon. but the act
had been seen by several people, and
the murderer was soon captured. He
was locked up in the Mesa jail by
the authorities who planned to bring
him to the county jail here the fol-
lowing day.
However, that night several Of Ro-
mero's frineds gathered around the
jail and a window was removed. max
ing It possible for the murderer 20
escape. Romero was furnished with
sum OF money, a horse and a con-
siderable amount of provisions, max
ing his escape to the Mexican border
and crossing over into the southern
republic
He remained in Mexico until about
a month ago, when ne returned to
this section, evidently TO see his aged
mother who lives in Phoenix. The
sherifrs Office got wind of his ar
rival day before yesterday and since
that time have been working on the
case.
Both Romero and his victim, Val
enzuela resided at one time In Nc
Dowell. and Deputy Shtrif Adams
who lived there before becoming a
member of Sheriff Hayden's ONCE
force, knew them personally. so was
put on the case.
He heard from various sources
that Romero was in and finally 10
Gated him at the home Of his mother
between Sixth and Seventh on Van
Buren,. where he was arrested this
morning by Deputy Adams
Adams and Murphy stated this az
ternoon that Romero had confessed
his crime to them. making no effort
TO hide HIS guilt
Romero is young man about %
years of age. OF light complexion for
a Mexican. good looking and wen ed.
ucated. speaking English with con
siderablt huency.
When Rore-o ran away from Mesa
he was a beardIess youth, but when
he was discovered this morning by
Deputy Adams he wore a heavy
beard and mustache. evidently with
a view Of Disgusting himself