Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-09-25
Bill Stewart and Jim Steele
In County Jail
ON THEIR WAY TO GLOBE
Sheriff Thompson Says the
Men Admit Killing Globe
Hunters, But Claim Act
Was Committed in Self
Defense After Quarrel.

With their prisoners handcuffed and
shackled with a heavy leg chain,
Sheriff ]. II. Thompson of Gila county
and Deputies c. NJ. Dean and w. p.
Drew arrived in this city last even
ing, having in custody Bill Stewart
and Jim Steele, self confessed slayers
of Fred Kibbe and a. F. Hillpot of
Globe. The prisoners were lodged in
the county Jail last night and this
evening Sheriff Thompson will start
with them on the last leg of his long
journey from Adamana, where the
men were captured after one of the
most spectacular chases of recent
years, to Globe, the county seat of
the county in which the killing oc-
CURED.
According to Sheriff Thompson, the
two men admitted to him that they
killed Kibhe and Hillpot, but each
claims that the act was committed in
selfe-defense during a quarrel over
dog. Sheriff Thompson, however,
stated that his investigation falls far
short of bearing out the contention of
the prisoners and that, in his opinion,
it was a cold-blooded murder.
Steele and Stewart had each been
members of Troop z, Fifth United
States cavalry. located at Fort yell
lowstone, Wyoming. Stewart received
honorable discharge about one year
ago while Steele was discharged about
seven months ago. Recently they es-
tablished a camp at an abandoned
ford station about forty-five miles
from Globe and not far from Fort
l,a alaa or on
gineer, and FIillpot, a cigar store pro-
prietor of Globe. found shelter on the
night of September Is while upon a
hunting expedition.
On the morning OF the following
day, Edward Johnson, a Fort Apache
teamster. hauling passengers from
Fort Apache to Rice, crossed the ford
and found the dead bodies of the two
men. He carried the news to Rice.
and from there a telegram was sent
to Sheriff Thompson, notifying him of
the murder Then ensued a chase
which lasted six days and eliminated
on Thursday night at Adamana, many
miles from the scene of the killing.
Before leaving the camp, Stewart
and Steele possessed themselves of
the hats, guns. revolvers, ammunition
and horses of the dead men. 1t is
also believed they robbed the bodies
of upwards of 800 which friends of
the dead men say it was known they
carried with them to meet contingent
expenses incidental to their hunting
trip. 1t is claimed they even took the
shoes from the feet of the dead men,
but evidently found they would not
fit and so left them.
Sheriff Thompson said last night
that he had expected to encounter a
spirited resistancef rom the men, but
said that when he and his prisoners
finally came together he and his dep
uty were so situated that they man
aged to secure the drop on Steele and
Stewart before they were aware that
they were observed. The men were
known to be heading for Adamana
and Sheriff Thompson and Deputy
Dean managed to round them and
reach Adamana in advance In the
evening the officers lay in wait at
the railroad water tank, knowing that
the two men would be obliged to come
there for water. About o'clock
Steele and Stewart were seen walking
down the track together. They had
cached their rifles and carried only
sidearms. When they came within
the shadow of the tank the officers
poked the muzzles of their rifles al
most into the faces of the men and
commanded them to throw up their
hands. Taken completely by surprise
and realizing that the officers would
take no chances. they complied. They
exhibited great surprise at finding the
officers still at Adamana, stating they
knew the man hunters had been there
in the afternoon but supposed they
had gone on.
The men were disarmed and were
chained together. All night Sheriff
Thompson and Deputy Dean sat
guard over them in the grocery store
of Al Stevens at Adamana and yes
terday started on their return jour
ney Deputy Drew. who had been at
Holbrook. Joined the party just be-
fore il left Adamana.
Steele and Stewart have the ap-
pearance of desperate men and it is
considered fortunate that the officers
were enabled to effect their capture
without a serious encounter.