Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-06-12
BITTER QUARREL OVER
LAND LEADS TO MURDER
FORMER RESIDENT OF DOUGLAS
KILLED IN NEW MEXICO.
Fencing in Spring Reported to Be
the Cause of the Dispute
and Tragedy.

Frank English, aged about forty
years. a former resident Of Douglas
was shot and killed last Thursday
morning by \. Mackey. the shoot
ing affray resulting from a quarrel of
long standing. The tragedy took place
in the Skeleton Canyon neighborhood
about forty miles from Douglas. and
across the line in New Mexico.
Mackey made good his escape and
has not since been captured.
Word of the killing was first re-
cciVed in Douglas last Friday when a
telephone message was received from
Slaughters ranch asking that officers
be sent out. Later lobe Lacey and
another rancher. neighbors of the two
arrived i'm Douglas. having come for
the purpose of obtaining casket
From Lacey a complete account Of
the affair was obtained.
Some time since English moved in
to land adjoining the holdings Of
Mackey and including in its boundary
running spring. Near this he
graZed a large flock of goats. Mack
ey claimed the spring and, according
to the statement of the ranchers, had
done everything in his power to
chase English away" AS final ex-
pedient he decided to fence in the
spring and thus drive English from
the land.
Yesterday morning Mackey. accom-
panied by his two sons. Albert and
jim; his son-in law, Width" Adams;
his brother-in-law and a Mexican,
went to the home of an invalid named
Carter. who, with his wife, had been
endeavoring to bring about peace be-
tween the warning factions Carter
stated TO Lacey that he had just Sc
cured the consent Of English to with
draw from the land and await the
settlement of the difficulty by the
courts. when Mackey and his party
arrived on the scene.
A few sharp words PASSED between
Mackey and English and the former
drew a revolver from his pocket and
fired once English fell and was dead
in but few minutes, the ball having
plunged through his lung and other
vital organs.
Mackey at once left the scene and is
said to have made his escape. New
Mexico officers who were notified by
the Douglas officials, are now on his
trail
The alarm was given by Jim Mack
ey. son of the alleged slayer. who rode
to a neighboring ranch house and then
to the ranch of Mr.. Lacey Mr.
Lacey and another man, after going
to. the scene of the shooting. started
TO Douglas to secure the coffin.
The dead man was well known in
Douglas. For many years he was en-
ployed by the Douglas Improvement
company later he conducted a meat
market i'm this city He is survived
by a wife and six children English
always impressed local people with
the idea that he was n jolly, free
hearted sort of man, and was always
He was a brother-in-Iaw of Mr.
Prather of Douglas.
Mackey. who did the killing, re-
Gently figured in a case i'm Justice
Rices court as the complaining wit
ness against some man who he al
legged had held him up at the point
of a gun and administered a cursing
Bad blood is said to have existed
between Mackey and several of his
neighbors on account of an indict-
ment that had been returned against
Aackey and some of the nearby
ranchers for alleged cattle stealing.
Mackey is said to have turned states
evidence and, while the other men