The copper era., 1911-04-07
DUEL TO THE DEATH
 FOUGHT AT MORENCI
Constable Len Scott and Deputy Sheriff George Johnson Engage In Quarrel Early Friday
 Morning and Both Men Are Killed


 AS a result of duel, fought on the
 Main street of New Town at Morenci,
 shortly after o'clock Friday morn- ing, George Johnson and Len Scott
 were both killed, dying a few min- utes apart.
 The shooting occurred at close range the participants being only few feet distant as the fatal shots were fired. Johnson died almost instantly. Scott lived about forty-five minutes but died before he could be removed to the hospital.
 Both men were peace officers. Geo. Johnson was interpreter for the Jus tice court at Morenci and held con- mission as deputy sheriff from Sheriff English. Len Scott was Constable of Morenci precinct having been elect ed in 1908.
 The immediate cause of the shoot ing was 8 quarrel between the two men on the Main street of New Town just after daylight Friday morning One version of the affair is that the quarrel started In the saloon and was continued in the street In the quar- rel, according to the statement of wit nesses, Scott accused Johnson of be- ing "spotter" for the Detroit Cop per Co. This accusation Johnson de- nied. The quarrel became bitter. Finally Johnson was heard to say: c. A you'll have to stand for it," was Scott's answer. Johnson pulled his gun. Almost at the same instant Scott pulled his gun. The two men were then facing each other four or five feet apart. According to the story Johnson fired the first shot which went wild then both men took deliberate aim and fired at the same time. Both bullets found the same spot, both men being shot through the forehead. Johnson carried g calibre six shooter on a 45 frame. Scott used a 45 calibre six shooter.
 Upon arrival of medical aid it was found that the 32-bulIet fired at Scott had penetrated the head above the right eye. His removal to the hos pitaI was done as quickly as possible, but upon arrival there he only lived about 20 minutes, as his case was hopeless.
 During the night prior to the shoot ing Scott assisted the officers from Clifton, led by Customs Inspector H. s. Creighton, in making raid on the Chinese lauDdries in Morenci in a search for opium. He assisted in car rying Johnny Garnett to the hospi- tai at Morenci when the deputy sher- fir from Clifton had his leg broken by falling from the roof of Chinese laun- dry. Together with the officers from Clifton Scott returned to Newtown about o'clock Friday morning and was present when the party departed for Clifton about 4:3O a. m. Johnson was present at the same time. Both men had been in the same crowd dur ing the night and no hard words had been passed. Scott had made prepa- rations to go to bis ranch that morn ing and did not retire, expecting to get an early start Johnson and Scott had several drinks together in the same crowd. A few minutes before the shooting occurred Scott was heard to fell Johnson to keep away from him, that he did not want anything to do with his kind. They argued Co, o tir,a i,, fba aaT0Op TOhna0,, r,1ak ing the remark that he was as good a friend to Scott as he had in the county. The two men then went into the street, where the quarrel was re- stunned. Some of the witnesses state that Scott was talking and rolling cigarette, when Johnson pulled his gun and fired the first shot, which went wild. Scott got his gun to his