Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1913-10-22
IN DEFENSE OF HIS
LIFE AND PROPERTY



Exonerated upon the grounds that
he had acted in defense of life and
property, Michael Mcbride. who shot
and killed William F. Edwards at
midnight on October 9th in front
OF his Seligman establishment. was
last night freed from any charge.
Mcbride was released upon the sug-
gestion of County Attorney P. w.
O'Sullivan. who declared that with
the evidence offered mo grand jury
in the country would indict and no
trial jury convict the defendant"
This action was taken following
preliminary hearing before Justice
of the Peace Charles H. McLane.
The county attorney delivered argu-
ments in summing up which proved
in the nature of an exoneration OF
McBride's act. Under the laws OF
the state" pointed out the county
attorney, "a man doesn't have TO
take risks of this kind"
No eyewitness to the shooting
was available McBride's story OF
the shooting was the only version
offered at the hearing and it was
practically upon the strength OF the
defendants testimony that the case
was terminated abruptly in the jus
tice OF the peace's court.
The Case.
Mcbride, upon the witness stand.
repeated his former tale of the
shooting and the circumstances sur
rounding the homicide. He told how.
shortly before midnight, he was
aroused while asleep upon the cOun-
ter in his establishment by voices
upon the outside.
Mcbride said that he always slept
upon a counter and covered himself
with a Navajo blanket during the
summer months. Arising from the
counter on this night he asked what
was wanted. \ voice from the out
side demanded to get in. Mcbride
declared that he told the person
to go away and his warning wa
only rewarded by curses and some
more kicking upon the door.
Told that the door would b.
knocked in if he didn't open II
| Mcbride said he secured his auto
matte gun and shot through tn
door and walls. AT the time McBrld
did not know how many were out
side the door nor whether he ha
hit anyone.
After the noise had subsidized h
declares that he went to the doc
cautiously opened it and peere
outside. There he observed tn
body of Edwards lying in hea
} upon the ground.
2 People were aroused. physical
. called and Mcbride spent the r.
mainder of the night in the Harve
. house.
According to Mcbride, who
: postmaster at Seligman as well
j. one of the wealthiest merchants
T. the city. he had over $500 i'll Gil
t rency in the store at the tim
= He values his stock at $4,000.
G DR.. F. II. Cartmell of Seligma
r. Deputy Sheriff Bartlett OF Ash Fol
and Justice of the Peace Sheive
also of Ash Fork were called
witnesses for the prosecution. ii
testimony concurred in placing Il
height OF the victim at six feet al
weight at about 200 pounds. II
:, fatal bullet was declared to ha
e entered the back several inches b
} low the left shoulder blade, pass
: through the heart and lungs and o
1t through the front at point belo
Ie the ribs. The victim staggered +
y about fifteen feet from the door al
1t expired upon the ground. The she
II were declared to have been fired
random.
IS Attorney r. F. Morrison for t
g defendant based the defense up
te iustifiable homicide. He quoted
4 chapter from the codes dealing WI
-r homicideS of this nature. The cou
tv attorney in delivering his exc
Grafton OF Mcbride quoted the sal
law