The copper era and Morenci leader., 1913-05-16
OFFICER HAD A CLOSE CALL
Two Mexicans BY Their Rash Act
Come to Bad Ending-One Dead
And One in Jail.

And One in Jail.
On Saturday night last about 9:30
p. m. while resisting arrest in North
Clifton at the hands of Deputy Mar
shall Ellis Wright and Bert Higgins,
VINO had been called on for assist
ance, Officer Wright was compelled,
as an act of self defense, to shoot and
kill Augustin Alderette. Francisco
Barella, companion of Alderette,
was overpowered by Higgins and is
now in Jail on charge of assault
with intent to kill and resisting an
officer
The two Mexicans were intoxicated
and on their way home in the district
beyond North Clifton known as the
North Pole.
When they reached the residence
section near the North Clifton School
House, they were in hilarious mood.
They were yelling and singing and
creating disturbance. AS they
reached point opposite the residence
occupied by Mr.. Wright he walked
out onto the street accompanied by
Higgins, and placed the two men un-
der arrest for disturbing the peace.
He started down the street with them
in the direction of the town Jail.
After going a short distance the TWO
culprits begged the officer for leniency
H.
pledge to be good and go home the
officer released them and started
back to his house. The Mexicans had
only gone q short ways when they
commenced their disturbance again
and cursed the officer. Higgins and
Wright hurried up the street and in
tercepted the two Mexicans again on
the railroad track in the rear of the
North Clifton school house AS the
IN rinc, 10
rest the two men again, both of them
drew butcher knives and in second
both officers were engaged in a
deadly combat, Higgins graphing
with Barella and Officer Wright try
ing to overpower A1derette. Wright
was Slashed on the left side with a
knife by AIderette, also in the hand |
In the scuffe both the officer and !
Alderette fell to the ground and as
Alderette was bending over Wright |
with drawn knife in his hand the |
prostrate officer fired the bullet from
his six shooter entering the body of |
Alderette just over the collar bone /
on the right side and ranged down
ward. A1derette lived less than an
hour after being shot. In the mean
time Higgins, who is a husky young |
fellow had thrown Barella to the |
sround and taken his knife away from
him. The cries of the officers for
help brought Deputy Marshal Franz
quickly to the scene and throwing
placed him under arrest and took him
to the county Jail. Alderette was
removed to the roadway in front of
the Franz store DR.. Elliott was
summoned and the wounded man was
started to the hospital in an auto
mobile but died on the way.
Sunday morning Justice Leonard
summoned a coroner's jury consist
ing of George Montgomery, Foreman;
Paul F. Crowley, Chas. Alexander,
Mark Bradbury, ]. B. Pate, c. Knick
srbocker, who after examining the L
witnesses brought in verdict of ez-
oneration for the officer finding that
the deceased came to his death by a
gun shot wound fired by Officer
Wright in the discharge of his duty
and in self defense. +,
Testimony of Witnesses.
DR.. Elliott testified as follows:
1 was summoned to North Clifton !
by telephone message about $50 p. l.
q. on Saturday nighgt, May 10, 1913. Ii
1 found the deceased lying in front /
Of Franz store in the road, When II
arrived the deceased had already lost
q large amount of blood caused by a {
death. A bullet had entered on the !
right side above the collar bone. The t
collar bone was fractured and the {
bullet ranged downward. The big i
vein under the collar bone was cut. I
Death was caused from hemorrhage t
and the wounded man lived about 10
thirty or forty minutes after being c
shot. When l arrived he was breath d
ng shallow and his heart beating t
slowly. The deceased died
low death from hemorrhage. b
started with him for the. hospital L
md he died on tne way b
Ellis Wright testified as follows f,
L was seated on my front porch IN a
North Clifton when tive MeXicans l!
anne up the street from town raising h
he devil; shouting anu making a dis 81
urbance. L went out to them and il
old them to cut it out; that they haG T
cen raising the devil in that neigh tt
orhood for several nights previous Sc
told them | was going to place them OF
nder arrest and take them to jail.
sked Bert Higgins to help me. We 81
tarted down the street in North Cliff OF
3n with them towards town. They al
tarted to beg me to turn them loose OF
he deceased said: 81 have got a br
imily, and if you will let me go l or
i'll be good and go home" Then tn