The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1913-07-18
CRIME WAVE
SWEEPS OVER
MORENC|
An Unprecedented Era of Violence is
chronicIed Among Foreign Popu-
Iation there Last Week.
3 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED
,Murderers and Dynamiters Cause
Reign of Terror.

Morenci has been in the throes of q
crime wave for the past few days that
is without parallel in the mining
towns history. Three deaths by VIC
lence have been recorded there since
Sunday morning, the home of the
Catholic priest has been dynamited
the home of Justice Lally bears the
marks of revolver bullets and Iawless-
ness and disorder among the lower
classes is said to be on the increase
At 9 a. m. Sunday July 13,
borhood of the Morenci Club house
attracted citizens to the scene of a
murder and suicide
In a residence just below the Club
building, the wife of Antonio Espen-
oza was found mortally wounded by
five revolver shots fired by Antonio
B. Gutierrez, who Immediately after
shooting the woman turned his weap-
on upon himself, sending a bullet
through his brain, and dying instant
1y. It is said that Gutierrez, for
more than two years before the re-
Espenoza, had maintained illicit rela-
tions with her Espenoza has been
employed at the D. c. M. Co. smell
ter, and few days since was severe
ly burned on the feet, being carried
to the D. C. hospital. In his absence
there, and it is supposed made ad-
vances to the woman, who resisted,
which SO angered Gutierrez that he
emptied his revolver into her body,
then in his desperation, shooting him
self.
The dead woman was about 20
years of age, and Gutierrez about 80.
She was shot in the head, arms and
breast. She was carried to the D.
C. hospital, where she fingered in
great agony until her death, which
occurred Monday at noon.
Young Mexican Shoots Another
Before the excitement caused by
this tragedy had subsided, the news
spread that another murder had been
committed. At about $50 Sunday
evening, just in front of the Empire
Theatre, Juan Garcia was shot and
almost instantly killed by young
Mexican named Marin. 1t seems that
no reason for the killing has been
learned, some saying that Garcia, in
a spirit of fun, asked Marin where he
was going, with the result that Marin
fired at him, the ball entering from
behind, just below the right shoulder
piercing the lungs, and passing en-
tirely through the body. After be-
and expired within a few minutes.
Another report is that the young men
the age of neither being more than
1S, had been enemies for some time.
1t will be remem bered that the eld
Marin, the father Of the murderer
of Garcia. some time since, while
employed at the A. C.. concentrator
shot a Mexican workman, one of the
bullets going wild and seriously
Mr.. Davidson, at that time
shift boss in the concentrator. The
elder Marin has never been caught.
nome OF CdtnOiiC FF1cSt DJudfHitCo.
At about midnight Thursday, July
10th the home of Father Call of
the Catholic church at Morenci, was
almost wrecked by the explosion of
a heavy charge of dynamite. All that
saved the life of the priest was that
ne had changed his sleeping rooms
he very night of the crime. The
force of the explosion blew every
window from the house, blew the
1oors from the fastenings, and dam
aged the walls. The shoes of the |
Father were blown into bits, also the
of the house. AS yet no
'eason for this act has been learned.
However, it is said that certain ele-
nent of the population regards the
priest with hatred, but for what /
'eason has not been learned. Two
have been arrested in con- |
lection with this affair, but because
If insufficient evidence, were releas-
ID.
Bullets Fired Into Home of Justice
of the Peace, J. M. LaIly.
The pronounced disregard of the !
aw, on the part of a certain element |
n Morenci, was illustrated there last
night, when pistol shots