Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1913-10-01
StCONO HtAR|Nt
ON MURDER
CHARGE
JUDGE M'LANE DECIDES
TODAY WHETHER MAY
CLARKE SHALL FACE
TRIAL FOR KILLING

was arrested 1OllOWinS Ine ldIdl
shooting Of Charles Pitts at Selig-
man, was yesterday given prelim-
mary hearing before Justice of the
Peace Charles II. McLane. Deci-
sion as to whether the prisoner will
he bound over TO stand trial upon
the charge OF murder or released
from custody will be made at 10
o'clock this morning.
The checkered though brief his
tory OF the case served as an IN
centive for scores OF people to make
the local Superior Court room where
the hearing was held a mecca for
their days sojourn. Aside from
the many witnesses subpOenaed from
Seligman, the scene Of the shoot
ing, there were also :; least TWEEN
ty-fve other people from Ash Fork
and Seligman who made the trip.
The bulk of the testimony offered
at the hearing was practically
rehearsal OF the Ash Fork hearing
on September p, when Justice Of
the Peace Sheively released the
prisoner from custody. The trans
cribed testimony OF the previous
hearing was referred to by both
County Attorney O'Sullivan and
counsel for the defendant, R. P.
Talbot. at various intervals during
the REORGANIZATION of Witnesses
Commencing at II O'Clock, the
hearing proceeded until the noon
hour, four witnesses being examined
during that length OF time. AT
100 o'clock the recess concluded
and the session adjourned shortly
before 4 o'clock.
Maria Harvey, who declared she
was a fellow sporting girl to the
defendant, was the first witness
called to testify. She told how
Charles Pitts, the victim OF the
shooting. had knocked at her door
upon the night OF the shooting. She
opened the door, she declared, and
then Pitts went away 4 minute
later she heard a shot She ran
to the door, opened it and found
Pitts hing upon the ground moan
ing in front OF May Clark's door
DR.. \. L. Tilton OF Kingman, who
joined the wounded man on the
train in his race with death for Los
Angeles. told the tale OF the trip
leading up TO the last moment OF
Pitts life.
" J. Mckay. who is connected
with one of the saloons al Selig
man. proved one OF the most dam
/ aging witnesses arrayed against the
defense. Mckay told of sitting
within speaking distance of May
Clark few moments before the
shooting occurred. He testified 10
Pitts movements before the shoot
ing, as follows:
Pitts after leaving the Maria Har-
vey threshold walked to May Clark 5
room, paused and continued upon
his way. As Pitts disappeared
from view, Mckay saw May Clark
reach under her pillow for some OBJ
ject. grab il and insert it beneath
her garment. He presumed ii was
a gun.
Mckay then left the scene and
returned TO the saloon entering by
the rear entrance. just as he
reached the pool table he heard ;
shot. The proprietor Of the sa-
loon and himself looked nonplusseC
for moment at each other and
then both dashed from the estab:
lishment to find Pitts lying upor
the ground in front OF May Clark.
door
Henry Dow. also of Seligman
thSw some light upon a recon
quarrel between the defendant anC
the victim, which was attended by
the firing of two shots, BOWS ties
timony indicated, that the shots is
sued from a room in which May
Clark was alone. Pitts and Dow
who were nearby at the time, rar
for their lives after the SECOND
shot was fired
History of the Case.
May Clark shot and MORALLY
wounded Charles Pitts shortly befor,
midnight at Seligman, September 9
When arrested, she alleged self-de
Tense. Pitts died twelve hours aft
er the shooting while en- route c
I Los Angeles.
Arraigned before Justice of til,
Peace Sheivley OF Ash Fork or
Setember p, she was released from
custody. This action upon the Off
calls part caused a Juror of ex
) element throughout the county
/ County Attorney P w. O'Sullivar
became Immediately active. Jane.
A. Pitts, a brother of the victim
, swore out a second complaint, MAY
, Clark was rearrested in this city
/ twenty-four hours after her releas'
, and a preliminary hearing before
. Justice of the Peace McLane or
dered.