Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-03-25
FACTS SHOW MURDER
WAS PREMEDITATED
(From Wednesdays Daily.l


his actions preceding the awful
tragedy of Monday evening at Je-
rome.
Mr.. Bailey had evidently had a
premonition of impending disaster
as he had made his will the Satur-
day preceding and closed up his
business affairs to and including a
specified hour that day in the at
ternoon. in which the simplest &C
counts were considered ard noted
in detail.
Leading up to this tragedy was
a land transaction in the Verde
valley. 1t seems as if Naukijas had
made an optional purchase some
time ago of a tract of land covering
ten acres at a stipulated price OF
$500 per acre, the deal being pro-
NOTED by Mr.. Bailey and Mr.. Helm.
After Naukijas had made large
payment, he stated 20 Bailey and
Helm that the sum per acre paid
by him, was exorbitant the land
being on the market at as low as
$500 per acre later 10 other pros
pective purchasers.
This was the beginning of the
trouble that later developed into
the shooting of Bailey and Helm
and the suicide of the Russian.
According to arrivals yesterday
from Jerome. Mcssrs. Bailey and
Helm had been repeatedly threat
ened. and in order TO avert any
trouble with their patron they
made him many propositions to set
tie the controversy on basis that
would prove mutually agreeable to
all concerned. \ trip to the Verde
was suggested, that Naukijas could
see for himself, and entertain 4
proposition they would submit TO
close up the friction and adjust the
differences prevailing. 1t was ap-
parently agreed between the three
men that the price OF $500 per acre
for the ten acres purchased by Maui
kijas was to be set aside, and that
the market value of SEQ per acre
was to prevail, conditioned, how
ever, on the purchaser taking an
additional acreage to cover the to-
tai sum paid on the original deal.
The land was selected by Naukijas,
when the party started for Jerome
on the return trip.
When near the residence of Chief
OF Police Hawkins in the lower
part of the city. Helm and Nauki-
Jas became involved i'll a dispute
over the last transaction, and in 4
few moments later the tragedy fol-
lowed. just as the auto was coming
around a curve in the grade. Mr..
Helm states he turned his head to
look down the canyon at some OBJ
ject, when the felt a terrific thud
on his head, and he lapsed into an
unconscious state instantly. When
the shooting commenced there
were two miners nearby perform
ing some work on pipe line. They
were eye witnesses OF the tragedy.
Two other miners were also some
distance away. and all give practi-
cally the same version of the at
fair.
Leaning over the scat Naukiias
was seen TO shoot Mr.. Bailey
through the back OF the head as the
latter evidently was cndeavoring to
stop the machine by applying thc
brakes. Naukijas then lcapcd from
the car, and placing the barrel OF
the gun in his mouth. fired, and
fell dead on the roadway. His body
remained there for over an hour
uncared for.
That Naukijas contemplated the
homicide. as well as the dcstruc-
ton of himself was learned ny A
transaction closed on Saturda!y
when he went to the bank aud
drew thcrcfrom every cent he had
on deposit. receiving a foreign mon
cy order draft in favor OF a sister
residing in Russia. He hcodwink
cd Mr.. Bailey by stating he would
meet the payments due. and would
draw the money from the bank
for the land deal. 1t is the belief
of many in Jerome that Naukijas
was mentally unbalanced. In ad-
dilion to threats uttered against
Messrs Bailey and Helm. he also
harborcd fancicd grievances against
other people in that community. He
was known as Peter Miller as
suming that cognomen on account
of the difficulty in pronouncing his
real name.
That Helm and Bailey were
aware of the Russians feeling to-
ward them is known TO be posi-
tive fact Recently when VI. Z. IIaz,
cItine cashier az the Rank az Ari-