Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-07-13
W. A. Thompson of Desert
Wells Shoots NJ. f. Fewel,
Well Known Freighter,
Eleven Miles East of Mesa
Sunday Morning
FATAL BULLET
/ ENTERED FROM BACK
Wounded Man Turns on As
sailant and Severely Beats
Him Over Head With
Pistol = Thompson i'll
Custody 81.
Especial 10 The Rennblicanl


MESA, Ariz., July 12.-M +. Few
ell, a freighter Of long experience and
well known in this valley was shot
and killed by W. A. Thompson this
morning at l0:30 o'clock at a place
on the Roosevelt Road three miles
east of Desert Wells. The bullet that
caused the death of the freighter en-
tered the body a little to the rear
of the left side and below the heart.
Death ensued about ten minutes af
ter the fatal shot was fired. Jmme-
diately after FeWel was shot he
turned upon his assaliant and with
a pistol grabbed from a friend on
nearby wagon beat Thompson over
the head pretty badly with the wea
pom Then he .crumpled and died.
With the assistance of another
freighter Thompson with the blood
streaming from the wounds in his
head carried the dead man some fiji
teen feet to the shelter Of wagon.
and placing the body on the ground
fell into a dead faint beside it.
The Globe stage was coming by about
that time and Thompson was put in
and taken to his home at Desert
Wells. and the officers at Mesa no.
titled. Marshal Peyton and Coroner
Irwin accompanied by Dr. Greer went
Immediately to the scene of the kill
ling. Sheriff Adams was notified at
Phoenix and he arrived shortly after
accompanied by Constable Murphy of
the Phoenix precinct and Assistant
Attorney Candy.
AS soon as the necessary medical
attention could be given Thompson
the party returned to Mesa with the
wounded man in custody. The cor
oner viewed the remains, ordered
them taken to Smiths morgue in this
city and set the inquest for 10 o'clock
Monday morning. Thompson was
then taken on into Phoenix and lodg
ed in the county jail.
The story of the trouble as told by
Thompson and his wife is that Fewel,
who was man about fifty years of
age, drove to Desert Wells early this
morning and alighted at the Thomp-
son store for the purpose of purchas-
ing some tobacco. The travelling
party was made up of two loaded
freight wagons with the nee
essary teams. The driver of the Sc
cond outfit is named ] Walters, and
Fewel was accompanied by William
Packard, a son of Florence Packard
of Roosevelt. for whom Fewel was
freighting and to whom was consign-
ed two loads that were then being
taken along the Roosevelt road east
to their destination.
According to Mrs. Thompson Fewel
after obtaining the tobacco entered
into some conversation with her and
made proposal to her to which she
took exception, at the same time
placing his hand on her shoulder.
She resented the action and told him
/ if he did not desist she would scream
and the men outside would then come
in to her assistance Muttering some
reply. Fewel left, boarded his wagon
and started east.
Thompson. who had been away
from the house all this while
attending to some matters connected
with the homestead upon which they
lived. shortly returned and was told
! of the incident by his wife. 1t took
but few minutes for him to hitch
up his horse and find his gun,
80 double action six shooter. and
start after Fewel and his friends. He
came up with them about three miles
east of Desert Wells.
Thompson maintains that he pur-
sued Fewel with the intention of
making him return to the house and
apologize to his wife However, the
story of the witnesses to the tragedy
after Thompson overlook the freigh-
! ter and his men is that he tried to
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