Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-08-12

closed a six ounce blood clot in the
left temple caused presumably by
blow from a blunt instrument
The death is attended by many pc
culiar and unique features.
Nothing is known of Torres other
than that he was about thirty-hve
years of age and a regular habitue
of the Mexican section of the city,
labored every now and then and
played cards quite frequently at
night.
Early Friday evening, the sheriff's
Office was notified of a cutting af-
fair in the Mexican district Deputy
Sheriff Bob Henderson was detail
ed to the scene and arrested Torres
following a complaint by several
men in the room. The tale they
told then and also yesterday before
Coroner McLane and his inquest
jury was to the effect that Tor
res had suddenly jumped into the
room when a Mexican named Thed
Garcia was lying upon the bed and
without further ceremony proceed
ed to bury a short knife into his
back. A number of men were play
ing in the room at the time and
they testified TO Torres acting like
a wild man and to his making the
assault without any provocation
whatsoever.
While the tale appeared decidedly
weak to the coroner and his jury,
the manner in which all statements
concurred from all of the Mexican
witnesses left but one course open
to believe it. Just why Torres should
rush into the room suddenly and
bury a knife into Garcia's back is
a mystery so far as the officials
are concerned.
Deputy Sheriff Henderson took
Torres in charge and headed for
the county jail. En- route the pris-
oner offered some resistance but
Henderson finally persuaded him to
the bars and cell. Torres was plac-
ed in a cell about o'clock, Thurs
day night. Sometime between then
and yesterday morning when the
jailor opened the heavy iron doors
to allow the cook to serve break
fast to the prisoners, Torres breath
ed his last.
A prisoner in an adjoining cell
declared upon examination that he
heard groans shortly after mid
night but that all became quiet at
about 2 a. m. Believing that his
neighbor was simply rounding back
to his normal demeaxor after in
dulging too freely the night before.
he paid no attention.
Torres was found lying prone up
on his back, his arms and lower
limbs rigid. There was not sign
upon his head or body to indicate
a violent death. The corpse was
ordered removed to Ruffner's NOR
que where DR.. Southworth conduct
ed the autopsy in the presence OF
the coroner and his jury.
First glance failed to display any
outward cause for the sudden death.
Torres, apparently was of good
physique and enjoyed excellent
health. DR.. Southworth then COM
menced his probe and the startling
disclosure of the heavy blood clot
followed.
The physician declared his belief
that murder had been committed
and the coroner's jury Immediately
commenced to probe further and
deeper into the matter. A dozen wit
nesses, many OF whom had been in
the room when Torres committed
his assault were summoned but their
tales threw no light upon the trag
edy other than to further compli-
cate matters. All OF the witnesses
held steadfastly to their assertions
that there had been no other vio-
lence committed in the room other
than that of Torres attack upon
Garcia in the bed.
Garcia was taken to the Office of
County Physician DR.. H. T. South
worth where he was examined and
his wound dressed. 1t was declared
not dangerous and during the al
ternoon OF the inquest, Garcia ap-
peared and offered his testimony.
After conducting an inquest which
lasted nearly all day, the jury re-
turned verdict that Torres had
come to his death through a blood
clot, the cause of which is unknown.
1t is possible that the clot may
have been gathering for several days
following a blow from blunt in
strument and that this was the
cause of Torres wild frame OF mind
which led to his assault upon Gar
cia.