The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1914-06-26

On the night of Sunday, june 21,
two men, both Mexicans met a vio-
lent and almost instant death in two
separate encounters with Spanish resi-
dents of Morenci. The first quarrel
which occurred in a saloon at New
town, resulted in the death, by re-
volver wounds inflicted by Jose An
tonic, Spaniard, of Jose Gonzales, a
Mexican. Only an hour later Bar
tolo Luera, who as Gonzales, was a
resident of Morenci, met his death in
difficulty occurring near the Stag
dump of the D. c.. M. company's
smelter, his wounds being inflicted
with large knife. No eye-witnesses
of the latter tragedy have been found.
The rumor is that Spaniards were
responsible for the latter death also
The difficulty which resulted in the
death OF Gonzales was witnessed by
many. Immediately after shooting,
twice, the helpless Mexican the
Spaniard backed from the crowded sa-
loon, holding in his hand the smoking
revolver, an automatic of 32 calibre,
and daring the many witnesses to fol-
low, ran rapidly up the only street of
the town. However, he was pur-
sued, and while running alng the
Stag dump the chase, led by an Ameri-
can named Hill, became so hot that
the murderer suddenly leaped from
the high precipice, and miraculously
escaped both death and his pursuers.
His revolver, lost in the long plunge
down the cliff, was recovered later.
and is now in the possession of the
Morenci officers. He has not vet
been apprehended, and the opinion of
the officers is that he has Completely
escaped from this section of the
state.
Friends of Gonzales state that the
dead man and his aSsailant had been
Off some time ON disagreeable terms.
and that upon meeting in the saloon
Gonzales attempted to again make
peace with the Spaniard, and MAX
ing advances, which in the intoxicated
state of both men, apparently were
not properly considered by the SPAN
lard, he appearing angered at the
friendly overtures of Gonzales. Upon
the Mexican attempting to give his
left hand to the Spaniard for friendly
the latter suddenly drew his
revolver and fired twice into the
stomach of the Mexican, who fell to
the floor and died within few minu-
tes.
The death of Luera, which occurred
later in the night at almost the ex-
act place where the SpaniaAd made
good his escape from his pursuers was
not Witnessed by any who have yet in
formed the officers to that effect.
IN connection with the death of
Luera is the report that Immediately
after the shooting of Gonzales, he
Luera, attracted by the many people
gathered about the dying man, en-
tered the saloon and inquired the
cause of the excitement. When told
that Mexican was mortally wound
mt
ter1al, as many others could take his
place. A few minutes later he left
Tor MS home in the main portion of
Morenc1, and was set upon by what
are supposed to have been -Spaniards
who were in Newtown at the time of
the killing of Gonzales, and mortally
wounded by deep knife thrusts. In
formation that the Mexican was lying
along the tracks of the
smelter railway reached officers. who
responded, and with the assistance of
other Americans carried the dying
man to the A. C. company's hospital.
where in his death statement he re-
quested that no punishment be given
his assailants, as for reasons known
to himself he desired that no action
be taken. He did not tell the names
of the persons guilty of his death, and
they are yet unknown to the officers.
Many Injured.
On the same night which witnessed
the killing of the two men a number
of brawls occurred among the Mexi--
can population, the result being the
serious wounding of four other Mexi-
cans, all of whom were carried to
the hospital, where the condition of
one is expected to result fatally, this
man being almost disemboweled The
stabbing of one of the men, brother
Spaniards who killed Luera.