The copper era and Morenci leader., 1914-07-10

Morenci was the scene on the even
 ing of Tuesday, July ', of the death
 of J. A. Wamsley, long a resident of
 Arizona, through the mistake of his ;son-in-law, R. B. Lewis, the latter mis-
 taking his relative for an intruder,
 and firing from large calibre re-
 volver, striking the aged man in the
 heart and causing almost instant
 death.
 According to the evidence submit
 ted by MT. and Mrs. Lewis, and
 Mrs. Wamsley, at the inquest held
 soon after the tragedy, Lewis for some time has been threatened by
 Mexicans who are angered because of
 action taken by Lewis to preserve
 quiet in his neighborhood along the
 Eagle Creek road At about ten O.
 clock on the evening of the tragedy
 Mrs. Lewis heard some one enter
 the gate leading to the lawn and
 house, and called to her husband,
 sleeping in an adjoining room, that
 aSman was entering the yard. Lewis
 arose, and without taking time to
 change his sleeping garments step
 ped upon the porch in search of the intruder. At this time Wamsley, who
 had heard the conversation between Lewis and his wife, also arose and
 left the house. Wamsley had joined
 in the conversation concerning the search, telling Lewis to be careful, as
 his wife was in danger from the in-
 truder. Wamsley left the house by the rear door, and began, without Lewis knowledge, a search for the man. Lewis turned to the right in
 his search, while Wamsley after leaving the rear door turned to the left, with the result that the later suddenly came face to face with his -Son-in-law who in his excitement without warning pulled the trigger of the revolver. Wamsley fell to the ground, calling in grief and terror to Lewis, realizing that his relative had shot him through mistake. He did not speak after the first exclamation, dying almost immediately thereafter.
 Jas. Zumwalt, deputy sheriff, states that he, residing near the Lewis home, heard the shot and ex- -clamations of the relatives of the dying man, and ran to the scene. He persuaded Mir. and Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Wamsley to go to the Harris home, nearby, as the relatives were in a very excited condition. Soon after arriving there, zumwalt heard Lewis calling to him that a Mexican was trying to escape. The officer thought that Lewis had become de- ranged with grief, yet he responded, and following the direction indicated by the Lewis people saw Mexican crawling away alongside the rear wooden wall enclosing the Lewis home. Zumwalt called to the man to arise, which he failed to do until the officer struck him with his foot. The Mexican appeared to be without knowledge of any of the commotion caused by the shooting of Wamsley, declaring then and after being car ried to the jail that he could not re- where he had been through out the evening" Two bottles of | port wine were found on his person.
 This tragedy has bowed Morenci | with grief, for to it's tragic features l are added the long residence here and in surrounding sections of the | qualities. Lewis also has for about | twelve years been resident of Mo- i renci, where he has long been em- ployed with the Phelps-Dodge people, | his present employment with them be- ing as chief of the grocery section.
 MT. Wamsley was about seventy years of age. He leaves property consisting of residences here, and a ranch in the Bonita river section. He has been accustomed to spend | quite a portion of his time with the Lewis family at Morenci, Mrs. Lewis being an adopted daughter, while portion of the year was spent on his ranch. He bore an extensive ac- 11aintance here, as well as at other sections of the state, where he resided ,or many years, being one of the old est and most long resident pioneers ,f the state. The funeral occurred ,n the afternoon of Thursday, at the Morenci cemetery. Rev. Kritch- )aum conducted the services, which 1 were attended by a large number of ( friends and relatives of the deceased { md his relatives. The Phelps-Dodge tore was closed throughout the day t n respect of the deceased. (