Arizona republican., 1916-07-13

Editorial Department, City. Gentlemen: In your issue of July 1 12th, there appeared on Page 10 there Of, an article headed Death Sentence for the Azbill Brothers" and this let ter is for the purpose of giving an outline of the case with facts taken from the testimony at the trial in Flagstaff. Arizona. A body was found in the J. D. Dam (Johnson Cattle Co tank) about IS miles southeast of Williams, Ari- zona, about the 26th day of last Oc- tober. skull was introduced in evi- dence, purporting to be the skull of Henry O.. Thomas, alleged to be mur- dered by the Azbil brothers during October, 1915.
 The evidence further showed, by three witnesses, that there was a body In that dam on September the 9th, 1915. the same being seen there by these witnesses.
 The Azbills proved their alibi as to the very day in October, as to their whereabouts by nearly 100 witnesses that saw them on the road to King man from Phoenix during the month of October last. There is no cvi- | dence that Henry O. Thomas is dead other than the skull which was intro duced in evidence and identified as being the skull of Thomas by the | teeth, there was not particle of flesh on this skull and the court nor the 1 jury do not know whether or not there l is in existence the rest of the body | the prosecution was not compelled on motion of counsel for the defend l ants, to produce the body of the de- ceased or allow the jury to view the | remains The evidence further show ed that the nearest point to this dam wherein the body was found these Azbllls were was sixty miles or more. | The deductions from the evidence is that Thomas may still be alive in the mountains somewhere as he is an customer anxious to see the wilds of Arizona, and hunt, fish, trap and prospect
 On october last, Willis Azbil and Henry O. Thomas started for King man via Prescott on the Black Can yon road. with a burro team, wagon and camping outfit with the inten- ton of going to Kingman, Arizona. prospecting Thomas had about SIP with him in cash. When they reach ed New River, they overlook Henry Azhll and the three travelled togeth- CT. When the trio reached Black Canyon postoffice. Thomas left the outfit and started on foot to Turkey Station. the nearest railroad and went ! to Prescott, since that time neither the Azbills nor Thomas friends and relatives have heard or seen anything of him. Thomas had an appointment with a girl in Prescott on a Monday. and the burros could not make Pres colt by that time. because one of the burros became foundered and was crippled. From this point to the dam 1t is nearly 100 miles as the crow flies. From this point. the Azbills travelled on to Kingman and proved their whereabouts and stopping places every day till apprehended
 The feeling ran very high in Co., conino county against the Axbills and the case has been appealed to the supreme court of Arizona. Every ef- fort will be made to save the lives of the condemned men on such evidence as presented.
 As to motives. there could not have been any, for the killing of Thomas his only assets being about SIP iu cash and personal belongings. besides the evidence showed good friendship between Thomas and Azbill
 The statement in your paper that the victim was first shot, is denied and chased as an invention for pur- poses other than fairness through tho press The skull showed a slight dent or two such as any ordinary skull may show. being incurred during tho life period And the only doctor tes- tifying on the stand for the prose cution opinioned that the dents might be caused by a blow from a blunt in strument.
 Willis Azbil leaves a one-armet wife. and a son about nine years o age; Henry Azbill lost his wife on tn, trip from Phoenix to Kingman aftei leaving Kingman for Gold Roads. by accident
 As to Attorney General Wiley Jone. saying that if the Azbills made ap plication for parole, he will refus. such clemency and further. that h, knows the history of this murder ant is conversant with the reputation o the Azbill brothers and further so ia as he is concerned. there will be n, legal action taken to stop the execu tions imposed by judge and jury Tn Azbills themselves, their friends am relatives do not believe that the At torney General made such statements at least not for publication. more o account of the high public office h holds
 THE MOTHER OF THE AZBILLS