Arizona republican., 1917-02-14
SHERIFF BUSY PROBING CASE
 WHICH BATTLES

While Sheriff W. H. Wilky and his fathom the mysterious disappearance of Stephen Hughes, well known Southside rancher, George Harmon and John Croft, formerly in the em- ploy of Hughes, and who recently figured in a sensational attempt to holdup, an Fl Paso jewelry store, are held by the Pass City police on re- quest from the Maricopa county au- thorities Circumstances attending the affair and brought to light yes terday through the investigation of Sheriff Wilky have created the De- lief in the minds of the officers and of Tempe citizens generally, that Hughes has met with foul play, that his body has been buried or burned, and that the entire affair will ulti- mately develop sensations rivaling l those of the murder of Carl Peterson 1 by William Faltin in this city two or 1 three years ago.
 | For many years Stephen Hughes
 q confirmed bachelor has lived upon his 160 acre ranch about three miles southeast of Tempe He has em- | ployed several ranch hands at d time and has engaged in dairying, alfalfa raising and renting of pasture lands. | He WIS frequently seen in Tempe and | he had business dealings not only | with Tempe banks but with financial | institutions in this city and in Mesa. Sometime in the middle of Decem- l Der he was reported by Croft and ! Harmon to have leased his ranch to them and to have left for the east, expecting to be married. Other re- ports said to have been circulated by 1 the two young men were at variance l hn ri Ia for Hughes began accEmulatinS, and finally the Tempe postmaster re- ceived a letter from Miss Margaret | Hughes, in Kansas. asking for in l formation regarding her brother. from | whom she had not heard since | December This letter was turned | over to the Farmers and Merchants | Bank. with whom Hughes was known 1 to have had business dealings When request came a day or two ago | from Fl Paso, ostensibly from Hughes, asking that the Texas Bank and Trust Company, be authorized to cash his check for $500, President w. J. | Kingsbury telephoned Former Sheriff Jeff Adams, who was in office in | December, and inquired if he had any | information concerning Hughes and his whereabouts in December. Adams | gave such information as he had in l his possession relating particularly to | the movements of Croft and Harmon.
 As soon as it appeared there was | something more back of the affair | than an unexplained trip of a well l known rancher Sheriff Wilky with deputies from his office, hurried over | to Tempe and instituted an investiga : | tion. While this investigation up to late hour last evening had failed
 to throw any light on the where | abouts of Hughes, it served to de | yeiop so many circumstances linking l Croft and Harmon with his disap | pearance that Sheriff Wilky felt jus
 tified in asking that the men be not released in Fl Paso until the .investi
 gation had proceeded fully here.
 A visit to the Hughes ranch yes
 terday developed that nearly $4.00f
 worth of baled alfalfa. upon which
 Hughes had secured a loan from the
 State Bank of this city. had been
 disposed of, presumably by Croft and
 Harmon, before their departure fol
 Fl Paso It was learned that a large
 amount of this hay had been freighteo
 to Superior and had been disposed oi
 at less than market price, nothwith-
 standing 1t was of first quality.
 check for S431 had been cashed by
 some person other than Hughes. al.
 though the name of Steve Hughes
 had been endorsed on the back. I
 was agreed that the writing was no
 that of Hughes. It was said to tall,
 with that of ono of the young mel
 under arrest in Fl Paso
 The last seen of Hughes in Tempe
 so far as could be learned last even
 ing, was in December when he lief
 town in company with Croft am
 Harmon. He was known to hav
 had at sleast $500 on his person a
 that time and it is possible had tn
 additional $500 he is said to hay
 borrowed on his alfalfa. The thre drove out of town and Hughes ha