The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-10-19
GEORGE WASHINGTON PHILIPS

George Washington Phillips, one of the few remaining old timers oi the Duncan valley, was found deau in the Black hills Monday morning at about o'clock, after searching nartv ., scoure1 hills for m the entire right ana portion oi ' .e previous cay. MT Philips had left nunc:n g few days befure on hunt- ing trip and the horse he had with him returned to it's pasture on Sun day lnorning, which gave occasion for friends and relatives to worry as to what had happened to him.
 A number of men searched for MT. Phillips without success all day sun day and on Monday morning another party started out from town al ;ahout 7:30 o'clock in search for the missing man, whom, 1t was reared haG probably met with an accident and was unable to make his way tc town.
 Ali about 6 o'clock on Monday morning. or shortly after daybreak a party composed of George Philips a son. N. P. Dees and Constable George Spaw, who had been in the hills all night, found the remains o1 the unfortunate old gentleman at Yoint about ten miles from Duncan. r. anneared as if he had fallen over busb he was attempting to shoot al door which he had prevlousiy wonnded. He fell down the hill ana his head struck a large Douloer ms h -esulting instantaneously imdgine by the position of the oody as there was no signs that the man b.d moved after falling. His gun ryas underneath him, filled with cart ridges. with one unexploded sneli ln the breach. e, Other men who were searching 1ol the unfortunate man soon came ul to where the body was found. lne remajns were brought to town latel in the day, the funeral occurring al o'clock on Monday eVening' . large number of friends Of the per eayed family attending. intermen taking place in the local cemetery George Washington Phillips wa born at Memphis, Tenn.' on 1anual: n, 6. 1851. When a young man ne cam west and at Llano, Texas, was nai r;ed 10 Ella Marcella Irwin, who SUI ,-ivas him In 1897 the family mo cd to Duncan, where they nave slnc
 
 to them. two of whom, Joseph an i1 Harvev have passed away. The cnii ren surviving are as follows: MT Nora Sloane of Los Angeles, Hug 6 of Clifton, Irwin of Oregon, Orrl of Hurley, N. M., George o1 DuI can James and Dean in the u. ernv and Bert and Howard at nom
 MT Phillips was probably kno" r,ora neople in this vicinity tha any other man in Duncan, ana Il II sudden demise is regretted Dy 2, ,hn knew him. The family has u sympathy of all.
 coroner's Inquest.
 The coroner's inquest, lnVeStisatii u inc death of Geci se w Philips Wi haId on Tuesday morning at the u tice court. R. l.. Reid, coroner offcio, presiding. The lury w composed of the following: 'ol Evans, foreman; Joseph |. con w. F. Foster, w. Y. Wltt' I- Head and W. V. McCarty.
 The witnesses examined were P. Dees and Constable George opa The testimony of the former o" with the conditions under which t remains were found. He testifi as to hearing a number Of shots
 abo,,t 4 or o'clock on Saturd evening. while he was out huntl in the vicinity where MT. Phili' was also in search of game. Si that he heard no further shootlr When the body was fOund 1t was
 ipg in such a position as to sh conclusively how the unfortuns man had met his death. His he was lv+~~ n~airst boulder, tho witre~s ,vae If the opinion tl death Wis caused by the blow tained when the man fell. Also
 tified as to there being no signs an, gunshot wounds, and that
 rifle of .IIe lead man was loaded.
 masazine being full Of cartridges one car;rid"n remained in the Ii not having h"en fired.
 Constable Sp,:w testified as
 finding the body, and his eEide1 was > c*ec. similar to that Of De Said ;t., hn ';"tievnd death caused hv the WouRd inflicted on
 righ. ta:ac!c. causing hy fail acainSt a 'aree i,2i1''!c:..
 Ire Try returned a verdict to
 effect t!."' the Gecedert came to
 d2e.I ..A thc -esult of a fall.