The copper era and Morenci leader., 1918-06-21
SKULL FRACTURED
 WHILE HE SLEPT
SLIM FERGUSON FOUND DEAD AT HOME OF NEiGHROR WITH WHOM HE SPENT THE NIGHT -MONEY MISSING. ..

Last Friday morning the. authori- ties were called upon to investigate a death at Morenci, the circumstances of which indicated that a foul mur- der, with robbery as it's motive, had been committed.
 The facts given to County Attorney Ling were substantially as follows:
 Slim" Ferguson, transient miner, who had been working in the A. C.. mines at that camp, decided to leave for other parts, and Friday evening drew what money that was due him, preparatory for taking his departure the next morning. Where he came from, or whither he was going, it seems no one knew. Not wishing to spend the night at his lodging place he secured permission to spend the night with an acquaintance, man named Kissinger. The night being warm he decided to sleep on the poarch. He was found by Kissin- ger the next morning off the poarch, down on the terrace below the house. Kissinger stated that Ferguson had a bottle of whiskey, and thinking he was drunk, did not examine the man closely, but stated he heard him groan a time or two. He notified the officers to go and get him, as he did not want a drunk man lying around his house.
 Deputy McCarty went to the scene and found the man mortally wound ed, with a large hole in his skull from which he had lost much blood | "McCarty found the man some dis tance from the poarch on which ht was said to have slept. He was takeI to the A. c. hospital, where Dr Smith made an examination of tn, wound, and where Ferguson died sooI after reaching the hospital. Tn, examination revealed that Fergusoni skull was badly fractured, with deep hole in the left side. Tn, | fracture extending almost clea across the skull, and indicated tha ,he had been struck with some heav. instrument, perhaps several blows. | Deputy McCarty found an envelol near the body with blood stained ifinger prints on it, which is now il the possession of the County Attorne. ldt is not determined whether thi finger print is such that might iden tify the murderer by the Bertilliol 1 system, as the blood stains ar, smeared, as though the finger slip | ped 1n handling IL. H
 "Kissinger stated that Ferguson l had on his person something ove $100 in currency. When the officer, reached the scene and searched thu body, the currency was missing, bu a few dollars in silver were still il the pockets of his clothing. His pock cts indicated that some one hat l rifled them.
 I After notifying the officers Kissin | ger went on to his work, and severa hours elapsed before the officer' reached the scene.
 "Kissinger stated that while h. saw Ferguson lying on the ground some distance from the house, he di, not notice any blood, or that he hat been injured, thinking he had dranl the whiskey and was intoxicated. Al examination of the bottle revealed tn, fact that very little of the liquor wal gone, and the officers are of the opin ion that Ferguson was assaulte, while asleep, and afterwards robbed of what money he had on his persol except the few dollars in silver There was no blood on the hands o the dead man, and that which mad, the finger prints on the envelop found near Ferguson was evidentl. from the hand of the man who mur dered and robbed him."
 Justice Lally held an inquest ol the body later in the day, rendering a verdict in accordance with tn | above facts.