The Coconino sun., 1919-08-01

you have got somebody else.
 "Rimmy Jim" says he knows d man who joined the church and backslid so often that finally they wouldn't take him in, and so he had to join in his wife's name.
 Sometimes we tell the actual truth in this colyum. The following are extracts from bona-fde letters writ ten by Torrez, the Mexican murderer, since his arrest for the crime for which he is to be hung. The punctu- ation, spelling and capitalization are his.
 MT. Woodrow Wilson.
 Dear President:
 With great pleasure I write you these few lines, with a request l hope you will grant and l hope with, all my heart, and soul you will help me.
 I am here in the Coconino County jail Charged with murder.
 I shot Victor. H. Melick of Will liams Ariz May, 31-1919 after warn ing him several times that I did not want trouble with him he had his gun in his hands I pullen my gun and says put that gun up Mr. Melick. Nix on the gun stuff! instead of putting his gun away he pointed at my head and fired. I lodged to my Right at the Same time putting up my Left arm for protection. went down on my knees But did not fall. 1 then Raised and Shot at MT. Melick, three times. the three shots were fired in about . second from a 32-colt automatic. then some one says Look Out Pete Shafer Will Shoot you in the Back 1 turned and true enough he was pointing his gun at me. l says shoot and shoot straight. or I'll get you too While this was going on Melick shot two shots at me, But missed I then hid in a two-room vacant lumber shack. they soon found me the people were armed with arms of all descriptions even women and children were armed. they Soon Began to fire into the Shack where was shooting four or five hun dred Shots in about 10 minutes was Shot Several times. then under SAer- iff Wm. Hicklin Rushed into the Shack and Says where is your gun l pointed to where my gun was he took it was Loaded full I had not fired Single Shot at the Croud Sheriff J. O. Har- rington followed Hicklin in they Car ried me Out they no sooner got me to the door tke people Rushed in and kicked me to a pulp. l was splitting up Blood for over two weeks. my mother nursed me. l am now per fectly Recovered and would like to join the army as I positively know there is not greater honor than to guard our flag. Hoping to hear from you soon l remain,
 Sincerely Yours
 SIMPLICIO TOREZ.
 answer this Letter I can do more good Fighting For my Country than doing Four or Five yrs. time in prison Life timers in prison scarcely do oyer five yearsl
 The following, which is printed without attempting to reproduce Tor ez's punctuation, was written to a long-term man at Florence, who has since been recommended by the gov ernor for parole:
 MT. Charlie Bettis.
 Dearest friend:
 With great pleasure l am writing you these few lines, hoping to find you all in best of health, as is my hearts desire.
 Well, Charlie, am back in jail for shooting Town Constable Vic Melick.
 l shot him in self defence. He shot me first in the left shoulder. l then 'shot him three times in the stomach. pulled the three shots in less than second from a 32 Colt automatic. After I shot him, he shot at me two times. As l turned my back to look out for the other deputy, who had his gun leveled at me as l turned, 1 says, Shoot, and I'll get you too. If you can't shoot pistol, I'll teach you, for if do have to say it, shooting is my speciality"
 He then started to run, with his gun in the air, saying, "Pll get a rifle for you" The whole town of Williams were after me inside of ten minutes, and they sure did pepper the shack where I was hiding with guns of all descriptions. l never fired once from where I was. I could have killed a hundred people if I had taken the notion.
 Well, Charlie, hoping this finds you all of you o. k. Receive kindest re- gards from one who appreciates your friendship and wishes you all the luck in the world. Hope you're not there when I come.
 SIMPLICIO TOREZ.
 Pretty proud of his crime, eh, when