Arizona republican., 1920-08-09
Especial to The RepubIican)

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. s-Every doubt was removed yesterday that Nose Gibson, negro, under sentence of death at San Quentin prison for the murder of Roy Trapp, Fullerton, California, rancher, was also the mur- dered of MT. and Mrs. Jacob Erhardt of Phoenix. Gibson was closely inter viewed at the prison today by Sheriff Montgomery and County Attorney Laney of Phoenix. and manifested such familiarity with the premises of the Erhardt home and the details of the vinced beyond doubt that he commit ted the murder which shocked Phoenix early last June.
 Gibson's description of every room of the Erhardt house, the drawers. trunks, boxes and wardrobe, all of which had been rifled; the way in which entrance to the house was gained; tue exact spot where the vic tims were struck down; the location of the house with respect to the railroad tracks, the canal and the vacant lots: the location of trees, shrubbery and outbuildings and the place where the hammer with which the murders were committed was thrown. all conform to the known facts.
 Tn the interview with the Mar.copa county officials yesterday Gibson re- lated all the above details with leading questions. and throughout his narra- tion maintained a cold blooded calm ness.
 Confession Ends Two Mosths Search In confessing he committed the Erh- ardt murders in Phoenix, June 6, Nose Gibson marked himself as one | of the most inhuman slayers ever to be recorded in the red annals of crime | Similarity of the murder of Roy Trapp 1 at Fullerton nj uhiNh (xihGnn confessed. caused officials to link him with the Phoenix crime. It was after | the death sentence had been pro- nounced upon Gibson that he con l fessed to murdering the Erhardts There was some doubt about the truth
 of his statements at that time. but the l investigations made by County Attor- l ney Laney and Sheriff Montgomery have just established the veracity oi 1 the confession. It ended ., nation-wf | search for the criminal which has beer conducted for more than two months l MT. and Mrs. Jacob Erhardt, pioneers
 of Phoenix were slain some time dur I ing the night of June at their home | 1922 West Van Buren street. Mrs Erhardt was attacked while in the
 kitchen adjoining the screen porcf
 where both slept. Stains of blood showed where, wounded and almos- l unconscious, she had crawed to tn, bed, where she had lain down besid,
 her husband, who had been attacked
 in bed and left for deBd. Both lived
 several hours after the crime had beer
 discovered next morning.
 blunt miners hammer had beer
 used in beating the old couple int
 inconsistencies That robbery wa.
 the motive has been borne out by tn confession of Gibson.
 Case Battling One The double murder was discoveret by Jacob Erhardt. IT,. the eldest son
 who arrived at the hGme about
 o'clock the following morning. He i'm , mediately reported the matter to tn
 police department and the sheriffs of | flee and a search began which resulte , | in many arrests.
 The double murder was not onl , the most atrocious Tn local history but it presented many baff1ing condi , tions which handicapped the work o , Investigating officers. Early investi
 gations led to the theory that two me-
 had committed the crime. This wa partly based upon the nature of tn 5 wounds inflicted upon the aged couple 9 On the left cheek of Mrs. Erhardt ther
 was a gash made by some sharp in 2 1trument, while the wounds on tn Q skull of Mir. Erhardt seemed to hay f been made by blunt instrument. 1 r report that two negroes were seen flee
 ing from the scene of the crime adde T weight to this theory and a chase fo 1 the suspects was started. Two negroe y were said to have been driving Q stripped Ford and several possess wer y organized to catch them but were un - successful.
 more thorough investigation of tn
 (Continued on page 7l