Arizona republican., 1920-07-12

the trial of McCann showed that rob- bery had been the motive of the mur~ der. McCann was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to life imprison- ment- fingered because he was ordered out of a dance hall at Tolleson, Marvin D. bills shot and killed the proprietor, w. B. McArthur on the night of March 15, 1918. Dills was said to be drunk at the time. Because of certain evidence introduced the charge against Dills was reduced to aggravated assault and he was found guilty Just the day before this shooting 1 killed in a quarrel with 4. L.. Chism- 1 According to the evidence Chism l threatened the Mexican with a re- | volver when he refused to carry out l instructions concerning the pitching 1 of a tent on the Chism ranch near Pe- | oria. The Mexican grappled with his l employer and the revolver was acci- dentally discharged. Chism was eX- | onerated.
 Do with me as you please, I am 1 guilty" Augustine Ramirez told the l court when he was tried for killing l Pedro Sierra on July 22. Ramirez was l sentenced to life imprisonment.
 In November of 1918 the grewsoIne 1 discovery was made of the desert grave | 20 miles north of Phoenix where 1 Charles H. Lyshon had been thrown 1 after Willis Woods had killed him and taken his automobile. Woods con | fessed the crime after he had been
 captured in Nevada. By intimidating | the lone witness to the crime. Woods 1 kept his secret almost month. He
 was sentenced to a life term i'll the l penitentiary.
 On Christmas night of 1918 May
 Glenn killed her husband Robert Glenn, during a quarrel at their home l in Phoenix. The shooting came as a climax to a day of caroUsing during
 which time Glenn is said to have be- 1 come very abusive. The coroner s
 jury exonerated Mrs. Glenn by de-
 claring her act justifiable self defense. | In 1919 there were fewer murders and more convictions and sentences
 for the crimes committed than in the
 preceding year. M. C. Wilson, who
 was tried on a charge of killing his
 wife, Hazel McDaniels Wilson, was
 the only one tried on a murder charge
 during the year who was altogether
 exonerated. Convictions were brought
 about in seven other cases. The big
 unsolved mystery case of last year was the murder of Ferdinand Roess- Ter, clerk of the Kersting hotel, who was shot while on duty the morning of December 2
 During 1919 life sentences were inn ! posed upon Felipe Solice and Nick T fenced to serve an indeterminate term
 of from 30 years to life and from 20 years to life was given Ira J. Richards and J. w. Shelton.
 Felipe Solice was found guilty of 1 killing Margarito Avila on. the night Of } eral months later after a hard chase
 across the desert. Robbery was the
 motive for the crime.
 Within 24 hours after he had con-
 fessed to killing Harry Creme, Nick
 RigIes had received a sentence of life imprisonment in the penitentiary
 Creme was murdered just as he was
 entering a gambling resort on Wall
 street August 19- A black hat was the
 single clue that led to the arrest of
 the murderer.
 Come to room in old block fl , right away" was the call received over
 the telephone at police headquarters l December 9. Upon Investigating they found two people dead in the room . named. Jack Skinner had first killed : his wife. Minnie Skinner. and then I himself Jealousy is said to have prompted the murder and suicide. On the same day when the double | tragedy was discovered, two elderly
 men. Ira J. Richards and J. W. Shel-
 ton, pleaded guilty to the murder oi | Ustacio ESpionsa a week previously
 The men told the court they killed
 the Mexican when they discovered him
 cutting wood on the Richards ranch | The men were sentenced to indeter- | minate sentences of from ten years tC l life Imprisonment.
 II There is now pending in the court g case of the state against Alva. Pat terSon, charged with killing his father | | at their ranch home near Phoenix or
 October 10. 1919. This case will not be 1 heard until October or this year. II James Antonio was killed on the night of May 12. Vessel Pandar plead. ed guilty to the crime. He told the court Antonio had insuletd girl anC
 that a quarrel over this led to the shooting. He was sentenced to serve
 from 30 years to a life term in the pen
 itentiary.
 II Although Mexican was killed b! c a rancher near Chandler this year th'
 circumstances were such that th' 7 tragedy was not cTassed as a murde | by the authorities. This leaves thu
 murder of Mir. and Mrs. Jacob Erhard
 on the night of June 6 the only blacl
 splotch on the 1920 calender. I'm | perpetrator of this crime is believed
 to be still at large although officerl
 have worked night and day for nor
 than month to clear up the mystery What is the cause of the gratifyint | decrease in the number of murder
 committed at Maricopa county" Sher