The Coconino sun., 1920-04-23

perverse temperament, he cooked his | food on a bonfire built on the floor rather than on the stove and kicked the embers about the house, according to the large hole burned in the floor and smaller scorched places around the room. Adding tarpaulin, small mattress and some children's toys to his equipment he rode up in the noun tains and made camp a little over twenty miles from Williams. Here he butchered calf with the razor he had purloined and set up housekeep- ing. He was captured on the third day, by three officers from Williams, who had carefully approached the camp and surprised him. When ap- | prehended, Torrez was sitting on the floor of the pup tent two loaded revolv- CTS in his lap, several wreaths of pa- per flowers about his neck, and he was beating toy drum in front of him. Again he was consigned to the state prison, reformed, to all appearances, and Governor Campbell allowed him his freedom. This was on a petition from the residents of Coconino coun- | ty, of whom one of the most active was Victor Melick, the man Torrez murdered.
 His Last Crime.
 | Immediately following his release, Simplicio Torrez went back to Will Hams, and while he did not at once openly defy the law by personal in suits he constantly made his presence unpleasant for the police Scarcely two weeks passed until on May 31, 1919, Constable Victor Melick was mo- tified that Torrez had stolen a horse Melick had known that he would re- turn for the saddle, went to the house where the stealing had been done, ac- cofnpanied by another officer. As they approached, TorreZ was seen return ing and MT. Melick went to him and advised him to return the horse and avoid trouble. With hardly a word, Torrez drew his gun and shot twice, killing the man who had befriended him. An exciting man hunt follow e6, the citizens of Williams leaving their occupations and arming with ri- i fes and revolvers, to join the chase Like return of old frontier days, was the hunt which ensued. The fugitive finally was cornered in little frame house on the outskirts of town. Here a battle royal took place, both sdies exchanging shot for shot, until the shack was riddled with bullets. Later, reinforced by a posse of county off, cials from Flagstaff, the house was i rushed, and Torrez captured. He was taken to the jail in Flagstaff since feeling ran high against him in Will | ItarN araI # c;Inrod cof "a f~ leave him there. The murdered man was of the considerate, quiet kind to whom the old saying might correctly be applied-"he numbered his friends I by his acquaintances" and there was open talk of lynching.
 During the trial later. Torrez ad- mitted his guilt and added that he "could have killed" the other officer and wished he had" Both his par ents testified against him, his mother stating that he had long been incor- | rigible, and his father expressed the hope that at least a life sentence would be given Simplicio, in order to protect the lives of others. A plea of but the. clear, rational, detailed de- scrption of the murder, which Torrez gave, refuted that contention.
 
 Fight to Save Torrez Unavailing Simplicio Torrez, murderer of Vic tor E. Melick, of Williams, committed his crime on the 31st of May, last year. He was tried, convicted and sentenced. The case was appealed to ] the supreme court, the appeal denied,