The Coconino sun., 1920-04-23
PAYS PENALTY
 FOR KILLING OF OFFICER

Simplicio Torrez, Mexican, paid the penalty at the state prison at Florence Friday when he was hanged at the state prison for the murder of Victor L.. Melick, constable of Will Hams, Ariz., on May l of last year. The trap was sprung at 10:04 a. m., Torrez' neck being broken and death following instantly.
 No statement was made by the con demned man on the scaffold as to his guilt or innocence. Just before the black cap was fitted over his head he was asked if he wished to say any thing and he replied briefly, in calm, clear voice, stating that he "held no malice in his heart" toward anyone connected with his arrest and prosecu- tion and that he faced death with Forgiveness for all his former foes" The execution was witnessed by about a dozen persons, although there was quite an assemblage outside the prison gates.
 Torrez' bearing was that of sane man and he exhibited none of the symptoms of instantly that had been alleged in affidavits and by friends in their efforts to secure communication of sentence. Torrez' mother and two brothers waited outside the prison to receive the body after the execution.
 The life of TorreZ is one filled with a variety of experiences.
 Life of Crime.
 Torrez, who was still in his twen- ties, was born in Williams, Arizona, the scene of his final crime. While hA I;1 not innIInn nH to viciousness, but when about IA years of age he began to become a nuisance to the police. His vision linn tied to the horizon of the small com- munity in which he always had lived, his self importance asserted. itself. His parents found him incorrigible, and did not protest when the law was firm with him, following several ar rests for petty larceny. The theft of chickens was a favorite pastime, though anything might find it's way into the possession of Torrez if the owner was not watchful.
 About three years ago Torrez serv- ed his first sentence in the state peni- tentiary, having been convicted of at tempted highway robbery. This act was the first really dangerous thing Torrez did. In this instance he used a gun and threatened the lives of his victims. After nearly year of con finement, TorreZ seemed to have re- formed, was tractable, model prison CT, and his sentence was reconsidered and he was paroled.
 Returning to his native town the latter part of January, 1918, Sim plicio quickly forgot his lesson, and kept the police constantly vigilant lest he harm some one or damage property. This episode was given a thrilling windup.
 Back to Prison.
 Early one afternoon Torrez mount ed cowboys pony which had been left outside a pool room, and raced it down the main street. of the town, a revolver, fortunately unloaded, in one hand. Refining the animal abruptly at corner, he dismounted and entered grocery store, while the proprietor was busy, Simplicio slipped a few cans of beans in his shirt and left by side door. Visiting other stores he got small assortment of tobacco, groceries etc, in the same light fingered way. Knowing that the officers would quick ly be after him, he took a razor from a butcher shop, then acquired" a prospectors train of burros and hur- ried out of town, leaving word that he would resist arrest and kill any one who might come after him.
 Stopping at vacant ranch house Torrez cooked supper and evidently spent the night. With his customary