Arizona republican., 1922-04-12

the murderers securing immunity
through friendship or fear of grand
seemed powerless to function or else
had become indifferent to the de-
plorabIe condition of affairs.
although many honorable citizens
deeply deplored the flood-tide of
crime, they refrained from taking
matters in their own hands until the
situation reached a crisis demanding
interference.
This elimination Of popular in
dignation came during the summer OF
1873 in a most unexpected manner
On the afternoon of August s,
1873, Vicente Henendez conducted a
general store and pawn shop at the
corner of Convent and kennedy
streets. The proprietor and his wife
maintained their sleeping quarters in
the rear Of the building housing their
store.
a. building occupied by Santiago PEI
req, who sold liquor and produce, and
to whose place flocked many hard
characters from Sonora. Mexico.
"On the afternoon OF the 9Th, four
Mexicans. Manuel Cordoba, Clemento
Lopez, Jesus Hehuaripa and CasSulo
Hernandez, were gathered at the
rear of the Hernandez store chopping
wood for Perez.
"Qne OF the members OF the quar-
tet was heard to remark that is was
foolish to work all day just, to get
money to pay for board and mescal
and he suggested that they strike out
on the road and kill and rob a gringo.
Planning q Murder
You need not go out on the
road to make a raise said Lopez.
" What is the matter with Vicente
Hernandez? He has money and
jewelry. was in his place yester-
day pawning a ring and saw a lot of
jewelry. The couple are alone and
they leave the door open at night
during this warm weather.
THE group Immediately engaged in
earnest consultation following Lopez,
remarks, took a few drinks and Cor
doba picked up the axe and selected
from the uncut pile of wood a stout
piece about two inches in diameter,
which he cut of to 80 inches in
length, leaving a heavy knot on the
larger end.
On the morning of the 9TH the
citizens of Tucson were startled by a
gTuesome tale having to do with
murder.
"A Mexican customer of the Her
nandeZ store sought to make some
purchases early that morning. Fail
ing to locate the storekeeper, he went
to the rear of the home and there saw
a bloody footprint on the ground.
Believing that all was not well he
made known his discovery to William
zeckendorf.
''zeckendorf and a number of other
persons rushed to the store and
entering the building from the rear
found the dead and mutilated bodies
of the proprietor and his wife. Their
heads had been crushed in and their
threats cut from ear to ear. There
were no signs Of a struggle, indicat-
ing that they had been murdered
while they slept.
Further investigation resulted in
the finding of a. club with its knot
smeared with blood and covered with
hair. The weapon was found near
the two dead bodies.
First Arrest
"Clemente Lopez was the first OF
the quartet arrested. When con
fronted with certain discriminating
evidence Lopez diyulged certain in
formation to Sheriff Curry which sub
sequently resulted in the arrest of
Jesus Sahuaripa, Manuel Cordoba
and Casculo Hernandez.
During the investigation on the
following day a chain OF evidence was
unearthed connecting Cordoba. Sa-
huaripa and Lopez with the crime.
Hernandez was freed when it became
known that at the last moment he
had weakened and was not a party
to the crime.
"On August 5 events happened
thick and fast.
Bright and early that morning a
scaffold was erected on the square.
Judge Titus at an oppertune mo-
ment left the city. informing his
friends he intended to pay q visit to
San Xavier mission for the purpose