davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
[NDlAN MILLER KILLS E. M.
CUNDIFF AT CANYON LODGE

had just grazed his left side near the
belt, but had not pierced the flesh.
Miller Immediately wired the sher-
iff's office and A. j. Brite took charge
of affairs and leaving the others out
side went in to see if anything could
be done for Cundiff, but he testified
that the man was probably dead when
he looked at him.
Miller testified that while he was
dressing Cundiff pushed open the
back door and the look on his face
frightened him and he started toward
Cundiff The latter picked up Mil
ler's .3S calibre revolver which was
living on the dresser beside the back
door and pointed it at Miller's stom-
ach, but Miller grabbed the gun and
Cundiff's wrist, pushing them to one
side so the bullet passed through Mill
ler's clothing, leaving the powder
burns on his flesh, clothing and the
palm of his hand where he had hold
of the gun. Miller then wrenched the
gun from his assailant turning it on
him and fired two shots, the first
striking Cundiff a/Jut three inches
above and to the right Of the navel.
The second shot apparently did not
take effect Miller had two more
loads in the gun but he said he saw
Cundiff was then sinking to the floor
and he saw it was unnecessary to fire
again. Not a word was spoken by
either Miller or Cundiff during the
trouble.
The jury examined the room and
surroundings, found where the bull
let apparently fired by Cundiff struck
in the opposite wall, examined the
body with the wound in the stomach,
but could find no trace Of the third
bullet. The testimony Of the wit
nesses so far as their knowledge went
substantially corroborated the story
told by Miller. There was no evidence
and nothing to explain why Cundiff
should appear at Miller's back door,
and there was nothing to indicate that
there was any serious differences be-
tween Miller and Cundiff, and there
certainly was not appearance that
such was the case at the meeting OF
the two few minutes before the
shooting. There has been consider
able bad feeling showing in that sec
ton in the past few months in which
the Cundiffs figured prominently, and
there was at this time a strong feel
ing between the Cundiffs and Indian
Joe, but this did not appear to enter
into Wednesdays trouble.
Mr.. Cundiff was postmaster at Cam
yon Lodge and operated store, lunch
counter and curio store. He was the
first to locate at that point, and ap-
parently did considerable business.
Miller operates his tourist attractions
during the summer, having gone
there from Walnut Canyon about two
years ago. Joe Secakullu assists Mil
ler and conducts the Indian dances
during the tourist season.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
FIRE DESTROYS ANOTHER
OLD LAND MARK TUESDAY

Another fire of mysterious origin
drew crowds about midnight on Tues
day night when the blazing old ice
house on North San Francisco street
lit up the sky. A secondary thrill
was experienced about o'clock next
morning when something-dynamite
caps, a still or other combustible-
exploded with a loud detonation and
much flung dust and debris.
The building belonged to the George
Black, Sr., estate and was located on
the rear of the old Vail property, the
residence facing Leroux street now
owned by Pulliam and Mackey and
occupied by G. c. Rawson. 1t was
built 26 years ago by Dan Hogan as
an ice house for Jim Vail who cut ice
on Schulz pond every winter and
stored it in this old ice house for use
in his Front street saloon. For years
it had not been used for anything ex-
cept as a storehouse for the old bar
room furniture and fixtures. Due to
the fact that the old building was so
staunchly made and that such fine
lumber went into its construction and
Furthermore that it was partly filled
with sawdust used in the packing of
ice the fire lasted for several hours.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
HIRAM CLUB HEARS HOW
TOWNS ARE GOVERNED

The Hiram club held very inter-
esting and instructive meeting last
Friday with G. I. Pulliam as chair
man. In the absence of President
Alex Johnston, Vice-President F. M.
Gold occupied the chair.
Mr.. Pulliam made very enlighten-
ing talk on the organization and
operation Of cities and towns under
the Arizona statute, and explained
much along the line of city govern
ment. He had with him the original
petition for the organization of the
town of Flagstaff and many of the
names attached to the petition were
familiar to those present, and in fact
many Of the original petitioners are
still residents of our city.
Today's meeting will be held at
6:45 this evening and will be the quar-
terly ladies' day with F. NJ. Gold and
DR.. Vaughn Mcclure in charge.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
COL. AND MRS. H0CHDERFFER
HAVE EXCITING VACATION

Colonel and Mrs. George Hoch-
derffer returned this week from the
coast where they finished a two
months vacation tour. They were
outfitted for camping, which fact con-
tributed to their comfort especially on
their second night out. They were
bowling along on an uncompleted
part of the Fossil creek highway at a
lively clip when soft dirt capsized
their big car which landed down the
bank on it's side. No one was SER
iously injured though badly shaken.
After night out they were rescued
the next day by passing surveyors
who phoned in for help. The rest Of
their trip through the southern part
of the state, across the desert to San
Diego, and north to Fresno was en-
loved without mishap. They visited
relatives and friends along the route,
At Leighton, Calf, they called upon
Professor Richardson, former school
superintendent here who is now prin-
cipal of the high school there.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
ROCK SURFACE MORMON
LAKE ROAD; EIGHT DUMP
TRUCKS ORDERED MONDAY

All county road money during this
year is to be concentrated on surfac-
ing the Flagstaff-Mormon Lake road,
it was decided by the county board Of
supervisors on Monday at their regu-
lar monthly meeting.
This was in line with the recon-
mendation of Flagstaff Chamber of
Commerce and Captain ]. B. Wright,
county engineer, who feel that to put
the road from here there in condition
that will make it good in wet weather
is the most important road job we
have right now.
President p j. Moran and former
President B. A. Cameron and Ed Bah
bitt of the Chamber of Commerce
were at the meeting and urged the
surfacing.
This also seems to be the prevailing
sentiment among our taxpayers, and
the boards decision will be acclaimed
throughout the state. Mormon Lake
is the finest natural summer resort
in the southwest. Despite the bad
road conditions, thousands now camp
there summers, and many more thou
sands will once the approach road is
good The development of the resort
means much more money spent in this
county Even if there were no increase
in camping at the lake, building a
good road to it would more than
double our revenue from the people
there, because they would come to
town every day or so, whereas under
present road conditions they come
seldom, especially after rain.
Another valuable development from
an improved road south will be the
restoration to Flagstaff of a vast
amount of trade from the Tonto
Basin country.
Eight one-ton Ford trucks with
steel dump bodies were ordered by the
board from Ed Babbitt and will as
soon as they come be put at work sur
facing the Mormon Lake road, paying
first attention to those sections that
are worst in wet weather Captain
Wright estimates that he can surface
the road two or three times more
economically with the automobile
trucks than with teams.
The county now has available about
$4,000 to devote to the Mormon Lake
road and likely will get some help
from the forest service.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
SPRING is SUTTINLY
CAME AT LAST

Spring is here and it can no longer
be questioned; if you don't believe it,
drop into Switzer's Hardware store
and ask them about the prizes they
are offering for big fish, caught dur
ing the season which began March 1.
Some fishermen have tried their luck
on the lakes recently and report that
bass are jumping and that all signs
point to an early enjoyment of pisca-
torial sport. There will be six prizes
for the largest and next largest
bass caught, the two largest trout,
and, which will be of interest to de-
votees of the art of bringing in the
lowly catfish-prizes for the two
largest catfish.
This contest is for the season of
1926 fishing season both for lake and
stream fishinp in Coconino county.
These are the requirements: Coco
nino county license and a visit to
Switzer's Hardware store to register
for the contest.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
R0TARlANS NOMINATE
OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR

An instructive program prepared
by Mayor Loren w. Cress, chairman
for the day, and nomination by bal
lot of candidates for offices for the
ensuing year were the high lights in
Tuesdays Rotary program.
DR.. Mart Fronske, president, an
nounced that the annual election will
be the first Tuesday in April. He
summoned Bert Cameron and Pat
Moran to his side and pinned on each
a gorgeous red rose, synonymous of
their recent birthdays. Then he
called forward Joe C. Dolan of Holly
wood, former Rotarian here, and pin
ned another rose on him, later call
ing on him for talk, which was given
in manner that let his hearers into
the secret of his hypnotic influence
over all who oct within a mile of his
real estate office.
The gang smoked Bert's cigars, and
Pats, it is promised, will be there
next Tuesday.
Miss Mildred Whetsel sang three
rollicking ballads, accompanying her
self on the banjo-uke. G. B. Wilson,
Jr., was formally inducted into the
Pat Moran's interesting talk on
Whats wrong with business" indi-
Gated that there is nothing radically
wrong, provided manufacturing does
not keep too far ahead of demand and
people do not spend too great a share
of their money for few classes of
goods to the detriment of the other
classes.
City Clerk Clarence PulIiam told
the difference between towns and
cities in Arizona. A community of
500 or more population may by apph
cation to the county supervisors be-
come incorporated as a town. Towns
of less than 1900 people have five
councilmen, towns larger than that,
seven.
Towns of 5000 or larger population
may by act of council become cities.
President Fronske appointed Bert
Cameron, K. X. Henness, Spence Din
nomination tellers and Bert as chair
man announced the following had
been nominated:
For president, Ed Miller and Fred
Breen; president, Henry Albers
and Doc Mackey; secretary, Earl Sill
pher and Art Riordan; directors (two
to be elected), Gus Pearson, Tom Bell
wood, Rev. Fr. Albouy and Sid Gass-
man.
Guests: Miss Whetsel, Miss Elsa
Myers, Joe Dolan, Junior Wilson, DR..
Felix Manning, Mr.. Pulliamf Charles
Hillebrandt, Mr.. Remshaw Of Ber-
nallilo, N. NJ; Mr.. Nickerson of Will
liams, Mr.. Wickens Of Albuquerque,
and Louis Wuichet of Chicago,
bunch of lumber barons whose boards
placed end to end would reach from
here to Mars seven times with eight
feet left over.
They were here visiting Mr.. Koch
and left that night for the east.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05

The news of the escape came to
Sheriff John Parsons by mail, reach
ing him Wednesday morning At
that time, none of the newspapers
had any story of the escape. The
new warden of the penitentiary,
Scott White, is sick; and who ever
broadcasted the news of the escape
evidently was in no hurry and saw no
Importance in letting the news be
generally known.
Nash evidently has good start in
his dash for freedom.
The postcard notifying Sheriff Par
sons gave Nash's description "five
feet seven and half tall, weight ITO
pounds, complexion light, eyes and
hair brown, age o."
As a matter of fact, Nash was %
when he was committed to the peni-
tentiary, in 1921. Nor is he light
in complexion, but dark.
He has the initials H. H, n tattooed
on his right forearm.
So once more the young murderer
is d fugitive. The chase for him fol-
lowing the murder was long one, in
volving journeys all over the south
west until finally the trail was picked
up hot at Weiser, Idaho, and led to
Nash'S arrest in Los Angeles.
1t was an especially cold-blooded
crime. The young cowboy, son of
wealthy Hillsdale, Wyoming banker,
came here with his wife, Peggy, and
hung around doing nothing while she
worked in a restaurant. They some
times earned money riding in rodeos.
Schwab, a middle aged man from
Payson, Utah, travelling for a cash
register concern, reached here, regis
tered at the Commercial hotel, got ac-
quainted with Nash and agreed to let
Nash ride with him to Winslow, where
Nash said he wanted to look for a job
The two left here in Schwab's Cadil-
lac car. Several weeks later inquiries
came from Schwab's family, who had
heard no word from him since he was
here. Then two boys found akdecom-
posed body sticking out of the dirt at
the bottom of an old well on the Dad
Powers ranch, the first ranch west of
Flagstaff on the Williams road
The remains were dug out. With
them were Schwab's grips, papers
and sample case.
Then the hunt for the murderer be-
gan. 1t narrowed down when the
murdered mans car was sold in
Weiser. Until then, Nash, who sold
the car, had not been suspected. Fol-
lowing recovery of the car, the muir
dered mans watch turned up in a
Flagstaff secondhand store, where it
had been, unreported, ever since the
day following the murder.
Nash was brought here to jail.
That day representative of The Sun
broke down his denial of knowledge
of the crime and secured a detailed,
signed confession. Nash claimed in
the confession, as he did in the trial,
that the shooting of Schwab which
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
DIDN'T WANT NO COOPER
FOR THAT 5-GALLON KEG

When City Marshal J. r. Cooper
and Night Marshal Claude Tackitt
drove to town after attending the
Saturday night dance at Doney Park
they decided to take look-see across
the tracks where a dance was in pro-
gress. They halted their car near the
river and sat there awhile. Pretty
soon they spied someone coming up
the bed of the creek all bumped over
under the weight of some bulky bur-
den. Upon investigation the officers
discovered that they had interrupted
one Everett Landers in the discharg-
ing Of his duty Of delivering an order
of five gallons of whiskey. To date
he declines to divulge the name OF his
employer, so U. S. Commissioner Tom
L. Rees has submitted the case to the
u. S. attorney for approval.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
NICHOLS PLUMBING SHOP
FIRE DAMAGED SUNDAY

Fire about twelve Sunday night did
around thousand dollars damage to
the large frame building at Railroad
and Beaver occupied by the j. E.
Nichols plumbing shop and the Nc
Mahon Vulcanizing shop. Contents
were very little damaged. The fire
caught in the first floor ceiling, APP
parently from the stove pipe of a big
water boiler.
Two boys discovered the blaze and
the upper part was blazing freely
when the firemen arrived. They had
a hard time checking it, but succeed
ed so we'll that business was resumed
as usual next morning by both occu-
pants. There was partial insurance.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
HAD SOMETHING BETTERN
CLAY PIGEONS TO EAT

Members of Pat Morgan's losing
side in the local trap-shooting contest
were hosts at an excellent three
course chicken dinner at Griff's on
Sunday night. Lefty Lewis and Wild
Raudebaugh, who tied with 142 out
of a possible $50 shots, split the prize
donated by the Central Commercial
Co. Those enjoying the event were:
Loren Cress, Pat Morgan, Lefty
Lewis, Jack Fuss, Buster Raudebaugh,
Ed Raudebaugh, Clarence Sullivan,
Pete Solberg, c. H. Cooper, Frank
Gold, Paul Morton and Wild Raude-
baugh.
Captains for this month are Frank
Gold and Wild Raudebaugh. Five
prizes-donated by the Central Com
mercial Co., Cress Brothers, Breen-
Dingle Drug Co., Flagstaff Pharmacy
and Babbitt Brothers-will be given
for high man in three classes, high
man over all and consolation. No man
will be eligible who does not shoot
every Sunday. There was no shoot
last Sunday. The teams for this
month are, each shooting against the
man named opposite him:
Ed neutrality-suspicious. Gold.
Wild Raudebaugh-Lefty Lewis.
Paul Morton-Loren Cress.
Pete Solberg-Frank Goodman.
Joe Schmidt-Ed Babbitt.
Paul Babbitt-Ray Babbitt.
John Nichols-Ray Downer.
B. Raudebaugh-Jack Fuss.
C. w. Sullivan-Ray ProchnoW.
Earl Slipher-Del Strong.
r. F'ish-Pat Morgan.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
TOM M'WILLIAMS OWNER
OF STARKEY POOL HALL

Tom McWilliams on Monday
bought from Frank Fairchild the fix
lures and business of the Starkey
pool hall, San Francisco street and
Railroad avenue, and now is in charge.
Mrs. Rena Starkey, who is in Cali
folnia, and who sold to Mr.. Fairchild
two or three years ago, held mort
gage on the place.
Mr.. McWilliams few days ago
sold his grocery business on South
Beaver street and was looking for a
new location, when Mr.. Fairchild de-
cided to leave and the two got to-
gether on a deal. Mrs. Fairchild ac-
companied by Bert Cum mings, who
had worked in the pool hall for her
husband for several months, left last
week in the Fairchild car for the south
part of the state. Mr.. Fairchild will
join them there in a short time.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05

Harry E. Indian) Miller shot and
killed E. NJ. Cundiff about / o'clock
Wednesday afternoon at the formers
home at Canyon Lodge, 40 miles east
of Flagstaff, after Cundiff had ap-
parently fired one shot at Miller
grazing his left side and piercing his
clothing. Miller was not placed un-
der arrest.
Immediately after the shooting Mil
Ter wired the sheriff's office here and
Under-sheriff Durwood Mckinney
with Acting Coroner f. M. Gold,
County Health Officer F. G. Manning,
accompanied by f. B. Raudebaugh
and Charles Hillebrandt Of Flagstaff
and B. F. Rogers and Dode Burch Of
Canyon Lodge, viewed the body, took
the testimony of Miller the only liv-
ing witness of the tragedy, and ex-
amined A. j. Brite, Archie Brite and
Joe Secakuku, who were at the lodge
at the time of the shooting and heard
the shots, and returned verdict of
justifiable homicide.
According to the testimony there
had been no quarrel or angry words
between Miller and Cundiff just prior
to the shooting Mr.. Brite, his son
Archie, Joe Secakuku and Miller had
been lounging in front of Miller's
home for half hour or more when
Cundiff came up from his store and
spoke to Miller in regard to carpen-
ter's square which it appeared both
had been using in their work about
the lodge There was no misunder-
standing about the square. Miller and
Cundiff then stepped to one side and
conversed a minute or two, those
present not hearing what was said,
but Miller said he admonished Cum
diff not to come up to his place when
Joe Secakuku was there as there was
bad feeling between them and he was
afraid there would be trouble.
Cundiff then left going down the
trail toward his store, which is prob
ably two hundred yards away, but no
one noticed how far he followed the
trail. Within five minutes of the time
Cundiff left, Miller announced that
he must go in and finish dressing as
he had to go to the depot, and he
went into the house, the three wit
nesses remaining on the outside,
probably 5 feet from the front door.
In few minutes they heard three
shots fired about as fast as a man
could pull a trigger, although one
witness said there was short in
terval between two Of the shots. Mil
ler came rushing out the front door
and told the men to come quick and
remarked. Il had to do it in self de-
fense." He also asked them to eX-
anime him as he thought he had been
shot in the side. The men stepped to
the door and saw Cundiff lying on the
floor Just inside the back door, He
was lying quite still and apparently
dead. They then closed the door and
examined Miller finding that bullet
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
FOREST OFFICIAL COPE
TRANSFERRED TO EAST

H. Norton Cope, assistant forest
supervisor of the Coconino national
forest since October, 1924, when he
was transferred here from Williams,
has been transferred to a post in the
east where he will be forest super
visor of the Acknowledging ma
tional forest, one of the most import
ant of the eastern national forests
and located in the southern end of the
Blue Ridge mountains Mr.. Cope's
transfer will be effective on April 1,
with headquarters at Columbus, Ga.
Mr.. Cope, besides holding a respon-
sible position here, has taken an ac-
lively constructive part in the local
Boy Scout organization. For most of
his stay here he was scoutmaster OF
Troop s. His work in this line is be-
ing taken over by his capable assist
ant, G. C. Wittorf.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
ED MILLER NEW DISTRICT
CHAIRMAN BOY SCOUTS


Ed G. Miller is the new chairman
of Flagstaff district boy scout activi-
ties. He was elected Friday of last
week at the end-of-the-year meeting
of the committee. Other officers of
the committee chosen at the same
time were: Bert Cameron, chairman
camping; Charles Hillebrandt, pub
licity; Sid Gassman, civic service;
Henry Albers, finance; Joe P. Wilson,
troop organization; Tom o. Bellwood,
leadership and training. H. w. Pres
ton is representative on the commit
tee for the scoutmasters. The court
of honor chosen Friday: T. A. Rior-
dan, chairman; r. H. Simpson, Frank
NJ. Gold, P. j. Moran, George 7. Her
rington.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05
FLAGSTAFF TEACHERS
LOST BUT PEPPED UP
STATE TOURNAMENT

Flagstaff Teachers basketball team
returned from Phoenix, Sunday after
competing in two games in the in-
formal Arizona conference tourna-
ment held in the gymnasium of the
Phoenix Union high school.
The team drew ella college for its
opening game. This game proved to
be one of the fiercest and most even
ly contested of the tournament. Gila
started out in the lead, holding it for
few minutes, when Flagstaff hit its
stride and forged to the front Near
the close of the first half Gila staged
a rally and just as the gun ended the
half, forged into the lead, the half
ending 1918.
The second half was the point of
some of the greatest playing of the
tournament, one side and then the
other pulling to the front. With three
minutes left to play, Gila staged a
great rally which put it definitely in
front and was victor, 3931.
Being undoubtedly the strongest
team that lost in the first round, Flag
staff was chosen to oppose Tempe in
the semi-final. The game was close
throughout the first half but in the
second, Tempe pulled away to safe
lead and won easily, the final being
1921.
AS Gila also won her game from
the Indians, Tempe met Gila in the
finals Saturday night. The game
looked like a walk-away for Tempe
during the early stages but with her
charteristic rally in the last few min
utes of play, Gila pulled up to within
three points as the game ended, thus
giving Tempe her second straight Ari-
Zona championship.
The Coconino sun., 1926-03-05

took place east of here, near Canyon
Padre, was in self defense. There
was no testimony during the trial in
any way corroborating the self de-
fense stuff. The verdict was murder
in the second degree and Judge j. E.
Jones sentenced Nash to from 65 to
rs years.
Nash worked in the bakery at the
penitentiary. He attempted escape
two years ago. There are no details
of his successful attempt this time
known to The Sun.
The state offers the usual $25 re-
ward for the arrest.
Before and during the trial, while
Nash was in jail here, his parents
were here and VIM. A. Campbell, then
sheriff, feared an attempt at Jail
breaking. Some of the happenings
then have never been told in print,
for instance how the sheriff had a
dictaphone installed and listeners
when the elder Nash was in the cell
with his son heard scraps of whispered
talk that confirmed them in the be-
lief that a desperate attempt to break
Jail was being plotted. Guards heav-
ily armed were kept at the jail until
Nash was taken to the penitentiary.
Only once while he was here was there
an apparent attempt TO break out.
Then Nash, taking a bath in the bath
room, pretended to have fit. But
Jailor Billy O'Brien, instead of rum
ming out and calling for help as Nash
evidently anticipated he would, grab
bed the naked fakir up and slammed
him into his cell so hard that for the
time being he didn't feel like making
any long run for liberty.