Year: 1878

THE KILLING OF HAMILTON BY HOUSE.

 If what we learn of the murder of Ham, ilton, at Chaviz's Pass, in the Mogollons, py Bill House, be true, and we presume It IS, there has been no more cold-blooded atro- cicus and wicked murder committed within the bounds of the Territory.

 The story as it comes to us is, that House was driving the mail wagon for Ben Baker. on e ninety-miIc route, and that at the eastern end of his route man and his wife kept the Station, and Hamilton was en- ployed there as a hand abont the place. Hamilton reported to the Station keeper. whose name we have not learned, that there was too great an intimacy between House and the landlady; which bit of information caused hIm to call her to an account for her conduct. This she communicated to House. and as he has since said, exacted promise from him that he would kill Ham, ilton for betraying them. His first move was to seek quarrel with Hamilton at the Station. but Hamilton declined to resent his insults, and rather than get into diff culty settled up with his employer and started on his way to Prescott. House in due flme came on with the mail, and when he arrived at this end of the route, found that Hamilton had passed on this way. He immediately mounted horse belonging to the mail company and overlook Hamilton only little way on the road, and found that he had fallen in with travelling com panion, Mir. Robert Hastings, and that they were on foot, but had a pack-animal to carry their travelling outfit. House ex- pressed great pleasure at seeing Hamilton, and told him that he was in search of some horses that had strayed from the mail com pany. and that if he found them he was to receive twenty-five dollars, and as they were going the tame way for several miles he invited Hamilton to ride his horse awhile and he would walk. Hamilton ac- cepted the invitation and did ride several miles until they came to the place where the murder was committed when House said here was the point where he must leave the road to look for the horses. and expressed regret that he had not brought his pocket-book with him, as he wished to give Hamilton some money to assist him on the way. Just as they were about to part, House asked for drink of water, and as there were two or three canteens tied on the pack, Hamilton went to get one of, and in order to do SO took off pair of blankets from the pack and threw them across his shoulder wbile he united the canteen, and. while thus engaged, House drew his pistol and shot him in the back of the head, the ball coming out at the mouth, killing him instantly. Mr. Hast ings was badly frightened and immediately ran for his lite into the woods, leaving everything. In the meantime House mounted his horse and rode back to the Station, telling the people whom he met that he had killed Hamilton in obedience to the promise he had made to the woman

 Price Behsn and his party, from Little Colorado, happened along Jew hours after wards and discovered the dead body, as has already been published, but as they had nothing but their pocket knives to dig with. were unable to bury it, but brought word to others whom they met, and who agreed to attend to it. What became of the pack-animal and pack we have not learned, but Mir. Hastings finally reached Prescott, day or two after Behan's party had reported the finding of the body, and informed the Sheriff as to who did the kill ing, etc. He had evidently had rough time of it in the mountainsfor several days, and seemed glad enough to reach here alive, with scarcely enough clothes on to cover him, and they all torn into strips.

 We learn that Deputy Sheriff is in search of House, but have not heard what the prospects of his capture are. He is said to have stayed about the Station two days after the commission of the crime, ana finally concluded that the officers might come after him, and put out. It is to be hoped that he may be caught and dealt with as the law directs; that is to say that he may be hung. He is said to be young man, not much if any more than 2l years old, and that he formerly worked at one of the saw-mills near here. We have no recollection of him, but many here know him and ssy is bad man, a fact that is now made too plain to require any more evidence to confirm it.