MR. and MRS. ED HARWELL
Arizona Republican Newspaper
July 6, 1901

One of the most deplorable tragedies ever committed in 
Arizona occurred in Clifton Sunday afternoon last about 
1:15 o'clock.  At about 4:15 the bodies of Ed Harwell 
and his wife were found in their home, a cosy cottage 
near the Embankment.  Each had been shot through the 
head.  The Copper Era says:

"The news spread rapidly over town that Ed Harwell had 
killed himself and his wife.  both parties were so well 
known and the tragedy was so terrible in its nature that 
strong men turned pale and many refused to believe the 
story.  Soon a crowd gathered at the residence and 
entered through the open door of the parlor.  In an 
ajoining room were the lifeless bodies of Mr. and Mrs. 
Harwell.  Mrs. Harwell was sitting at the table with 
her had on her left arm and her right hand resting on 
the table.  She had been shot behind the right ear, 
apparently without the slightest warning and dying 
instantly.  Mr. Harwell was lying on his back with 
his head towards the front of the house, with the 
pistol still grasped in his right hand and an ugly 
hole in the right side of his head.  His death also 
must have been instaneous.

Mr. Harwell had been  on the day watch at the Clifton 
Saloon and left there about 12:30 for his home.  He had 
attended to business as usual, but seemed preoccupied 
and when not waiting on customers, was busy writing.  
He was strictly a temperate man.  In fact, it is said 
that he had never tasted liquor and was strongly opposed 
to the business in which he was then engaged.  After the 
tragedy many remarked that for the past month he appeared 
to be morose and as some expressed it "cranky", but as he 
was a positive character and always of a serious 
temperament, no particular attention was paid to it 
at the time.

Mrs. Harwell and her daughter, a beautiful child of ten 
years, were to have left on the following day on a visit 
to relatives in Texas.  To this trip Mr. Harwell had 
apparently given his consent.  He had told others that 
his wife was going home and that he expected to lay off 
and take a rest.

It is quite remarkable that such a tragedy should occur 
in the middle of the day in such a thickly populated part 
of town and yet not be discovered until several hours 
afterward.  Jack Holman, who has a room in the building 
was sitting on the front porch and heard thte shots.  
Elbie Smith also heard the shots and asked Mr. Holman 
if they were not pistol shots.  Mr. Holman replied the 
he thought they were fire crackers.

The bodies were first discovered by the five year old 
daughter of Sheriff Parks who called to say goodbye to 
her auntie and cousin and immediately gave the alarm.  
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harwell had been sent to 
Sunday school at 10 o'clock and told that she might 
visit friends in North Clifton during the afternoon.  
It was most fortunate indeed that she did not return 
home previous to the discovery of the bodies.

Mr. Harwell had resided in this county about fourteen 
years.  He was married to Miss Hobbs, a sister to Gus 
and Lee Hobbs, at Duncan about eleven years ago.  So 
far as known their marriage life had always bene happy.  
Mrs. Harwell was a sweet tempered, gentle little woman 
who commanded the love and respect of all who knew 
her.    All agree that whatever may have been the 
cause of upsetting the mind of Ed Harwell that his 
wife was in no way to blame.

That the tragedy was premeditated there is no question as 
Mr. Harwell left a letter giving an inventory of his 
property which he placed at $500 and asked that his 
child be turned over to his sister in Texas.  He stated 
that he wanted the child raised religiously and that she 
be given the best education obtainable.

Ed Harwell was well liked throughout the county.  He was 
manly and honorable in the highest extreme in all business 
transactions.  His moral character was above reproach 
with the exception of a high temper it can be truthfully 
be said that so far as the public is aware he had few 
faults.  He had been successful in financial affairs and 
had met with no reverses.  His act is beyond the 
explanation of any of his friends.  Temporary insanity 
seems to be the only explanation.  The coroner's jury 
returned a verdict of murder and suicide.