ANTONIO SOTO
Arizona Republican Newspaper
September 4, 1901

Charles McCormick, the incorrigible son of the city pound 
master shot and killed a playmate, Antonio Soto, Sunday 
afternoon on South Meyer Street in Tucson.  McCormick was 
arrested and taken to the county jail.  Young Soto died 
Sunday night at 11 o'clock.  According to the Citizen, the 
story told the authorities by companions of the boys is to 
the effect that on Sunday afternoon, young McCormick and 
some other boys were playing on South Meyer Street.  
McCormick had a 22 rifle which he is said to have rented 
from the store of Manzo and Ochoa on South Meyer Street, 
who are said to quite a business in renting firearms to 
small boys.  The youngsters were all Mexicans.  A Mexican 
man and woman drove by in a buggy.  McCormick raised his 
rifle, declaring he would take a shot at them.  Antonio 
Soto, a 16 year old boy, prevented McCormick from carrying 
out his intention.  In a rage the boy turned the gun on 
Soto and fired.  The Soto boy threw up his hand.  The 
bullet entered the skull just over the left temple, 
cutting off finger of the hand with which Soto sought to 
protect himself.

Constable Pachero was notified by some of the boys and 
hurried to the scene.  He found Carlos McCormick on the 
street and arrested him.  The body of the injured boy had 
been taken to his house.  When arrested McCormick was 
entirely cool and showed no signs of fear or nervousness 
when the iron doors o the county jail clanged behind him.  
Antonio Soto died of his wound and he will be buried today 
at 4.

Carlos McCormick's father is Pound master McCormick, a 
Mexican in the employ of the city.  In 1894 he was sent 
to the penitentiary at Yuma for one year for perjury.  
When his term expired he took up his abode with another 
woman than his lawful wife, the mother of his son Carlos 
and a daughter named Josefa. McCormick has continued to 
live with this woman ever since leaving his wife in 1894 
and has done nothing for his family.  The children have 
lived with their mother and grandmother who worked hard 
for their support.

Several months ago, Mrs. McCormick was taken ill with stomach 
trouble and upon the old grandmother devolved the duty of 
earning a living for them all.  The boy Carlos made no effort 
to help but spent his time with companions of his own stripe 
in the street.  A few weeks ago the father tried to entice 
the boy from his mother but life was easy with her and he 
refused to go with his father.

When the mother died Monday morning, the grandmother sent 
word to McCormick that she was dead and asked what he would 
do toward the expense of her burial.  McCormick called at 
the little adobe hut on South Main Street where his wife's 
body lay and informed his wife's mother that he could 
furnish nothing but the boards to make a coffin but that 
he wanted the little girl Josefa to go with him.  Now the 
little girl is the only companion of the old woman and if 
her father takes her away the old one will be entirely 
alone.  The grandmother sits huddled on the floor and 
mourns and wipes her eyes on her mantilla, the little 
Josefa leans against the cot on which her mother's body 
lies and looks and listens to all the excited talk of the 
neighbors.