News items from the Republican Newspaper Phoenix, Arizona, 1909 submitted by burns @asu.edu USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. submitted by burns@asu.edu ***************************************************** TOM CHEMIS November 21, 1909 Ending an exciting half hour chase over steep hills and through deep canyons, says the Prescott Courier, Tom Chemis, counterfeiter, was captured at the Rosenberger Corral, three and a half miles south of Humboldt last evening at sundown by Deputy Sheirffs C.C. Keeler and Thomas Thompson after being seriously wounded by the latter. Chemis was shot through the body, the bullet entering the back of the right spinal column and passing through, coming out through the right breast. Ten shots were fired in the direction of Chemis by Officer Thompson before the officer fired the eleventh time with the intention of bringing him to earth, fearing that he would escape in the darkness. The shot was fired at a distance of 350 yards. Chemis is believed to have attmpted suicide a fter being shot by the officer, as his pistol, a Smith and Wesson, 32 caliber, was found lying near him on the sand with two of the bullets snapped. Three twenty five cent pieces were found on Chemis' person after his capture. After the shooting, Depty Thompson left Chemis in charge of Deputy Keeler and hurried to Humboldt for surgical assistance. Returning as soon as possible with Dr. L.C. Toney, the wounded counterfeiter's injury was bandaged. He was taken to Dr. Toney's hospital at Humboldt where further assistance was rendered him. Chemis will be lodged in the county hospital here this evening. He is being taken there in charge of the physician on the Crown King train. It is believed that the wound will not prove fatal although it is admitted to be a very dangerous one. Deputy Keeler arrived this afternoon from Humboldt. He was armed with a pistol in the chase. Deputy Thompson was armed with a Winchester rifle, which he used in the shooting. FIRE DESTROYS HOME September 9, 1909 Flames devoured the home of Mrs. Laura Davis, residing at 709 West Grant Street yesterday afternoon, turning the brave little woman and her three children out in the street penniless. Shortly after 3 o'clock the Santa Fe switch engine was notified of the fire and tooted again and again for help, being finally answered by the fire department. The firemen made a good run to action but though the hose was strung for two blocks to the nearest hydrant in record breaking time, the god of fire had already laid waste the premises, leaving little to do but save the surrounding property. How the fire started no one knows. Mrs. Davis had just finished ironing and had gone over to talk with a neighbor across the street. She knew of no fire in the stove, but believes that a defective chimney flue might have been the cause of the fire. The wooden structure, being dry as tinder, burst into flames at once and there was no opportunity of saving household goods or even clothing. The property, including the home, was owned by William H. Crosby and had been resided in for some time by Mrs. Davis. For five months since the death of her husband who was formerly employed in Wakelin's Grocery, Mrs. Davis has struggled night and day to support herself and her children. HANS NELSON December 2, 1909 About every so often in Tempe more or less excitement is caused by the unaccountable disappearance of some man. Always, heretofore, those who have disappeared have turned up again at some future date. The latest case and record is that of Hans Nelson. Mr. Nelson had rented the Olsen Ranch, formerly the Holsapple place for the year. A week ago yesterday he came to town with a horse and buggy and purchased a quantity of groceries in the afternoon. These he put in the rig and sent to a livery stable. He took the late afternoon train to Pheonix expecting it is presumed, to return that same evening and go back to the ranch. He did not return that night or the next day and has not been seen since. After a day or two, Mr. Olsen, who was in southern California was telegraphed for. He arrived the first of the week and has spent most of his time since looking for the lost man. The last trace of him that he has found was on the streets of Phoenix a week ago. Nelson was known to have on his person when he left Tempe in the neighborhood of $75 and Mr. Olsen is inclined to think that htere has been some foul play connected with his disappearance. He was ahard worker, paid his debts and had no cause so far as Mr. Olsen knows for thus leaving the country. THE MISSING WIFE OF A PHOENIX MAN November 3, 1909 C.M. Smith, proprietor of the Monroe House left this morning for the east on an important double mission. One errand is to find his wife who has been lost for a month and the other to assist in the settling of the affairs of a brother, who recently died in Mississippi where Mr. Smith has business interests. Mr. Smith was married in Kansas City last summer to Mrs. Delia Weaver, a widow with two children. One of the children was ill at the time and Mrs. Smith was unable to accompany her newly made husband to his western house but it was arranged that she should come ealry in October. Mr. Smith left her a little money at the time of his departure and also left his trunk. After his return to Phoenix he sent his wife some money and shortly before the time set for her departure for Phoenix he sent her a chck for $25 with instructions to make some purchases for him at a certain department store. A little after the first of October he arranged for her transporation with the Santa Fe office here and at the same time had sent with the ticket that he thought she might need. He has not heard of her since. After he had written several letters to her receiving no reply, he wrote to the place where she had been stopping. He learned that she had left that place on October 7,intending to take a night train for Phoenix. Inquiry regarding the ticket which had been sent to Mrs. Smith brought out from the Santa Fe office at Kansas City that she had called for it on October 7. Mr. Smith then took up the matter with the chief of police of Kansas City and he has sent broadcast printed descriptions of her offering a reward for information. Mr. Smith believes that his wife left on October 7 and that she was suddenly taken violently ill and may be stopping at some place along the route. CAROLYN SHEEHAN December 15, 1909 The city police and the sheriff's office were asked yesterday by the authorities of the Crittenton Home to renew their efforts to find Caroline Sheehan, the 12 year old girl who is supposed to have been abducted from the home by her mother from whom she was taken by an order from Judge Doan. Since the kidnapping of the child last Friday no trace of her or of her mother has been found. The child's mother goes under the name of Holliday, Roundtree or Sheehan and perhaps other aliases. Her home is in Bisbee. On account of the indecent surroundings to which the girl was exposed when at home she was removed by a court order to the Crittenton Home November 24 last. She was brought down from Bisbee in the custody of Miss Cummings, who was deputized. No court order ws received with the girl but W.E. Spicer, a clergyman from Bisbee who happened to be in Phoenix a short time later, told the matron that he understood the child had been committed for seven years. She had not been at the home long before she was visited by a woman who said she was the mother. This woman saw her several times and once took dinner at the home. That was about a week after the child arrived at the home. There is strong reason to believe that the woman remained in Phoenix waiting a favorable chance to kidnap her own daughter. That the child was a partner in her own kidnapping is evident from the fact that on Friday last she went to the matron and asked her for a purse containg a single dollar that she had been saving up for Christmas. She gave a plausible excuse and the matron turned the purse over to her. That was at noon, when Caroline came home for dinner. At 2 o'clock the principal of the Churchill school telephoned to the home the information that the child had not returned after the noon recess. The police were at once informed and asked to search for her. It is requested by the Crittenton Home that people all over the territory will watch out for Caroline Sheehan. While her age is given as 12, she does not look over 10. Her chief characteristic is her very bright dark eyes. She has dark hair and somewhere on her scalp, perhaps under her hair, is a distinct scar. When she left the home she wore a dark red dress with a short brown jacket and wore no hat. One of her prize possessions was a box of gayly colored ribbons. This she took with her. Her mother is a rather plain, tired-looking woman of middle age. December 17, 1909 Caroline Sheehan has been retunred to the custody of the Crittenton Home, through her identification to Mrs. Buck of Tempe, who read of her kidnaping in the Republican and the agency of the sheriff's office and Marshall Sam Brown of Tempe. She was brought back to Phoenix last evening with her mother and placed in the home, her mother, being temporarily provided for by Judge Langston who will undertake to provide her suitable employment until she can make better arrangments. Tuesday evening Mrs. Buck of Tempe, telephoned the Crittenton Home that she believed the child and her mother, Mrs. Roundtree were somewhere in that vicinity. She had seen the persons whose identity she had suspected and heard the little girl addressed as Caroline. The matron of the home apprised the sheriff's office and Sheriff Hayden interested Marshall Sam Brown on Tempe who kept his eyes on all departing trains to see that the woman and her child did not leave. Yesterday morning the matron of the home went to Tempe and found Mr. Brown watching the depot and Mr. Buck keeping an eye on the home of a Mrs. Horn where the couple were supposed to be. Identifications was easy and they were brought to Phoenix last evening by Mr. Brown and turned over to the sheriff. The mother asked for advice and counsel to see if she could not regain legal custody of her child. She was told that she could not and had to follow the proper course. The story of the wonderings the mother and child since Friday is as follows. The mother had but very little money and was determined to make it go as far as possible; also she rather feared to travel on the cars for fear she would be pursued and apprended. They left Phoneix on foot, traveling toward Tempe. They say they traveled leisurely until the little girl would get tired, when they would stop at a farmhouse somewhere and rest awhile. In this way they got as far as Mesa City, with Globe as their objective but they learned in Mesa City that there was no means of conveyance available to them. They then planned walking to Globe by easy stages. The mangement of the Crittenton Home of course has no desire to keep Caroline any longer than until some proper place for her can be found but such a place has not yet been provided and whe nshe is taken elsewhere the home managment desires it to be regularly and legally done, both as a proper respect for the court and the law and also that its own authority may be firmly established. Obligations are incurred with the reception of every inmate and obligations cannot be discharged without authority is recognized. THE BLOODY TRIAL OF GEORGE HARRIS December 22, 1909 It was brought out at the trail of George Harris in probate court yesterday on the charge of insanity that he had had a bloody career and that he had killed at least two men, one in Texas and the other at Globe, this territory. Harris says he is sixty two years of age. Other statements made regarding himself are taken to be true for he seemed rational on every subject. Harris had been employed at the ranch of Henry Renaud near Alhambra for several months. The other day Harris appeared at the office of the sheriff and said that the night before he had heard Mr. and Mrs. Renaud plotting against his life. He had gone to bed, he said, and though he could not hear what was said, he knew in some mysterious way that they were waiting for him to go to sleep. He kept stirring in bed and once he understood that Mrs. Renaud told her husband they would have to wait for their intended victim had not yet gone to sleep. Harris said he slept none that night and he had no revolver and not even a razor to defend himself. It was the opinion of the sheriff when Harris was telling him this that if Harris had had any of those weapons that night, there would have been a frightful tragedy near Alhambra that night. Harris was locked up and kept under observation. He was no better the next day nor at any other time. He saw people armed near the barred window of the women's cell and kept calling for a revolver. He said that several years ago he was a member of the Texas Rangers. After he severed his connection with that organization he went to Dallas and soon after, in a saloon one night, he heard a man speak disrespectfully of a friend and he shot him. Harris was sent to the penitentiary at Huntsville for twelve years and he served five when he received a parole. The affair at Globe he said was one for which he was not to blame; there he shot in self defense but he was convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to Yuma for ten years. He was pardoned at the expiration of four years. Previous to that time he said that he had been sent from Yuma to the territorial assylum for the insane. It was his version that he had been sent there as a trusty at a time when extensive improvements were going on. It is known that Harris was at the asylum about the time he said he was but it is doubtful whether he was sent there becasue he was insane. JOSEPH A. STEWART September 21, 1909 Joseph A. Stewart, the well known rancher was taken suddnely ill about 5 o'clock Saturday morning at the desert ranch on Queen Creek and was yesterday brought to this place for treatment. According to Mr. Stewart, he spent Friday night at the home of his daughter, Cassie Stewart on Queen Creek, who has a house a short distance from his home. Saturday morning about 5 o'clock he arose and felt a short of thrill coming over him and almost instnatly his limbs refused to support him and he fell back across the bed. there was no one at the house at the time but the Burton brothers who are erecting a house for him on his land called to him. He heard their calls but was unable to answer. He could not speak a word and remained in this condition for three hours. He finally by motions and signs expressed to them that he desired a pencil and paper on which he wished to write. "Don't bring Julia here, now." meaning that he did not desire to have them go for his wife for fear that it would worry her.