PEDRO ERIVE
Arizona Republican Newspaper
July 2, 1904

Yuma County has been afforded the prospect of another 
hanging soon.  A murder of extraordinary brutality was 
committed in the northern part of the county a few days 
ago.  The crime was made all the worse by the motive.

Deputy Sheriff Tom Blair of Harrisburg arrived in Yuma 
yesterday with Ygnacio Samaniego, charged with one of 
the most atrocious murders ever committed in the county.  
He confessed to the deputy and recited all the horrible 
details.  The victim was Pedro Erive, with whose wife 
Samaniego was infatuated, and the murder was done to 
remove the only obstruction to the illicit love.

Samaniego, who stands charged with the bloody murder, 
was much infatuated with the better half of Pedro Erive, 
the murdered man and he reasoned in his mind that could 
he "put his rival out of business," then he might claim 
his love, without fear of molestation.  He went to the 
murdered man last Friday and informed him that he had 
discovered some rich placer claims and invited Erive 
to go with him and investigate the same and share in 
his wealth and while Pedro Erive was down upon his 
knees examining the ore, dealt him a stunning blow 
with a rock and then finished him by smashing his 
head to a jelly with a large boulder, weighing about 
thirty pounds.  The fiend then returned to the woman 
and told her of the crime and said they could now live 
together, that she need have no further fear.  While 
guilty of unfaithfulness to her husband, the woman 
refused to enjoy the bitter fruits of such a ghastly 
murder.  Horrified that she might be thought an 
accomplice, Mrs. Erive at once notified Deputy Sheriff 
Tom Blair, who arrested Sameniego and secured from him 
a full confession.

The murderer was arraigned before Justice Thurlow Tuesday 
morning for a preliminary hearing, the territory being 
represented by Deputy District Attorney R.F. Davis.  H. 
Wupperman appeared for the defendant.