On last Thursday afternoon a shooting affray occurred at Springerville between A.W.Harris and Charles Lewis which was attended with fatal results. Harris shot Lewis through the body with a Winchester rifle from the effects of which he died the same night. Both of the parties were young men who had not reached majority. We have not been able to learn the particulars other than as stated. Harris was arrested and committed to jail on last Saturday in St, Johns where he awaits the action of the next grand jury. |
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M.A.Nagent, the gentlemanly Sheriff of Yuma county, arrived here Saturday evening, having in charge A.W.Harris, who has been returned from Yuma Penitentiary on a writ of habeas corpus issued by Judge Porter, to await action of the grand jury. |
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I, John T.Hogue, Acting Coroner of Springerville Precinct, County of Apache, Territory of Arizona, do hereby certify that I held an Inquisition upon the body of Charles Lewis, a native of the United States, aged about twenty years, at the Blacksmith shop of J.V. Brighton, in said Springerville Precinct, on the 30th day of July, 1886. Verdict of the Jury: Death from a gun shot wound by the hand of A.W.Harris, on the 30th day of July, 1886. And I further certify, that I caused to be interred his body, at the public grave yard in the vicinity of Springerville, County of Apache, on the thirty first day of July, 1886. Dated at Springerville, this thirty first day of July, 1886.
TERRITORY OF ARIZONA COUNTY OF APACHE
We the undersigned, the Jurors summoned to appear before John T. Hogue, Acting Coroner of Springerville Precinct, Apache County, at Springerville, on the 30th day of July,1886, to inquire into the cause of the death of Charles Lewis found lying dead in the street, having been duly sworn according to law, and having made an Inquisition, after inspecting the body and hearing the testimony adduced, upon our oaths, each and all, do say that we find the deceased was named Charles Lewis, a native of the United States, aged about twenty years, came to his death on the 30th day of July,1886, in this County by a gun shot wound by the hand of A.W.Harris, and we further find that we believe A.W.Harris to be the person by whose act, the death of the said, Charles Lewis is occasioned. All of which we duly certify by this Inquisition in writing by us, signed this 30th day of July, 1886.
IN THE JUSTICE'S COURT OF SPRINGERVILLE PRECINCT, COUNTY OF APACHE, To P. H. Snow, E. C. Bunch, A. G. Powell, A. A. Dewitt, John H. Batchelder, John Evans, W. A. Jackson, John Johnson, L. H. Weisbrod, Elisha Everett and Wilds P. Plummer. We command you, all and singular, business and excused being laid aside, you be and appear before the undersigned Acting Coroner of Springerville Precinct, Apache County, Arizona, at J.V.Brighton's blacksmith shop in Springerville, Apache County, Arizona, on this thirtith day of July,1886, at once, then and there, to serve as Jurors in certain Inquisition now pending before said Acting Coroner, and herein fail not, or answer the contrary at your peril. Given under my hand this thirtith day of July, 1886. John T.Hogue, Acting Coroner of said Precinct and County of Apache. Springerville, A.T
George Everett, first being duly sworn deposes and says: Q. Did you see the shooting of Charles Lewis? A. Yes, I saw the gun go off. Q. Go on and state all you know about it. A. I was with Chas.Lewis when he was shot. I saw Anthony Harris stick his head (out) of a door in Mr. Brighton's house, and pointed a rifle of some kind toward Chas.Lewis and shot, and upon the report of the gun, Chas.Lewis fell. After Lewis fell he turned to my brother and called out, "I am shot!" repeating "I am shot!" I then saw Anthony Harris break and run North toward Judge Bunche's residence. I went on toward the house and Harris who fired at Lewis, said to me. "Stand back!" Then (he) broke and ran. That is all I know about it. Q. Had Lewis, the man shot, had any difficulty previous to the shooting with Harris? A. Not that I know of. Q. Was Lewis, the man shot, walking toward Harris? A. Yes Sir. Q. Where was you and Lewis aiming to go to? A. We were going to Brighton's house where Harris was. Q. What induced you to go to Brighton's house? A. We went there to make Harris a friendly visit. Q. Who proposed going to see this man Harris? A. I am not sure who made the proposition. Q. Was there any threats made by Lewis against Harris, while you were going to Brighton's house or at any previous time? A. Lewis said that he would not fight Harris without he had his pistol. Lewis said this an hour before he went toward Brighton's house. Q. Now, you never heard Lewis make any threats of violence against Harris? A. No. Q. Had either Lewis or Harris been drinking before this affair occurred? A. Yes, Lewis had been drinking. Q. Was it your understanding that Lewis was going to Brighton's house to have a fight with Harris? A. No, that was not my understanding. Q. State what brought about this remark of Lewis, that he would not fight Harris without a pistol? A. I do not know what induced Lewis to say that. Q. Was there anyone else present when Lewis made this remark about not fighting Harris unless he had his pistol? A. There were other persons present but I did not notice who they were. Q. Was you down to Brighton's house once before, today? with Chas.Lewis? A. Yes, Sir. Q. Was Chas. Lewis inclined to raise a row with Harris upon your first visit to Brighton's house? A. No, not that I know of. Q. What was the object of the first visit you made in company with Lewis to Brighton's house? A. Lewis went to Brighton's house the first time to give Ike Clanton a drink of liquor. Q. Did you hear any angry words of any kind pass between Lewis and Harris previous to the shooting. A. No Sir, I did not. Q. Did Harris give Lewis any warning as you approached Brighton's house? A. No, he did not.
Charles Everett, first being duly sworn deposes and says: Q. Did you see the shooting of Chas. Lewis by Anthony Harris? A. Yes, Sir. Q. Now go on and state all you saw and know about the shooting? A. I was going down to Brighton's in company with Lewis, when we were within sixty yards of Brighton's house, Harris stuck his head out of the door, aimed a rifle at Lewis and fired, and Lewis fell. Lewis said as he fell, "I am shot", repeating, "I am shot", three times. I went over to Becker's store and immediately after my return to the place where Lewis fell, he died. Q. How long after he, Lewis, was shot did he live? A. About fifteen or twenty minutes, as near as I can judge. Q. Had there been any difficulty or quarrel between Lewis and Harris previous to the shooting? A. Not that I know of. Q. Did you ever hear Lewis say that he would not fight Harris without he had his pistol? A. Yes, Sir. Q. How and what induced. Lewis to say that he would not fight Harris without he had a pistol? A. I do not know. Q. What were you and Lewis going to Brighton's house for at the time Lewis was shot? A. We were going to give Ike Clanton a drink. Q. Was Ike Clanton in Brighton's house at the time Harris shot Lewis? A. No, Sir. Q. Why were you and Lewis going to Brighton's house to give Ike Clanton a drink when he, Clanton, was not there? A. I misunderstood your question, wherein you asked me, What were you and Lewis going to Brighton's house for at the time Lewis was shot? We were going to Brighton's house at the time Lewis was shot to have a friendly talk with Harris. This was the second time Lewis and I went to Brighton's house. Q. Now, what did you go to Brighton's house for the first time? A. Lewis went there to give Ike Clanton a drink. Q. Was Ike Clanton at Brighton's house at the time Lewis was shot? A. No, Sir. Q. Why did you and Lewis go there to give Ike Clanton a drink when he was not there. Q. Did you see Charles Lewis shot? A. Yes, Sir. Q. Who shot him? A. Anthony Harris, the arrested, today for shooting him. EXAMINATION Upon the foregoing proceedings before the Coroner's Jury hereto attached, warrant of arrest was issued and the said accused, A.W. Harris was arrested and brought into court, this thirty-first day of July,1886. The said defendant upon being into court was immediately informed of the charges against him and of his right to the aid of counsel in every stage of the proceedings. The Defendant upon being informed of the charges against him asked leave to make a statement and waived futher examination. STATEMENT OF DEFENDANT Q. What is your name and age? A. Anthony W.Harris, age 21 years. Q. Where were you born? A. In Kentucky. Q. Where do you reside and how long have you resided there? A. In Springerville, have resided there about two months. Q. What is your business or profession? A. Laborer. Q. Give any explanation you may think proper, of the circumstances appearing in the testimony against you, and state any facts which you think will tend to your exculpation? A. 'Statement. I shot Charles Lewis because I was told to look out that he was going to round me up, and he has rounded me up previous to the shooting, four times with his pistol, and cursing me and abusing me, and shooting in my presence where I was at work, with a six-shooter. That Brighton and Isaac Clanton, and others have warned me that Chas. Lewis would round me up, as much as to say that he would shoot me. Evertime Chas. Lewis met me he would try to pick a quarrel or fuss with his hand on his six-shooter, and dared me to fight. I supposed when he saw me going into Brighton's house, and him peeping around the corner of the School Master's Corral, with the two Everett boys with him, that they were walking toward Brighton's house where I was, and Lewis, the man I shot holding his hand on his pistol, and the larger Everett boy pulled his pistol around from the back of his pants to his side. And both men walked toward me holding their hands on their pistols. As they were walking toward me I stood in the front door of Brighton's house with my Windchester rifle lying by my side. I called to them and told them not to come any further. They kept coming and I fired. When Lewis fell, and the smaller of the Everett boy's threw up his hands and said he was not on the war-path, and had nothing to do with the fight. The larger Everett boy stood still and looked around, holding his hand on his six-shooter. I told him not to do any thing, and then I walked away down to Marcilino Jaramillo's house where I was arrested. The Defendant waived further examination. It appearing to me from the foregoing testimony that the crime of murder had been committed, and that there is sufficient cause to believe the within named, Anthony W. Harris is guilty, thereof. I order that he be held to answer to the same. The prosecuting witnesses, Charles and George Everett, required to give bond for their appearance as witnesses.
This information charges this Defendant, Anthony W. Harris, with the crime of murder, by having on or about the 30th day of July, 1886, at the County of Apache and Territory of Arizona, unlawfully, wilfully, malichiously, delibertly and promesatively and of his malice aforethought, killed and murdered Charles Lewis, a human being. The theory of the prosecution is that on or about the 30th day of July, 1886, the deceased, Charles Lewis, in company with two persons who have testified in court for the purpose of having a social talk with the Defendant. That when they arrived within about fifty yards of a house where the Defendant was stopping. That the Defendant, Anthony W. Harris, looked out from the house, saw them coming, raised the gun, a Windchester rifle which he held in his hand, pointed toward the deceased, Charles Lewis, and fired the shot and killed him. That deceased was making no angry or hostile demostrations toward the Defendant or any other partys. |
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