Jack Becker's note: Yavapai County District Attorney, Paul Weber, states on the Indictment that Peter Clanton is the true name of the deceased - not Peter Blanton.  Some historians believe that Peter Clanton was a brother of Ike and Phin.   Sam Blanton evidently went by his true name.   A Doña Ana Grand Jury indicted Samuel Blanton for murder committed at Las Cruces, New Mexico, on January 19, 1876.
View Gus Becker's account of the Blanton Gang.
See the newspaper articles concerning this murder.

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT

OF THE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA,
IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF YAVAPAI

THE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA

THE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA

VS  

MANUEL LUCERO Y RUIZ MADALINA CALDERON
JUAN SEDILLO
ROSALIO COLOMA
JOSE NUANES   AND
TOMAS ABALAS

JUNE TERM   A.D. 1878
MANUEL LUCERO Y RUIZ, MADALINA CALDERON, JUAN SEDILLO, ROSALIO COLOMA, JOSE NUANES AND TOMAS ABALAS are accused by the Grand Jury of the County of Yavapai in the Territory of Arizona by this Indictment of the crime of MURDER, committed as follows, to wit: The said MANUEL LUCERO Y RUIZ, MADALINA CALDERON, JUAN SEDILLO, ROSALIO COLOMA, JOSE NUANES and TOMAS ABALAS on or about the twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and seventy seven, and before the finding and presentation of this Indictment, at the County of Yavapai, in the Territory of Arizona, in and upon one PETER CLANTON, then and there being, unlawfully, feloniously and of their malice aforethought, did, make an assault, and certain deadly weapons, to wit, certain guns were then and there loaded with gun powder, and leaden bullets, one of which said guns the said MANUEL LUCERO Y RUIZ, in his hands, then and there, had and held; One of which said guns the said MADALINA CALDERON, in his hands, then and there, had and held; One of which said guns the said JUAN SEDILLO, in his hands, then and there, had and held; One of which said guns the said ROSALIO COLOMA, in his hands, then and there, had and held; One of which said guns the said JOSE NUANES, in his hands, then and there, had and held, and one of which said guns the said TOMAS ABALAS, in his hands, then and there, had and held, they, the said MANUEL LUCERO Y RUIZ, MADALINA CALDERON, JUAN SEDILLO, ROSALIO COLOMA, JOSE NUANES and TOMAS ABALAS, did, aim, direct and point said guns, so loaded as aforesaid, to, at and toward the said PETER CLANTON, otherwise called PETE, and did, then and there, unlawfully, feloniously and of their malice aforethought, shoot and fire off the same, discharging the leaden contents thereof, at, against and into the body of him, the said PETER CLANTON, otherwise called PETE, and did, then and there, by means of shooting and firing off said guns, and discharging the leaden contents thereof, at, upon and into the body of him, the said PETER CLANTON, otherwise called PETE, Unlawfully, feloniously and of their malice aforethought, inflict upon him, and upon the body of him, the said PETER CLANTON, otherwise called PETE. Several mortal wounds, of which said mortal wounds, the said PETER CLANTON, otherwise called PETE, on the day and year aforesaid, and at the County and territory aforesaid did die.

And so the Jurors aforesaid, on their oath, do say, that the said MANUEL LUCERO Y RUIZ, MADALINA CALDERON, JUAN SEDILLO, ROSALIO COLOMA, JOSE NUANAS and TOMAS ABALAS, on the day and year aforesaid, at the County and Territory aforesaid, in manner and form aforesaid, did, kill and murder him, the said PETER CLANTON, otherwise called PETE.

All of which is contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the Territory of Arizona.

(Signed) Paul Weber, District Attorney.

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From Jack Becker's Collection