The first accusation was against a Deacon, accused of stealing jewelry from a woman who managed to hold him for police in an innovative fashion.
From the Arizona Daily Star, Thursday, July 20, 1916:
Lured into Palace of Sweets By Dusty Siren Deacon Harris Trapped
Woman Phones for Police Who Arrest Church Pillar for Stealing Jewelry
“Won’t you all treat me to some ice cream,” is what Mrs. Annie Williams, who resides at 635 North Ninth street, said to Deacon Charles L. Harris, of the African Methodist church, when she met him at the corner of Stone and Congress yesterday evening.
“Shuah, ah will, Missus Williams,” Harris replied, and he made good his word by piloting her into the “Palace of Sweets,” where they ordered some of the cold stuff.
Mrs. Williams didn’t seem much interested in the ice cream but instead went to the telephone and called up a number. Pretty soon Desk Sergeant O’Donnell arrived on the scene and took Deacon Harris into custody on suspicion that he had stolen jewelry from Mrs. Williams. He was taken to the city jail and kept there all evening.
Harris strenuously denies the charge that he took any jewelry from Mrs. Williams. He says it is all framed up. The woman, however, insists that Harris is the guilty party and the matter will be thoroughly investigated by the police today.
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The following day a small item ran in the Star saying that Harris had been released as there was no evidence found against him.
The next accusation led to the shooting of a chef by his brother-in-law, who accused his victim of hitting his wife, the shooter's sister.
SANTA RITA CHEF IS SHOT BY RELATIVE
Fritz Morris Wounded by W. D. Pearce Following Family Row
Following an argument in the Santa Rita hotel kitchen early yesterday morning, Fritz Morris, colored chef of the hotel, was shot and seriously wounded by his brother-in-law, W. D. Pearce, also colored. the latter was arrested and placed in the county jail, while Morris was sent to the Arizona Hospital.
The trouble between the two men is said to have arisen over the fact that Morris beat his wife, Pearce’s sister, Tuesday evening. The woman went to Pearce about the matter and the latter sought Morris at the hotel kitchen while he was preparing breakfast. According to witnesses, the two men talked to each other for several minutes. Pearce then fired at Morris and hurried from the hotel. He went to his home on Convent street where he was arrested later by Deputy Sheriff Louie Ezekials. He confessed the shooting and gave his gun up without any trouble.
Morris was sent to the Arizona hospital, where an examination disclosed the fact that the ball, which was from a 45 automatic had struck him in the left side below the ribs, penetrating his abdomen, and striking upward through his liver, found exit at the back of the lung. The condition of Morris was reported to be favorable at the hospital yesterday and there is a good chance for his recovery.
Pearce is a barber and he and Morris married sisters. A third sister is Mrs. Bragg, whose husband is serving a term at Florence for bootlegging, it is said.
Morris has been employed at the Santa Rita for about two years.
We certainly don't condone spousal abuse, nor do we condone shooting the suspected abuser.
The last accusation was made by some Mexicans who accused a railroad brakeman of assaulting them and breaking the arm of one of them when they wouldn't pay more bribery money to the brakeman for allowing them to ride without a ticket. Unfortunately, they could not give the name of the brakeman in question.
Beaten by Brakeman Story Mexicans Tell
Enrico Pacheco in Hospital With Left Arm Broken in Two Places
Two Mexicans were brought to the county jail yesterday afternoon suffering from painful wounds and bruises which they said were inflicted by a Southern Pacific brakeman at Vail station. They gave their names as Enrico Pacheco, whose left arm is said to have been broken in two places and who was otherwise injured, and Aurelia Pacheco. The latter suffered no broken bones as did Enrico, who was taken to St. Mary’s hospital for treatment after he had been examined at the county jail by Dr. Pratt, county physician.
The story told officers by the Mexicans was that they got on a Southern Pacific freight train at Benson and paid a brakeman a sum of money for permission to ride to Tucson but that the brakeman became angered at Vail when they refused to pay more money and he threw them from the train. The Mexicans did not give the brakeman’s name and no complaint was issued as a result of their story.
