Tales from the Morgue: The slayer of Billy Stiles confesses

The slayer of Billy Stiles confesses to his murder

At last the mystery that has surrounded the death of Billy Stiles, the former Arizona outlaw, claimed to have been murdered in Nevada while living there under an assumed name and serving as a peace officer, bids fair to be cleared up by the confession at Canon City, Colo., of Charles Barr that he is the man who killed Stiles.

Deputy Sheriff William Larkin was shot and killed from ambush at Humboldt, Nev., about two years ago. His relatives in Arizona contend that Larkin was none other than Billy Stiles. Stiles' full name was William Larkin Stiles.

While some have doubted that Larkin actually was Stiles and believe that the alleged identification was but a ruse to throw pursuers off the track, Stiles being wanted for murder and highway robbery in Sonora, others have satisfied themselves that they are one and the same man.

Barr is now serving sixteen years in the Colorado penitentiary at Canon City for a street car holdup in Pueblo, Colo., He was known in prison under the name of "C.C. Collins," but when it was discovered that he was Barr and his connection with the Larkin murder established, he made a full confession.

Efforts are now being made in Colorado to secure a pardon for Barr so that he can be taken to Nevada and there stand trial for the murder of the ex-Arizona outlaw. Barr is also wanted at Las Vegas, N.M., for the murder of a restaurant keeper.

That Stiles should have been serving as an officer in Nevada under an assumed name is not surprising to those who recall his early record in Arizona. Stiles was serving as a deputy sheriff in Cochise county, this territory, during several of his most sensational robberies.

Relatives in Arizona of the dead bandit claim to have positive proof that Larkin was Stiles, and this is accepted by many who have heard all the details.