J. R. Ward |
| Posted 2018-07-21 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Prescott Morning Courier, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, April 2, 1902, page 3, column 5 Another Man Killed J. W. Ward Shot Ad Beaten To Death As the Courier reporter came from the postoffice about 15 minutes before 6 p.m. yesterday, he saw the chief of police hurrying around the Fisher corner, heard some one exclaim, 'man killed,' and followed the crowd into the saloon in the rear end of the Fisher building, run by Roman Cardova, where a ghastly sight met the horrified gaze of the gathering crowd. A heavy set, dark complexioned man lay on his face on the floor weltering in his life blood and gasping his last. The man's hair was matted in blood; the disarrangement of his clothing, as well as the position of his body, gave evidence of a very violent death. The particulars leading up to the killing, as nearly as the Courier man could gather them, are as follows: Simon Alderete, a Mexican, who says he is a recent arrival from Williams, where he worked for the Perrins, had an altercation and a sort of a scuffle or fight with J. W. Ward, was under the influence of liquor. It stated that Alderte called Ward a 'liar' and struck him; that the men started to fight and were separated. A few minutes later they again had a scuffle on the street. Alderete left his had lying on the sidewalk and went into the Mexican saloon next door to the Germania. Ward picked up the Mexican's hat and went into the Germania. In a few seconds Alderete appeared in the door of the Germania with his hand thrust in his left inside coat pocket and demanded his hat. Some one grabbed the hat and threw it to him. Alderete then went back into the Mexican saloon and was soon followed by Ward. When Ward entered, Alderete was standing at the bar. As Ward advanced, Alderete drew his pistol and fired upon Ward until the latter fell to the floor. Cordova grabbed Alderete and held him until the arrival of officers. He is now in jail. It was supposed that Ward had been shot several times through the head, but an examination by Dr. Fitzsimmons showed that Ward had been beaten about the head and face with something like an ice pick, and there were no bullet wounds about the head, but many contused wounds. There was a powder burn on the neck and the frontal face bones were broken. There was also a contused wound on the wrist. The bullet which killed Ward entered the front of the left side and probably lodged in the spinal column. A battered bullet was picked up from the floor beside the body. The bullets were fired from a pistol of the bulldog pattern. Ward was lying with his head toward the bar. When the body was turned over, the face was sound to be distorted and covered with blood. Ward has been in Prescott but a short time, and has been engaged in painting signs. He is said to have come her with Uncle Josh. A few days ago he was overheard to say: 'I will quit drinking when I am fifty years old; I expect to live to be 100 years old.' He was wholly unarmed had only a small penknife and some business cards, of which cards the following is a reproduction. (copy of business card included in this filer.) Justice Connell called a jury and held an inquest. The verdict of the jury was that Ward came to his death from a pistol-shot wound administered by Aldrete and that the death was occasioned by criminal means. Ward was about 35 years of age. Transcriber's note: Mr. Ward is buried at the Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona. See Also: Arizona Gravestone Photo Project |
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