Читать книгу American Indian Ghost Stories of the West - Antonio Sr. Garcez - Страница 29

This historic courthouse is located at the northeast corner of Arizona Street and Navajo Boulevard. Currently it houses the Chamber of Commerce offices and the Historical Society Museum. In 1976, a new governmental center was established south of the city. All county offices were then moved from the courthouse to this new location. In 1981 the County Board of Supervisors requested that the Navajo County Historical Society open a museum in the old building. Local residents graciously donated furniture, keepsakes and other wonderful items along with written family histories to include in the displays, which are presently on view in the museum. Aside from the many notorious trials that were held in the courtroom, only one hanging took place in the courtyard on January 8, 1900, at 2 p.m. The name of the executed was George Smiley who was hung for the murder of T. J. McSweeney.

The following are reproduced invitations to the hanging of George Smiley, for murder, which occurred at Holbrook on January 8, 1900. Issued by F. J. Wattron, Sheriff of Navajo County.

This first invitation, the news of which was sent out by the Associated Press, brought a letter of condemnation from then President William McKinley to Governor Nathan Oakes Murphy, of the Territory of Arizona. Governor Murphy severely rebuked Sheriff Wattron, and issued a stay of execution, whereupon the Sheriff sent out the second sarcastic invitation.

The following is the deposition of T. J. McSweeney after being shot. Filed on October 4, 1899.

Question: What is your name?

Answer: T. J. McSweeney.

Question: Where do you reside?

Answer: Have been residing at Dennison.

Question: You are employed as section foreman of the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad Company at Dennison?

Answer: Yes, sir, at Dennison.

Question: What is the man’s name who did the shooting?

Answer: George Smiley.

Question: What do you think caused him to commit this act? What were his reasons?

Answer: He claimed I ought to give him time check when he quit. I had to go to El Paso to have my wife’s eyes treated and I asked Mr. Crowley to send man down there and this fellow worked one day for Garrity and then quit and then, of course, Garrity was the man to give him his time check. I had no more to do with it.

Question: He worked for Mr. Garrity after you had taken leave?

Answer: Yes, sir.

Question: Go ahead and tell me just what he said?

Answer: He just walked right up to me and either said, “Give me my time check” or “I want my time check,” but before I had a chance to reply, came right up and struck me.

Question: What did he strike you with?

Answer: I do not know; something hard.

Question: Where did he hit you?

Answer: In the mouth and face, just one blow.

Question: What did you do then?

Answer: I started to run and he shot me in the back and I kept running.