STOCKING, James Emery

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona December 15, 1966, page 1 Operator Dies Under Big Shovel Justice of the Peace Jerold P. Kolar of Yarnell indicated to Sheriff’s Sgt. James Mason of Wickenburg that he would probably hold a coroner’s inquest into the death of James E. Stocking of Phoenix which occurred the morning of Dec. 7 about 12 miles north of Morristown and two miles off the Castle Hot Springs road. Sheriff Mason was called to the scene of the accident in Yavapai County to stand by pending the arrival of Judge Kolar and Deputy Sheriff Otis Flowers from Yarnell. Sheriff Mason told the SUN that Mr Stocking was operating a 7-ton tractor-shovel repairing an access road to an American Telephone & telegraph Co. microwave tower when the fatal accident occurred. It appeared, said Mason, that Stocking, 45-year-old employed of the Haumont Contracting Co., of Phoenix, had made one pass into the bank alongside the road and was proceeding when a 14-inch drainage flume under the road, which had been weakened by recent rains, gave way under the weight of the huge equipment, plunged down a bank nearly 50 feet and overturned, pinning Stocking beneath it. He probably died instantly, Mason said. The body was taken to Phoenix. He is survived by his wife and several children.