Sam F. (S.F.) Wrenn |
| Posted 2017-02-05 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Weekly Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, June 28, 1916, page 4, column 4 MURDERER IS SOUGHT BY MANY POSSES Marshall's Mount Found At Humboldt George Casey Dies As Result of Shooting Affray; Sheriff On Trail Of Assailant; Inquests Are Held. (From Saturday's Daily) Half a dozen posses scoured the country surrounding Humboldt yesterday and last night without success in attempts to take, dead or alive, Fred Marshall, shoemaker, who shot and fatally wounded George D. Casey and S. F. Wrenn following a quarrel over a dice game in Casey's poolroom Thursday night. Wrenn died two hours after the shooting. Casey was operated upon but died at 2 o'clock yesterday morning. The bodies of both men were brought to this city yesterday and placed in Lester Ruffner's undertaking establishment. A horse which Marshall stole from the Consolidated company and rode away following the shooting, came back to Humboldt from the direction of Lynx creek about 7 o'clock yesterday morning. The animal was saddled and bridled and had evidently been ridden hard. Deputy sheriffs are inclined to believe that Marshall has either taken refuge in the hills and is preparing to stand off his pursuers or has ended his life. He is armed with a rifle and an automatic revolver which were stolen from Ben Johnson, stableman for the Consolidated at Humboldt. Late yesterday afternoon posses cut twice what is believed to be Marshall's tracks. Near the old Stoddard mill the trail was taken up and is being followed by Deputy Sheriffs Guy Bozarth and Kinsman. Sheriff Joe Young and Bill Fitzgerald crossed a second trail below the Iron King and are following it. Inquests over the bodies of Wrenn and Casey were conducted yesterday morning at Humboldt by Justice Ben Mowday and in both cases the verdict held Marshall responsible for inflicting the gunshot wounds that caused the deaths of the two men. The first coherent account of the tragedy was given by witnesses at the inquests. From the testimony given the shooting was brought about in the following manner: Wrenn and Marshall were shaking dice in Casey's poolroom and became involved in an argument over a $2 bet, which the witnesses said, Marshall refused to pay6 to Wrenn. During the argument Wrenn knocked Marshall down. Marshall went across the street to his home and procured a revolver. He returned to the poolhall and was met outside the door by Wrenn. The two men grappled. Wrenn wrested the gun from Marshall and during the struggle one of the cartridges in the chamber was exploded. Several witnesses testified to having heard Marshall scream that the was shot as the revolver was discharged. Wrenn took the gun into the poolhall, tossed it across the bar to Casey and said laughingly: 'Here's a gun I just took away from that fellow.' Marshall again ran to his home, secured a 45-calibre army model Colt's revolver belonging to his uncle, Elbert Dickson, and returned to the poolroom. Wrenn was leaning on the bar talking to Casey when Marshall opened fire through the screen door. The first shot struck Wrenn in the stomach and he doubled up in agony. Casey ran to the telephone to call for a doctor and Marshall fired again. The bullet struck Casey just as he was lifting the receiver from the hook, and he fell to the floor and and pulled down the telephone with him. Although mortally wounded, Wrenn ran around behind the bar for protection, and Marshall fired a third shot through one of the windows. This shot also struck Wrenn, but the latter ran outside and around to the rear of the hall before falling to the ground, unconscious. Marshall fled in the darkness, stole a horse from the corral of the Consolidated, the two guns from Johnson and rode away at top speed. The witnesses testified that Marshall was slightly under the influence of liquor at the time of the shooting. Immediately after the affair scores of citizens jumped in automobiles and started searching for the murderer. They were soon joined by Sheriff Young and Deputy Sheriffs Kinsman, of Humboldt, Thompson of Mayer, Speers of Camp Verde and Hawkins of Jerome. Bozarth left early yesterday morning with horses and joined the pursuit. All automobiles were abandoned yesterday when it was seen that Marshall had turned his horse loose and the officers too to the hills on horseback. About 2 o'clock it was rumored that Marshall had attempted to steal a horse from the Lessard ranch, 12 miles from Humboldt, and had been shot and taken prisoner by Al Lessard. Justice Mowday investigated this report at once but found it to be without foundation. Under Sheriff Tom Marks remained at the county jail last night with Deputy Sheriff Ben Powers, ready to jump into one of the county's automobiles at a moment's notice should any word be received of Marshall whereabouts. Practically every citizen in Mayer and Humboldt and all ranchers in the Agua Fria valley are assisting the officers in their search. All are of the opinion that Marshall will not be taken alive and, if he has not already killed himself, will battle to the last round of ammunition he carries, if surrounded. Justice Mowday said last night that he had been able to locate a brother of Wrenn's, W. S. Wrenn of Richmond, Va., and had telegraphed him of his brother's death and as to the disposition of the body. Wrenn was employed in the machine shop of the Consolidated smelter, was a single man and about 35 years of age. He had been in Humboldt but a short time and little is known of him. Casey was proprietor of a barber shop and pool hall and was also single. He was recently initiated into the local Elk's lodge and was well known both in this city and Humboldt. Transcriber's note: Mr. Wrenn is buried in an unmarked grave at the Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona. A shorter story on his death could not be found. |
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