Pima County, Arizona Coroner's Inquest Cases

 WILLIAM L. SLOAN 21 October 1869 Suicide, gunshot William Sloan was 40-years-old, a native of Ohio. He was working as a gambler in Tucson. He committed suicide with a pistol shot in the head. The inquest had two witnesses (no testimony survives). “SUICIDE:- On Wednesday evening, Mr. Sloan, a gambler, and for some years past a resident of Tucson- committed suicide. During two weeks, immediately preceding the event, he had been suffering from attacks of intermittent fever, and upon the evening named was confined by sickness to his bed. In this condition he requested a young man present to bring the doctor to his room, and no sooner was he thus left alone than he seized his pistol and discharged its contents into his head. His friend, hearing the report of the pistol, returned immediately to the room where he found the victim already in the agonies of death, the bullet having entered above the right ear and penetrated the brain. Mr. Sloan, from some accident through life, became terr

 LEWIS ANTHONY September 1869 Homicide Macario Andrada was arrested for the murder of Anthony. FLORENCE AGAIN:- The people at this interesting settlement are going to ruin for a little gallows practice. How long they have determined to keep up this killing of each other it is really painful to surmise. Thus far, however, it is kept up with the most terrible regularity. Here is the latest from that neighborhood: Lewis ANTHONY was murdered in his own house on Thursday, the 9th inst., by a party of Mexicans. As yet no arrests have been made. Sources: (Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1870 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections); The Weekly Arizonan, 25 September 1869, page 3, column 1

 JOSE MARIA PASAS 17 July 1869 Personnel: Coroner Charles Meyer. Meyer held an inquest for the death of Jose Maria Pasos or Tasos (no testimony survives). He was 23-years-old and was married to Maria Smith. He was buried on 18 July 1869 at San Xavier del Bac. Sources: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1869 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections; Tucson Catholic Diocese Burial Records, page 33 left side.

 DAN BRAINERD/BRANNARD 1869 (before 5 July) Homicide, gunshot Daniel Brainerd (or Brannard) was 30 years old and a native of Missouri. He was working as a laborer. He was murdered by a pistol shot. The mortality census states he died in Tucson while a Pima County receipt states it was on the Gila [River].  Sources: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1869 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections; 1870 census, Mortality schedule, AZ Territory, Pima, Tucson, page 4, line 15.

 ABUNDIA QUINTRO 21 June 1869 Personnel: Coroner Lesley B. Wooster of Tubac.  Eight witnesses were called to testify (testimony has been lost). Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1869 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections.

 GABRIEL YRIGOYEN 24 May 1869 Personnel: Coroner Charles Meyers. Five  witnesses testified (testimony has been lost).       Tucson Catholic Diocese records list Gabriel Yrigoyen, son of Luis Yrigoyen and [unnamed wife], who was buried on 25 May 1869. Sources: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1869 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections; Tucson Catholic Diocese Burial Records, page 32 right side.

 MERMIN???? TERAN 5 May 1869 Personnel: Coroner Charles Meyers (testimony has been lost). Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1869 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections.

 JUAN CAMACHO 29 March 1869 Personnel: Coroner Charles Meyers. Meyers investigated the death of Juan Camacho (testimony does not survive). He was 30-years-old, husband of Petra Gallardo. He was buried on 30 March 1869 in the National Cemetery.  Sources: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1869 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections; Tucson Catholic Diocese Burial Records, page 31 right side.

 M. N. MINES 2 August 1868 Personnel: Coroner Charles Meyers.  Two witnesses and physician testified at the inquest (testimony is lost). Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1868 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections.

 MAHLON E. MOORE 4 October 1868 Homicide, gunshot Personnel: Coroner Charles Meyers. Jury: John Miller, C. G. Jones Physician and 6 witnesses called Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1868 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections.

  CARLOS VALENZUELA 31 January 1868 Homicide Personnel: Coroner Charles Meyers Carlos Valenzuela was murdered on 31 January 1868. An inquest was held on 1 February 1868. Michael Lopez was accused of killing Valenzuela. Six witnesses were called (testimony does not survive). He was buried in the National Cemetery on 2 February 1868. Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1868 and 1869 demands folders, University of Arizona Special Collections; Catholic Burial Records p. 21 right side.

 THOMAS BUTLER 28 January 1868 Personnel: Coroner Charles Meyers (Testimony has been lost). Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1868 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections.

 D. D. WILKINSON 28 October 1867 Personnel: Coroner P. R. Brady (testimony has been lost). Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1867 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections.

 PATRICK CAVE 28 September 1867 Homicide Six witnesses were called for the inquest (testimony is lost). Territory of Arizona, County of Pima. The People of the Territory of Arizona and Greeting, to any Sheriff, Constable, Marshall or Policeman in said Territory: An Inquisition having this day been found, by a Coroners Jury, before me stating that a man named “Patrick Cave” has come to his death by criminal means, by the act of a man named [blank] Walsh, you are therefore commanded, forthwith to arrest the above named [blank] Walsh, and take him before the nearest or most acceptable Magistrate in this County. Given under my hand, in the town of Tucson, County and Territory above named, this 28th day of September 1867. Charles H. Meyer, Acting County Coroner. Warrant for the arrest of [blank] Walsh. Source: University of Arizona Special Collections, AZ 83, Vol. 37, folder 11.

 JUAN FRANCO 12 May 1867 Personnel: Charles Meyers, Coroner. Five witnesses were called (testimony has been lost). Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1867 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections.

 WILLIAM ROBERTSON 12 May 1867 Personnel: Charles Meyers, Coroner. Seventeen witnesses were called (testimony has been lost). Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1867 demands folder, University of Arizona Special Collections.

THOMAS D. HUTTON 11 February 1867 Natural causes Personnel: Inquest held on 11 February 1867. Jury: E. N. Fish, L. A. Pratt, A. P. Johnson, Ernest Voigt, Reese Smith, S. W. Long, Abram Scott, John Ward. Filed on 16 February 1867 by Clerk John H. Archibald. Testimony: John Ward- Mr. Long requested me to give Mr. Hutton a letter as I passed his place. I took the letter- rode to Mr. Hutton’s house, but did not see him about. I halloed several times thinking he might be about somewhere, but received no answer. I then rode up to the house- looked through a crack on one side and saw Mr. Hutton laying on the ground with something around his head. I hallowed to him calling him by name but received no answer. I then looked again and saw that his lips looked blue. I then rode back to Mr. Reese Smith’s house and informed him of what I had seen. We two then in company with Mr. Long went to the house of Mr. Hutton and there found him laying on the ground dead- apparently having died from natura

JOHN A. TALMAN 7 February 1867 Homicide Personnel: Coroner Charles Meyer. Twelve witnessed were called (testimony is lost). Four United States soldiers were accused of killing Talman- Richard Hackett, Francis Quigley, Michael Foley, and Martin Yahey. Source: Pima County, Arizona records 1864-1923, AZ 83, Box 2, 1867 demands folder and 1867 folder, University of Arizona Special Collections.

 PATRICK KELLY 4 November 1866 Homicide, gunshot Personnel; Inquest held on 4 November 1866 at Tubac. Rodolphus Hicks, Justice of the Peace. Jury: Sidney R. DeLong, Stephen Ochoa, Joseph Dawson, J. G. Crowel, C. Y. Volara, Rafile Molina, Dionisio Gonzales, and Refile Salazar. Testimony: Lieut. D. W. Wolcott testified that the deceased was Patrick Kelly, a Private in Company K of the 1st US Cavalry. Lewis D. Cole testified that he saw William Ranney draw a pistol toward Kelly, fire, and kill him in front of Glassman’s House in Tubac about sundown on Sunday, 1 July 1866. Charles Smith testified that he saw William Ranney with a pistol in hand. He came over the wall and Smith tried to stop him. He did not see the shooting as he walked off. Dionisio Gonzales testified on 11 November 1866 that Ranney had fled into Sonora. Corp. William Scott of Company C of the 3rd Battalion, 14th US Infantry testified on 9 November 1866 that on 4 November 1866 he was at Glassman’s  in Tubac. Pa

MIGUEL RIVERA 12 September 1905 Natural causes, heart trouble Personnel: Inquest held on 12 September 1905 at Reilly's Undertaking Parlor. Coroner Richey. No jury. Miguel Rivera, a one-legged barber, who had a shop on South Meyer street, was found dead in a room on an alley off Meyer street at an early hour this morning by Constable Jack Dufton and Policeman Flanagan. Rivera was married and leaves a wife and three children. He had spent the night in company with a young Mexican woman, named Delphina Castro. The woman tried to wake Rivera early this morning and finding that he did not respond to her call, she ran frightened from the room and told an officer. The police found Miguel dead and informed Coroner Richey. The coroner ordered the body removed to Reilly's morgue. County physician H. E. Crepin held an inquest there this morning and reported to the corner that the man had come to his death from heart trouble. The coroner then decided not to summon a jury and the Mexican gi