ARIZONA TERRITORY MURDER TRIAL ARCHIVE – 1896

Item Details

Lot of court documents relating to the murder trial of Robert Hall, in the District Court of Graham County, Arizona Territory. The two defendants were Steve Nixon and W.B. Taylor

Lot includes a 14 x 8 ½ two sided District Court indictment for the accused Steve Nixon, with several persons apparently posting bail. Another pen manuscript court document, a motion for severance, requesting a separate trial from Nixon’s co-defendant W.B. Traylor. The third document is a 8 ½ x 7 1897  affidavit for non resident witness of Territory of Arizona vs W.B. Taylor et al. The fourth document is an 1896, 14 x 8 ½, part imprinted and typed indictment for Steve Nixon, W.B. Traylor and Samuel Hatcher for the murder of Richard Hall.The fifth document, two page, 8 ½ x 14 is and indictment for the murder of Richard Hall. The last item,dated 1897, is a three page, 8 ½ x 11 typed court document regarding testimonies.

A copy of a later on line newspaper article is included (and unfortunately cannot relocate the source), stated I part “Old timers will remember that the Hall boys were  way–laid  and murdered between here and Ash Springs…that Steve Nixon was arrested for the murder, but as no evidence could be produced to convict him, nor the bodies found, he was discharged from custody. During the early part of 1896, while riding: on the range, John Parks found the bones of the murdered men. Several articles were found near the bones which were identified as having belonged to the Hall boys. Suspicion pointed to Steve Nixon and Bill Traylor as the murderers. They were arrested, but the case was continued for the term for the lack of evidence to convict. Sam Hatcher, who was then in Texas, was supposed to be the witness who could convict the accused men. Sheriff Parks went to Texas, found Hatcher, and he agreed to return to Arizona and testify, but instead of doing this he disappeared and was never again located. The accused were held in jail till the fall term of court, but as no substantial evidence had been discovered, they were discharged from custody. The murder of the Hall boys was supposed to have been the culmination of a feud between cattlemen in New Mexico.After being discharged, Traylor located on the Frisco river, about twenty-three miles above Clifton. About five years ago he was shot and killed by Ray Gourley at what is now Boyle's ranch, at the mouth of the Blue. The testimony at Gourley's trial showed that several months prior to the killing. Gourley found Traylor killing one of Tom Stockton's steers. Traylor told Gourley that if he did not leave the country be would kill him. This threat was followed by others later, and one day they met at the mouth of the Blue, and in the fight that followed Traylor was killed. GourIey was promptly acquitted”.
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