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CHARLES MALLET DOBBIE

 

November, 10, 2007

L-R Kevin Hart - Neal Du Shane identify 115 year old grave

of 13 year old Charles Mallet Dobbie

in Silver King Cemetery. Photo courtesy Judy Pierce

 

Birth:   1879

Los Angeles County, California, USA

Death:   May 20, 1892

Pinal County

Arizona, USA

 

Son of Andrew Ferguson Dobbie & Fannie Neighbours.

 

Newspaper article of the time published the following;

 

"Jun 5, 1892, Arizona Republican . . .WAS IT AN APACHE

 

 . . . The tragedy which resulted in the killing of Charlie Dobie, a 13-year-old boy, whose mother lives in Tempe, but whose father works at the Silver King, is the all absorbing topic here and there is a great variety of opinion as to who was the murderer. The news was brought to this place by Sim Neighbours, whom the young boy had been visiting at Jack Fraser's ranch. Sim made the ride in five hours over the rough and broken country to see Jack Fraser who was on the federal grand jury in Florence. He reported that on returning from the rodeo he found the ranch had been pillaged, all the provisions gone and things scattered about the house. The boy was missing but his hat was on the floor. Frazer, Jim Thomas and P.R. Young returned with him to the ranch reaching it at 4 o'clock on Wednesday morning and found things as Neighbours had described. As soon as daylight came they began the search for the boy and found him about fifty yards from the house. He was shot in the back and his head mashed with a rock. A messenger was dispatched to the Silver King and the boy was also sent there for burial"..............

 

Burial:

 

Silver King Mine Cemetery

Pinal County

Arizona, USA

 

Plot: grave unmarked

 

Record added: Nov 12 2007

 

By: S. Cardenas/McNamara 

 

Name: Charles Mallet Dobbie

 

--------------------------------------------------

 

Birth: 1879

Death: 30 May 1892 JF Ranch, Fraser Canyon Area, Superstition Mountains, Arizona Territory

Burial: aft 30 May 1892 Silver King Cemetery, Pinal County, Arizona Territory

Father: Andrew Ferguson Dobbie (1843-1928)

Mother: Fannie Neighbours (1856-1923)

 

MURDERED BY INDIANS

 

Charlie Dobbie, the thirteen, year-old who, a couple of weeks ago, was murdered, supposedly by Indians, in Arizona, was the son of Andrew and Fannie Neighbors Dobbie and nephew of Mrs. Alice Benbrook, Mrs. D.P. Smart and Donald Dobbie, of this place. It is believed that the murderer of the poor boy was John See, who recently killed his wife in Arizona, and is a fugitive from justice. The theory is that while eluding the officers he came to the ranch where the boy was stopping, and, being recognized, killed the boy, that no clew to the direction of his flight would reach them. Later, Sam Neighbors, who left Downey on April 3rd for Arizona, arrived in Los Angeles Thursday, direct from the scene of the murder. From him we learn the following:

 

Little Charlie was spending his-vacation at his Uncle Sim Neighbors ranch in the mountains of Pinal county, ten miles from Silver King. On the day before he was murdered, he drove a few burros to a neighbor's ranch and was directed by his uncle to remain there over night, as he was going away, and did not wish him to be alone at the ranch. On Mr. Neighbor's return the following day, he found that the house had been ransacked, provisions taken, and other evidences of a visit by Indians. A short distance from the house the body of the little boy was found, shot through the body twice, and his head crushed and limbs mangled by heavy boulders that the inhumane red-skins had stoned him with. It is believed that the little fellow got tired of stopping at the Rivas ranch, where he had driven the burros, and returned to the ranch the same day, where he was found by the renegade Apache Indian Kid and his party of outlaws, who no one now doubts were the murderers.

Mr. Sam Neighbors assisted to carry the body of the unfortunate child to Silver King, where he was buried, his parents being present at the funeral. Mr. Neighbors is back as a witness in the Probate Court, and was on his way to Downey when our interview took place Friday morning. Source: Downey Champion, June 18, 1892 pg. 2 Microfilm at Downey Library May 11, 1993

 

CORONERS VERDICT IN CASE OF CHARLES M DOBIE

June 1, 1892

T.P. Carson J.P.

 

Frazers Ranche June 1st 1892

 

The following evidence was given before the coroners Jury empanelled to inquire into the cause of the death of Charles M Dobie.

 

A S. Neighbors being duly sworn says. I knew the deceased to be Charles Mallet Dobie aged about 13 years. Saw him last at Frazers Ranche on the morning of May 30th about 6 o’clock. He was then mounted on a dark bay horse. And left to go to Reavis Ranche. His intention being to catch another horse (a sorrel) and after returning to this ranch was to meet me at Whitlows in the evening of same day. Upon his failing to meet me as agreed I returned here yesterday (May 31) about 10 o'clock AM. Two Mexicans named Balles [Valles?, would be pronounced Balles] were with me. We found the house open with bedding provisions scattered on the floor. Found the boys hat on a chair near the cot he usually occupied. There was no person at the ranch. I searched in front of the house and around the corral but found no tracks of anything but burros which appeared between the house and the corral and then turned down the canyon. I followed them as far as possible but owing to the high winds of the previous night they were obliterated. I then went to Florence via Whittons [Whitlows?] and Marlows returning here this morning. I shod the sorrel horse a few days ago and am certain that I would know his track and have seen his tracks at and near the stable. Also saw where some one had fed the horse in the stable. From which I believe that the boy returned to the ranche and fed the horse. I have today tracked this horse from the stable in a North Easterly direction for about 3 miles. At which place I left the track - still distinct - to be here at this inquest.

 

Peter L Young being duly sworn says. I live on the San Pedro. Was in Florence in attendance at court. At the request of the sheriff I came to Frazers Ranche in company with Mr. Frazer and Mr. Thomas. Arriving here about 4 o’clock this morning. We found the house as described by Mr. Neighbors. Found a pair of shoes which I believe belonged to the boy and each having a stocking inside of it covered up by some blankets in the middle of the floor from which I believe he had retired before being murdered. As soon as it got daylight we all searched around the premises and I found the body of the boy near the chicken house about 50 yards from the house.

 

John J Frazer being duly sworn says I saw the deceased last on the morning of May 30th was with Mr. Neighbors at the time and fully corroborate all he has said as to the deceased leaving here and the arrangements for his returning and going to Whittons. I have not been here since then until this morning about 4 o'clock. When I arrived in company with Mr. Young and Mr. Thomas we found the house as described by Mr. Neighbors and Mr. Young. I fully identify the body as that of Charles M Dobie.

 

Reymont. Pinal County. Arizona Territory

 

I T P. Carson a Justice of the Peace in and for said county do hereby certify that the forgoing is a correct copy of the testimony taken before the Coroners jury. Consisting of the following named citizens who were duly sworn to hear the evidence and render a true verdict in the matter of the murder of Charles M Dobie deceased.

 

John J Frazer. Thomas Buchanan. James D Thomas. Peter R Young. Frank Manion and Francisco Chacon.

 

           Signed T. P. Carson 

                     Justice of the Peace and ex officio Coroner

 

Frazers Ranche Pinal Co Ariz June 1st 1892

 

We the coroners Jury being duly sworn by T.P. Carson Justice of the Peace and ex officio coroner after hearing the testimony of several witnesses and after carefully examining the body of deceased find that Charles Mallet Dobie came to his death by wounds inflicted upon his person, at the hands of some person or persons unknown to this jury. said wounds consisting of a pistol or rifle  shot entering at the left side below the heart and coming out the same side about 4 inches from place of entering and also from his skull and face being smashed by a large stone which was found at his side covered with blood. This Jury believes from the fact the Apache Indians were seen in the vicinity within the last 3 or 4 days. and from the manner that deceased met his death, and also from the manner which the house was ransacked. That deceased was murdered by there Apache Indians.

    

Signed by individual Jury members

 

ARIZONA DAILY GAZETTE...........June 8, 1892  SOLDIERS OUT.

Hunting for the Murderers of Little Charley Dobie.

 

From the Globe Silver Belt.

 

     Lieutenant Fuller, with twenty troopers, four Indian trailers and a pack train passed through town this morning en route to the scene of the murder of the Dobie boy in Superstition mountains. Lieutenant Fuller learned upon arrival here, from George Mayhard, of Tempe, that he was at Silver King when the news of the murder was received here, and he went out to Frazer's ranch to help bury the body. Mayhard is satisfied that Dobie was not killed by Indians, but by a white man who had appeared at Frazer's ranch on the Friday and Saturday evenings previous to the murder and acted in a suspicious manner, his description, given by Mr. Frazier, tallies with the description

of John M. See, and all the evidence obtained of the killing, point to See as the perpetrator.

     The boy was killed some time Sunday night, and his body found about 100 yards from the house. His shoes were at the bedside, indicating that he had been surprised in bed and shot down while trying to escape. He was shot through the hips and his head crushed. The house had been ransacked, 200 pounds of flour, 70 pounds of sugar, 20 pounds of bacon, a Winchester and belt full of cartridges, and a horse and saddle being stolen.

 

FLORENCE TRIBUNE..............June 23, 1892

THE CHASE ABANDONED.

 

     J.J. Fraser, was in town the first of the week, from the scene of the Dobbie tragedy, and gives the latest particulars of the chase after the murderer.

     The last account, given by J.D. Thomas, left the pursuing party within three miles of the Reavis ranch. Mr. Fraser, in company with Sheriff Thompson, Sim Neigbors and Frank Pedero, subsequently caught up with the men twelve miles from Salt river.  A stop was made at Keaton's ranch. The tracks were followed within two miles of Salt river when the cattle trails obliterated them. The Indian scouts were ready to go on ahead and were confident that they could pick up the tracks on the other side. On hearing

that the soldiers had decided not to follow up the fugitives any farther the

local party requested the use of the four scouts.

     Lieut. Fuller refused to allow the scouts to go, and stated on his return to the San Carlos agency. The party of citizens had nothing to do, under the circumstances, but to return home, which they reluctantly did. This action practically disposes of the matter. There was ample confirmation of the belief that the fleeting persons were Indians. Bits of Indian fabric, and trinkets discarded here and there by the fugitives, indicated their

nationality. The horse stolen from Mr. Fraser was made to do good service: the tracks showed that it had worn its shoes off. It was made to ascend places among the mountains that it seemed impossible a horse could climb. The tracks showed that on rough ground the "Kid" would ride the horse; on smooth trail he would let the squaw ride, and himself very gallantly walk.

 

ARIZONA REPUBLICAN........June 5, 1892

WAS IT AN APACHE

Who Murdered Charlie Dobie Near the Four Peaks?

KILLED BY PERSONS UNKNOWN.

 

The Manner of Killing Looked Like Indian Work.

 

Great Excitement Prevails and Men Are Searching in Every Direction. Special to The Republican. Florence, June 4.-

 

The tragedy which resulted in the killing of Charlie Dobie, a 13-year-old boy, whose mother lives in Tempe, but whose father works at the Silver King, is the all absorbing topic here and there is a great variety of opinion as to who was the murderer. The news was brought to his place by Sim Neighbors, whom the young boy had been visiting at Jack Frazer's ranch. Sim made the ride in five hours over the rough and broken country to see Jack Frazer who was on the federal grand jury in Florence. He reported that on returning from the rodeo he found the ranch had been pillaged, all the provisions gone and things scattered about the house. The boy was missing but his hat was on the floor. Frazer, Jim Thomas and P.R. Young returned with him to the ranch reaching it at 4 o'clock on Wednesday morning and found things as Neighbors had described. As soon as daylight came they began the search for the boy and found him about fifty yards from the house. He was shot in the back and his head mashed with a rock. A messenger was dispatched to the Silver King and the boy was also sent there for burial. T.P. Carson of Reymont [Reymert], a justice of the peace, empanelled a coroner's jury consisting of Frank Marion, Peter R. Young, James D. Thomas and Francisco Charcon. The verdict arrived at was that Charlie Dobie was killed by persons unknown, but believed to be Apache Indians; that Indians had been seen in the neighborhood; that the manner of killing looked like Indian work; that the way in which the house was ransacked and pillaged indicated Indians. It was found that the boy's skull was crushed, his face badly bruised and his shoulder broken. He was shot through the left side, apparently with a 45-calbre Winchester, but the wound was not one that would have proven fatal. The body was somewhat decomposed by this time, but was carried by the men on foot over the trail, and from there taked to Silver King. Jack Faraser's horse had been stolen with saddle and bridle. The tracks were very distinct and were followed for about three miles. The trail was to be taken up and followed after the conclusion of the inquest. Little Charley was generally liked and is spoken well of by all who knew him. The murder was one of the most cowardly and brutal that has taken place in recent years. Opinions of those who know the country vary as to who the assassins could be. The majority appear to credit it to Indians, probably a couple of those red men. Others incline to the belief that it was the "kid," who not long ago committed some depredations perhaps fifty miles from the scene of this affair. A few seem to think that John M. See, the wife murderer, committed the crime in order to conceal his identity, after robbing the house. Every effort will be made to run down the person or persons responsible for the brutal deed, for the community is very much aroused over the matter.

 

-----------------------------------------

 

Date:  Thu, 4 Nov 1999 17:34:53 EST

From:   Ken Warren

To:   Richard Pierce

 

I'm not sure what description I sent before but I thought I would start with the following:

Frazers Ranche June 1st 1892 The following evidence was given before the coroners Jury empanelled to inquire into the cause of the death of Charles M Dobie.

 

A S. Neighbors being duly sworn says. I knew the deceased to be Charles Mallet Dobie aged about 13 years. Saw him last at Frazers Ranche on the morning of May 30th about 6 oclock. He was then mounted on a dark bay horse. And left to go to Reavis Ranche. His intention being to catch another horse (a sorrel) and after returning to this ranche was to meet me at Whitlows in the evening of same day. Upon his failing to meet me as agreed I returned here yesterday (May 31) about 10 o'clock AM. Two Mexicans named Balles were with me. We found the house open with bedding provisions scattered on the floor. Found the boys hat on a chair near the cot he usually occupied. There was no person at the ranche. I searched in front of the house and around the corral but found no tracks of anything but burros which appeared between the house and the corral and then turned down the canyon. I followed them as far as possible but owing to the high winds of the previous night they were obliterated. I then went to Florence via Whittons and Marlows returning here this morning.

 

Note: I have various notes that indicate the ranch was from 10 to 30 miles from the Silver King.

 

ARIZONA DAILY GAZETTE...........June 8, 1892

SOLDIERS OUT.

 

Hunting for the Murderers of Little Charley Dobie.

 

From the Globe Silver Belt.

 

Lieutenant Fuller, with twenty troopers, four Indian trailers and a pack train passed through town this morning en route to the scene of the murder of the Dobie boy in Superstition Mountains.

 

FLORENCE TRIBUNE..............June 23, 1892

THE CHASE ABANDONED.

 

J.J. Fraser, was in town the first of the week, from the scene of the Dobbie tragedy, and gives the latest particulars of the chase after the murderer. The last account, given by J.D. Thomas, left the pursuing party within three miles of the Reavis ranch.

 

Mr. Fraser, in company with Sheriff Thompson, Sim Neigbors and Frank Pedero, subsequently caught up with the men twelve miles from Salt River.  A stop was made at Keaton's ranch. The tracks were followed within two miles of Salt River when the cattle trails obliterated them.

 

Add Note: I found another reference to the ranch being near Four Peaks.

 

I have another favor to ask and it concerns the Loper family buried in the Greenwood Memoria Park Cemetery in PHX. Need information off the headstones for John D. Loper, Sr., Agnes Loper (Dobbie), and their son, John Loper, Jr., who committed suicide in 1933. They also had another son, Andrew Loper. I have no info on his status. I can always get the info when I head your way next year if you are not near the cemetery.

 

Ken

 

Daily Gazette June 2, 1892 Tempe, AZ

 

Charlie, had been found murdered at Jack Frazer's cattle ranch, in the Superstition mountains, forty miles from Tempe.

 

Phoenix Daily Herald June 2, 1892

 

..........murder of Charlie Dobie of Tempe, by Apaches near the Four Peaks in the Superstition mountains.

..........The ranch is located some fifteen miles from the Silver King mine.

 

I find an unrelated article describing the search for John See that reads.....

"...a trail followed down and across Tonto creek and into the Four Peaks country."

 

Arizona Republican June 5, 1892

 

"Sim made the ride in five hours over the rough and broken country to see Jack Frazer who was on the federal grand jury in Florence." (from the ranch)

 

 

Phoenix Daily Herald June 14, 1892

 

(from Frazier's ranch)....."His scouts struck the trail and followed it within four miles of the mouth of Pinto Creek, where it was lost.

 

The final bit of information I think confirms the ranch was on the south side of the Salt River.......June 23, 1892

 

"Sheriff Thompson who was with Lt Fuller and command on the trail of the Indian, presumably the Kid, who killed Charlie Dobbie, protested against abandoning the chase at Salt River where the trail was lost. He offered to continue the pursuit himself, if the Lt would detail two Indian trackers to assist him, ...Lt Fuller refused to do and did not cross the river.........

 

Three events in the late spring early summer of 1892

happened along  the Salt River area.

 

1) was the disappearance of George Newton, jeweler in Globe and ranch owner, partner with J.J. Vossburg. Also a known Tewksbury partisan. The found one horse dead, one alive with his pack along the Salt at Redmond Flat which was a normal crossing area when going from Globe to Young... his body was never found. Tobe Haught, of Young, who recently passed on, said that the killer put his body into a dead cows cavity 

so it would not be found.

 

2) John See's wife was found butchered and he was not to be found, in fact I don't know if that was ever resolved.

 

3) was Charlie Dobbie's death...

 

Large area and eventually all were blamed on the Apache Kid, who was basically blamed for any and all infractions that happened in that era. He was the boogy man of the time, stories told of him to scare kids. Not that he couldn't have done some things, but the span and timing would have him on a fast horse running all the time to catch the number of events they claimed were his handy work. No Angel, but not omniscient either!

 

Richard A. Pierce

 

American Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project

Internet Presentation

Version 111307

Donations are appreciated

 

WebMaster: Neal Du Shane

 

n.j.dushane@apcrp.org

 

 

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