Introduction
Nicholas McCormick was born in Kilkenny, Ireland on March 12, 1811 and died on August 25, 1887, in Arizona. He was 76 years old when he died. Nicholas was believed to be murdered by two Mexicans, apparently during a robbery.
Newspaper Accounts
The following story about Nicholas' death was found in the Tombstone Epitaph.
Assassinated
Cold-Blooded Murder Nicholas McCormick
Two Mexicans Supposed to Be the Assassins
The corner's inquest on the body of Nicholas McCormick, an estimable old gentleman who was murdered in cold blood near Bisbee last Thursday week, developed suspicions that strongly pointed to Mexicans named Manuel Grijalba and Cornelio Pas, as the murderers. Michael O'Reilly a mining partner of McCormick's, testified that he (McCormick) left his cabin about a mile below Bisbee, about 4 o'clock on Thursday afternoon of 25 August, and by the evidence adduced before the inquest it was ascertained that the above named Mexicans let the blacksmith shop below town at about the same time. They were mounted on sorrel and grey horses respectively, and leading a pack mule. Mr. McCormick was mounted on a burro; the distance between both parties at the start was about 1 mile. The Mexicans when they started headed down the canyon they were seen about a mile below town still going in that direction; this was the last that was seen of them; but as they were mounted on horses, they could easily overtake Mr. McCormick at the point on the road where the murder occurred. On Sunday morning a party of seven started out and went to where Mr. McCormick's body was found, and that about 100 feet from where the body lay, they discovered the tracks of a mule that had been newly shot, and these shoes were smooth; they also discovered the tracks of two horses, the rider of one of the horses apparently leading the mule and the other rider urging the mule along, as the trail showed the animals were kept on the lope for some 8 miles, heading from where McCormick's body was found toward the southeast end of the San Jose Mountains. The trailers followed on and tracked them to the Gailina Ranch (or Mescal Ranch); there they made inquiry, but as usual the Mexicans knew nothing of the men, while at the same time Manuel Grijalba is a partner in the ranch. Grijalba had his pack mule shod at the blacksmith shop here, and the smith testified that the mule was shod with new shoes and smooth, without heel or toe calks; this corresponded with the shoes on the mule that the trailers were after. Two other parties were out, but elicited nothing further.
There is a report that the men had been captured and hung by one of the parties, but there is no foundation in the report. The last news that we have had that is in any way authentic, is that the Mexicans were heading for Cumpas.
Coroner's Verdict
Territory of Arizona
County of Cochise
Before S. C. Perin, J. P. Acting as Coroner.
We, the undersigned, the jurors summoned to appear before S. C. Perin, Justice of the Peace, acting as Coroner for the County of Cochise, Territory of Arizona, at the town of Bisbee, in said above named County and Territory, on the 26th day of August, A. D. 1887, to inquire into the cause of the death of Nicholas McCormick, whose body was found lying on the road leading from Bisbee to the Whitetail Deer Mine, and about 3 miles from Bisbee, having been duly sworn according to law, and having made such inquisition after inspecting the body and hearing that testimony adduced, upon our oaths, each and all do say that we find the deceased was named Nicholas McCormick, was a native of Ireland, aged about 75 years. That he came to his death on the 25th day of August, 1887, in this county by pistol shots fired by some person or persons unknown to the jury, and we further find from the evidence adduced that suspicion points to Manuel Grijalfa and Cornelia Paz as the persons by whose act the death of Nicholas McCormick was occasioned. All of which we duly certify by this inquisition in writing, by us signed this 26th day of August, A.D. 1887.
After posting this article, one of Nicholas' descendents emailed me with some corrections. I had originally posted that the two Mexicans who were the murder suspects stole a burro that Nicholas had borrowed from Bisbee resident and adobe maker Ramon Taos. But they did not steal the burro. The Coroner's Inquiry stated that A.E. "Tex" White, an ore hauler, testified he first discovered Nicholas' body the morning after the murder on his way to the White Tail Deer mine. He noted the burro was still at the murder scene on the opposite side of the path with the lead rope draped over a bush with the loose saddle turned under its belly.
It was, unfortunately, rather common for early newspaper accounts to be incorrect, and I apologize any misleading information I posted.