The Arizona sentinel., 1877-11-10
YUMA COUNTY--VE:
Its History, Traditions and Re
 EOuTceS.

Upon the organization of the Territory in
 1864, Yuma and Mohave counties were
 comprised in its Second Judicial District Hon. J. P. Allen was its first judge, follow
 ed by Hon. H. Il. Cartier brother of Judge
 Cartier of Washington, and, by Hon.
 Isham Reavis. To Judge Reavis sue
 ceeded Hon. De Forest Porter, re-appointed
 in 1876 and now on the be lch. Hon Chas.
 H. Brinley, at that time county recorder,
 was first clerk of the court
 The first sheriff Was Ike Bradshaw, who
 afterwards gave his name to the celebrated
 mining district near Prescott. Then came Dave King King was dig ring a well out on the new road from Colorado to Wick enburg; he worked down below and had mhn on top running the windass. When the well was about 100 feet deep some ruff fans came along, killed his man, robbed the camp, threw corpse, windass and rope down ono King and went off John Duff was then riding the mail to Prescott. He came along soon after and passed by the well to see now Dave was getting along Fortunately he had escaped unhurt. Duff got help and a rope and hauled him out. A party under Creed Bryant then started after tie murderers, whom they overlook near the Gila and aid not bring back Duff wLs aftcrward member.or the Boa. q of Supervisors. Before coming 10 Arizona he il i'd been second mate of the old Senator running between San Diego and San Fran cisco under Capt. Seeley. King resigned his office as sheriff and the appointment WIS si;en to NJ. D. DobLins who had come out here as Lieut. Colonel Of Caiforn d volunteers. In 1868 JameS T. Dana was elected, and in 1870 he was reelected. His tenure of office was bloody one, several men falling under his ready pistol. In September, 1S70 while trying to arrest al Indian, he Was shot in the side with an arrow; it had glass head, of which frag ment lodged in his liver, soon killing him. George Tyng was then appointed to fill the unexpired term, and was elected to the office in 1872. He resigned in 1873 and was followed byF II. Goodwin. WA. Wernin gerwas elected in 1874 and again in 1876.
 The present county officers are De Forest Porter, district judge; W. A. Wcrninger, sheriff; A J. Finlay (also mayor of the viii lage Of Yuma) treasurer; H. N Alexander, probate judge; George Tyng, recorder; supervisors, A. L: Grow, A. Lorette and I. Lyons.
 To Yuma county belongs the doubtful credit of having the first execution under Lynch law in Arizona, IS also the first ju- | dcial hanging. In 1865 the bulk of popu 1 lation was at La Paz ard there remained the peace officers of the county. Army teamsters and ruffians of all kinds were making life here unendurable-
 In January, 1866, Jack Ewing and Joe Bowers murdered a government wagon mister over in the Rincon, about where the ! Mexican saddlery now stands. He had his ! train loaded and was about to start for Wickenburg over the now unused road via Woolsey's hot springs He went and laid ! aown on Bowers bed and fell asleep. Ewing and Bowers came in and just beat his head ! to pieces. Old Jack Hinton, Capt. Wilcox, other prominent citizens got together Lere and organized | v.gilanc, committee. The murdelers fled but were soon Cverhauled |, and brought back. A jury of six was sworn and fair trial given them. A block and |. tackle was rigged to big mesqult tree i that used to stand down by Doten's black. i smith shop. Jack Ewing confessed hIs guilt and was swung up, every white man in town being compelled to take hold of the | rope. The evidence against Bowers was positive; his pistol was bent and had blood | and hair on it when taken from h.m. But his life was savc>: by streak of magnan- unity in Ewing, who sworc that he alone had killed the wagon master. After tLat the town was qu;et for awhile. |
 The first judicial hanging in Arizona was done here in 1873 by Sheriff Goodwin, tie subject being one of the murdcrers of- M !. Mccartney. better known along the river by the Sobriquet of Rawhidc"\
 THE French Freemasons have long been