The Phoenix herald., 1880-11-26
DEMErEIo DoMINnrEs.

PREVIOUS HANGINGS IN THIS VALLEY
Although, as above stated, this is
the first legal hanging in this county.
the citizens have st various times
taken the law into their own hands.
The first instance is, we believe, the
hanging of Mexican for the theft
of a COW, il 1873 The animal be-
whose farm adjoined the town on
the east. One morning, missing the
animal, search was commenced and
The tracks easily followed by a crowd
who had been informed OF the theft,
to butcher shop in PhGnix, when
evidences that the animal had been
slaughtered were there found. The
butcher disclosed the name of the
person of whom ne made his pur-
chase, who was quickly tracked down
by the crowd and taken to the west
side of Monihan's corral and was
drawn up to the beam, over the gate.
This beam is still standing. A guard
remained until life was extinct and
then returned to the butcher shop
and suggested that he pay the right
full owner for the COW. This he re-
fushd to do, and the now infuriated
crowd surrounded him and COM
menced showing him in the direction
of the hanging Mexican, it being
frequently suggested to him that the
proper thing to do was TO pay for
that cow. Continuing to refuse he
was continually nearing the gallows,
being in the midst OF d mad crowd.
and showed with them, although no
hands were placed on him. At last
coming to the conclusion. when
within sight of the hanging thief,
that he would share the same fate,
he offered to make any payment de-
sired. and was then released. A few
minutes more delay would have been
detrimental to his health. The peo-
pie only rescrted to this mode of
righting their wrongs after a long
time of suffering.
During that season horse and cat
tic stealing continued very frequent,
tue valley being infested with
number of hard characters, and
scarcely a week passed but news
was received of fresh crime
Growing bold with their success they
carried on their operations with a
high hand still more quick and de
cisive action on the part Of the citi-
zens was needed, and company OF
EINUTE MEN
Under the direction of an
executive committee of eight was
formed. The 'ynching of their
Mexican brother in crime was not
sufficient. Fifteen miles below Phe-
nix, where the Gila and Salt rivers
join, had at this date been long used
as 2 rendezvous, and news one day
was received that nine OF the worst
characters were in camp at that
point A party was formed, went there
and in due course of time return ed,
but made no report. 1t is known
however that the men in that camp
were never heard of afterwards
What ever became of them the reader
is left to guess. Sufficient TO say
that the valley was thoroughly rid OF
them.
AT la'er day two men, tough
characters, who were campcd on the
river about four miles from town
suddenly disappeared. 1t was pre-
sumed at the time that they had gone
to join the nine above spoken Of
Quiet YVES then restored and the
valley was peaceful for period of
two years. New Years Eve 1915
bal was being held in the old stage
building, but now occupied by the
Phoenix HERALD printing establish
ment. A white man who was slight
" under the influence of liquor,
fancied that he had been insnlted by