The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-11-09
Arizona Cowboys.

Arizona Cowboys.
Arizona is full of cowboys. Some of
them are outlaws of the worst descrip-
ton. During the month of June last the
President of the United States issued a
proclamation calling upon certain law
less persons in the Territory of Arizona
to dispense, and threatening to call the
military power of the Government into
requisition to aid the local authorities in
the maintenance. of law and order. Ihe
necessity for the issuance of such a proc
lamation had its origin in the depreda-
tons of n certain gang OF outlaws under
the leadership of the famous cowboy IA
miliarly known in the Territory as Cur
ly Bill" but whose real name was Will
lam H. Broscion. These desperate char
acters had taken up their abode in the
San Simon Valley, a beautiful section of
country in the extreme Southern part OF
the Territory, in what is now a portion
of Cochise County. These desperadoes
built themselves houses and claimed to
be s'ranchers'' or cattle men. At the
northern end of the San Simon Valley is
the mining town of California City, a
place of several hundred population. 1t
contained three stores, a greater number
| of saloons and some honest and respect
able citizens. The town, however, was
often in the hands of the cowboys, and
woe to the sstenderfoot''-a term applied
to all newcomers in border towns-who
happened in California City on such oc-
casions.
1t was a common thing for eight or
ten of these cut-throats to ride into Cali
fornia City, enter a saloon, present a
| pistol to the ~barkeeper's head, and de-
mand that the liquors be set out. As
the fiery element warmed them up they
would often secure a violin or a banjo
and improvise a regular ''stag dance"
Each fellow would select a partner from
among the crowd, the musician wsuld
start up the Arkansas Traveller Oh
some other familiar tune, a i'd the leader
would call out Forward four" and the
dance commenced. When the figure
''balance to your partners was reached
many a fellow would ECU the pigeon.
wing" and his partner not to be out
done, would indulge in some fantastic
steps, which would do credit to the mos
famed clog-dancer on the minstre
boards. In the hight of this ~revelry
would begin a fusilade from revolvers
Bang! bang! bang! and above the din the
leader would be heard calling out: .'Turr
your partners; promenade ALL" TIL
first figure being finished every fellow
would begin to look at the heels of hi:
boot to see where the bullet went. The
result would disclose that a large ma
iority had been hit about the heel with
bullet. This practice of shooting at thu
heels of ones boots is common among
the cowboys, and SO accurate are they il
their aim that an accident seldom occurs
Shooting the heels off one another
boots is q common recreation among
them.
On the occasion of one of these sssta!
dances" a cowboy who had recent,
joined the gang participated in the fusil
ade. On an examination at the clos
of the first figure of the members wa
found to be shot through the foot. Tn
festivities were suddenly stopped. Tn
leader announced that an investigation
would at once begin to ascertain tn
guilty party. A mock court was con
vened. ssCurly Bilr' was selected fo
Judge. Crone was made Sheriff. Ton
Harper was chosen Clerk. The Sherit
arrested the new member as the guilt
party. A Prosecuting Attorney wa
chosen, and the Court assigned counse
to defend the prisoner.
In a few moments the Prosecuting AT
torney handed the Clerk the indictmen
and the Court ordered the Clerk to rea'
it to the prisoner, who was commando,
to stand up. The Clerk did as he wa
ordered, and this was the document h
read:
"We,>the undersigned grand juror
for the County of Cochise, in the Terri
tory of Arizona, do find Joe Paine
guilty of felony in having wounded Alb
Sanders in the foot in attempting
shoot the heel off of said Sanders boz
when said Sanders cut the pigeon-wine
in figure next to the last, in the first Sc
in the stag dance held in Californi
City, in said Territory, on Saturda
night, June 20, 1881"
The court-'.Guilty or not guiltyP"
Prisoner-.Not guilty"
All the formality of selecting a jury
the taking of testimony and the eros
examination of counsel was gone throug
with. No detail of an ordinary trial
law was omitted. Finally the case W.
submitted to the jury, who, after a fe'
minutes consultation, announced tn;
they had agreed upon a verdict.
The Court Gentlemen, have yo
agreed upon a verdict"
Foreman of the jury--'We have, yor
Honor"
The Clerk, read the verdict.
, The foreman of the jury hands tt
Clerk a paper. Clerk reads:
"We, the undersigned jurors, do fin
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