Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-10-24

ADRArH PENALTY FOR BAD MARKsMiNsHIP.
Correspondence Philadelphia Times
Arizona is full of cowboys. Some Of
them are outlaws of the worst descrip.
ton. 1t was a common thing for eight
or ten Of these cut-throats to ride into
California City, enter saloon, present
pistol to the bar-keeper's head and de-
mand that the liquors be sent out. As
the fiery element warmed them up they
would often secure violin or banjo and
improyise regular "stag dance" Each
fellow would select partner from among
the crowd, the musician would start up
the Arkansas Traveller or some other
familiar tune, and the leader would call
out Forward four" and the dance COM
menced. When the figure balance to
your partners was reached, many fell
low would "cut the pigeon.wing,' and
his partner, not to be outdone, would in
dulge in some fantastic steps, which
would do credit to the most famed clog
dancer on the minstrel boards. In the
height of this revelry would begin a fusi-
lade from revolyers. Bang bang
bang and above the din the leader would
be heard calling out Turn your part
ners promenade all" The first figure
being finished every fellow would begin
to look at the heels of his boots 10 see
where the bullets went. The result
disclose that large majority had been
hit about the heel with a bullet. This
practice of shooting at the heels of ones
boots is common among the cowboys,
and so accurate are they in their aim
that an accident seldom occurs. Shoot
ing the heels off one another's boots is
common recreation with them.
On the occasion of one Of these stag
dances" cowboy who had recently
joined the gang participated in the fusi,
lade. On an examination at the close
of the first figure, one of the members
was found to be shot through the foot
The festivities were suddenly stopped.
The leader announced that an invcstiga-
ton would at once begin to ascertain the
guilty party. A mock court was con-
vened. Curly Bill was selected for
judge. Crone was made sheriff. Tom
Harper was chosen clerk. The sheriff
arrested the new member as the guilty
party. A prosecuting attorney was chos-
en-, and the court assigned counsel to de-
tend the prisoner. In few moments
the prosecuting attorney handed the clerk
the indictment, and the court ordered the
clerk to read it to the prisoner, who was
commanded to stand up. The clerk did
as he was ordered and this was the doc
ument he read
1--WE the undersigned, grand jury for
the county of Cochise, in the territory Of
Arizo, do find Joe Palmer guilty Of fell
ony in having wounded Abe Saunders in
the foot in attempting to shoot the heel
off of said Saunders boot while said
Saunders cut the pigeon wing, in fig
ure next to the last, in the first set, at
the stag dance held in California City,
in said territory, on Saturday night,
June IS, 1881"
The Court-Guilty or not guilty:
Prisoner-Not guilty.
Court-The trial will proceed. Sher-
if call the jury.
All the formality of selecting jury,
the taking of testimony and the cross
examination by counsel was gone through
with. No detail of an ordinary trial
at law was omitted. Finally the case
was submitted to the jury, who, after
few minutes consultation announced that
they had agreed upon verdict.
Court-Gentlemen have you agreed
upon verdict:
Foreman of the iury-We have, your
Honor.
Court-Clerk read the verdict.
The foreman of the jury hands the
clerk paper. Clerk reads:
eve, the undersigned jurors, do find
the prisoner guilty, as charged"
"Joe Palmer" said the judge, "stand
up, Joe Palmer the jury of your peers
having found you guilty of heinous Of
fence, it becomes the duty of this court
to pronounce sentence upon you. You
have had a fair and impartial trial. Able
counsel defended you. There is moth
ing left but for the court to pronounce
sentence. The sentence of the court is
that you be taken to the San Simon VAL
ley, and between daybreak and sunrise
be executed Sheriff take charge of the
prisoner
The next morning the sentence was
carried into execution and Palmer was
shot.
"Curly Bill" in speaking of this af-
terward, remarked that no man was
worthy to associate with residents of San
Simon who could not shoot the heel off
of fellows boot while he danced.