Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-12-16
TIE ARIZONA COWBOYS.
Correspondence Philadelphia Times.

r OF tnem are outlaws of the worst de-
I scriptlon. During the month of
June last the president of the United
States issued proclamation, call
ing upon certain1lawless persons in
the territory of Arizona to disperse,
and threatening to call the military
power of the government into req
uisition to aid the local authorities
in the maintenance of law and or
der. The necessity for the issuance
OF such proclamation had its ORR
gin in the depredations of a certain
gang of outlaws under the leader
ship of the famous cowboy familiar
~ known in the territory as ''Curly
Bill" but whose real name was
William HI. BrOscion. These des-
perate characters had taken up their
abode in the San Simon valley. a
beautiful section of country in the
extreme southern part of the terri
tory, in what Is now q portion of
Cochise county. These desperadoes
built themselves houses and claimed
to be "ranchers" or cattle men. At
the northern end of San Simoa val
ley is the mining town of California
City, a place of several hundred
L
stores, a greater number of saloons.
and some honest and respectable
citizens. The town, however, was
often in the hands Of the cowboys,
and Woe to the "tender-fOot"-a
( term applied to all newcomers In
border towns-who happened In
California City on such occasions.
1t was a common thing for eight or
ten of these cut-throats to ride into
California City, enter a saloon, pre-
sent pistol TO the barkeeper's head
and demand that the liquors be set
out. As the fiery element warmed
them up they would often secure a
| violin or banjo and improvise reg
ular "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 commenced.
When the figure "balance to your
partners" was reached, many a fell
low would "cut the pigeon-wing,"
and his partner, not tobe outdone,
would indulge In some fantastic
steps, which would do credit to the
most famed clog-dancer on the min
strel boards. In the heighth of this
revelry would begin fusilade from
revolvers. 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 to see where the bullets
went. The result would disclose
that a large majority had been hit
about the heel with bullet. The
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. Shooting the heels of one
another's boots is common recrea-
tion with them. 4. .rsFa1..
On the occasion of one of these
''stag dances" cowboy who had
recently Joined the gang participant
ed in the flsilade. On an examina-
ton at the close of the first figure,
one of the members was found to
be shot through. the foot, The fes-
tivities were suddenly stopped.
The leader announced that AN In
vestigation would at once begin to
ascertain the guilty party. "A mock
court was convened. "Curly Bill"
was selected for Judge; Crone was
made sheriff; Tom Harper was cho-
sen clerk. The sheriff arrested the
new member as the guilty party.
A prosecuting attorney was chosen
and the court assigned counsel to
defend the prisoner. In few mo-
ments 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. Theclerk
did as he was ordered, and this was
the document he read 5.-., yeg,
"We, the undersigned grand ju-
rors for the county OF Cochise, In
the territory Of Arizona, do find Joe
Palmer guilty OF felony in having
wounded Abe Sanders in the foot in
attempting to shoot the heel off OF
said Sanders's boot while said San
ders cut the pigeon wing In figure
next to the last in the first set at the
stag dance held In California City,
in said territory, on Saturday night,
June 20, 1881"
The Court-"Guilty, or not gull
typ a.r''. IHY
Prisoner-'!Not guilty."
Court-tThe trial will proceed.
call the jury"
All the forlnallty of selecting
jury, the taking of testimony, and
the cross.examination bycounsel was
gone through with. No detail OF an
ordinary trial at law was omitted.
the case was submitted to
the jury, who, after few minutes
announced that they
had agreed upon verdict.
The COurt-"Gentleme have you
agreed upon verdict"
Foreman OF the Jury-"Wehave,
your honor"
The Court-"Clerk, read the ver-
dict"
The foreman OF the jury hands
the clerk a paper. Clerk reads:
1--WE, the undersigned jurors, do
find the prisoner guilty as charg-
ed. !"
"Joe Palmer" said the Judge,
''stand up. Joe Palmer, the Jury of
your peers having found you guilty
Of a heinous offense it becomes the
duty of this court to pronounce sen.
teuce upon you. You have had
fair and impartial trial. Able cOun-
sci defended you. There Is nothing
left but for the court TO pronounce
sentence. The sentenceof the court
Is that you be taken to the San
Simon valley and between day
break and sunrise be executed.
Sheriff, take charge OF the prison
er."
The next morning the sentence
was carried into execution and Pal
mer was shot.
"Curly Bill" in speaking Of this
remarked that nc man
was worthy to associate with resi-
lents of SAP Simon who could not
shoot the heel off "A fellows boot
while he danced.
The true inwardness OF the killing
Df Palmer transpired afterward to
be this 4: He had but a short time
before Joined the gang and they be-
came convinced that he was a ''st0ol
pigeon" or, In other words, an in
Former. So they determined TO kill
him. The method above related
was selected for their amusement.
The few respectable and law
abiding citizens In the section OF
Arizona where this occurred dared
not open their mouths or resist the
So terrOrized WAS the