Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-21

ARIZONA COWBOYS.
rhe Way They Have of Capturing a Saloon
and Starting Wild Dance-KilIimg a
Man Because He Made Poor iShOt-A
MOcIs Court.
Philadelphia Times
TOMBSTONE, Ari., Oct 5.-Arizona is full
IF cowboys. Some of them are outlaws of
The worst description. During the month
of June last the president of the United
States issued proclamation calling upon
certain lawless persons in the territory of
Arizona to disperse, and threatening to
call the military power of the government
into requisition to aid the local authorities
in the maintenance of law and order. The
necessity for the issuance of such procla-
nation Its origin in the depredations
of certain gang of outlaws under the
leadership of the famous cowboy familiar
ly known in the territory as 'Curly Bill"
but whose real name is William II. Bros
cion. These desperate characters had
taken up their abode in the San Simon
valley, beautiful section of country in
the extreme southern part of the territory,
in what is now portion of Cochise county.
These desperadoes built themselves houses
and claimed to be ''ranchers" or cattle
men. At the northern end of the San
Simon valley is the mining town of Cali
fornia City, a place Of several hundred
population. It contains three stores,
greater number of saloons, and some
honest aud respectable citizens. The town,
however, was often in the hands of the
cowboys, and woe to the ''tenderfoot"-a
term applied to all newcomers in border
townsville happened to be in California
City Oh such occasions.
1t was common thing for eight or ten
of these eut!hroats to ride into California
CITY, enter 2 saloon, present 4 pistol to the
baI-keeper's head, and demand that the
liquor be set out. AS the frey element
warmed them up they would often secure
violin or ban 10 and improvise regu-
lar stag Dance" Each fellow would select
a partner from among the crowd, the mu-
stefan would start up the Arkansas Tray
eler" or some other familiar tune, and the
leader would call out Forward four" and
the dance commenced. When the figure
'Sbalance to your partners was reached
many fellow would ''cut the pigeon-wing, -
and his partner, not to be outdone, would
indulge 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 fusil-
ade from revolvers. Bang! bang! bang!
and above the din the leader would be heard
calling out: Turn your partners; prom
enade all" The first figure being finished
every fellow would begin to look at the
heels of his boot to see where the bullet
went. The result would disclose that a
large majority had been hit about the heel
with bullet. This practice of shooting
at the heels of ones boots is SO common
among the cowboys, and SO accurate are
they in their aim that an accident seldom
occurs. Shooting the heels off of one an
others boots is a common recreation with
them.
On the occasion of one of these ''stag
dances" cowboy who had recently Joined
the gang participated in the fusilade. 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 an
nounced that an investigation would al
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 chosen 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 moments the prosecuting attor
| ney 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 document he read:
| "We, the undersigned grand jurors fol
the county of Cochise, in the territory Of
Arizona, do find Joe Palmer guilty of fel
ony in having wounded Abe Sanders in thu
foot in attempting to shoot the heel off o.
said Sanders boot when said Sander!
cut the pigeon-wing,' in figure next to tn,
last, in the first set, in the stag dance helt
in California City, in said territory, on Sat
urday night, June 20, 1881"
The Court-''Guilty or not guilty?"
Prisoner ''Not guilty"
All the formality of selecting jury, tn
taking of testimony, and the cross-exami
nation of counsel was gone through with
No detail of an ordinary trial at law wa
omitted. Finally the case was submitted
| to the jury, who, after a few minutes con
sultation, announced that they had agreed
upon verdict.
The Court Gentlemen, have you agreed
upon a verdict?"
Foreman of the Jury-"We have, you
honor"
The Court-"Clerk, read the verdict"
The foreman of the jury hands the clerl
a paper. Clerk reads:
eve, the undersigned jurors, do find thu
prisoner guilty, as charged"
'Joe Palmer" said the Judge, 'stand up
Joe Palmer, the jury of your peers having
found you guilty of a heinous ofense, il
becomes the duty of this court to pro
nounce sentence upon you. You have hat
a fair and impartial trial. Able counse
defended you. There is nothing left but
for the court to pronounce sentence. The
sentence of the court is that you be taker
to the San Simon valley and between day
break and sunrise be executed. Sheriff
take charge of the prisoner"
THE next morning the sentence was car
ried into execution, and Palmer was shot.
'Curly Bill" in speaking of this after
wards, remarked that no man was worthy
to associate with residents of San Simon
who could not shoot the heel off Of a fel
lows boot while he danced.
Tho true inwardness of the killing o.
Palmer transpired afterwards to be this
IN hoH H,v,k a oh %ivno boforo ;osro1 khI