The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-11-02
THE ARIZONA COWBOYS.


them are outlaws Of the worst descrip-
ton. During the month of June last the
president of the United States issued q
proclamation, calling upon certain law
less persons in the Territory of Arizona
to dispcrse and threatening to call tho
military power of the government into
requisition to aid the local authorities in
the maintenance Of law aud order. The
necessity for the issuance of such pro-
clalnation had its origin in the depreda-
tons ofa certain gang of outlaws under
the leadership Of the famous cowboy
fa,uiIiary known in the territory as Cur
ly Bill" but whose real name was Will
liam II. Eroscion. These desperate
characters 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 por-
ton Of Coclrise count. These despera-
does 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 California City, q
place Of several hundred population. II
contained three stores, i greater number
Of saloons and some honest aud respecta.
Bile citizens. The town, however, was
ot'-n III the hands of tue cowboys, and
Wa to the "tenuer-f0Ot''-at term appli.
ed to all new colners in border towns
who happened in California City on such
occasions.
1t WAS ! common thing for eight or ton
Of these cut-throats to ride into Califor.
mia city, enter SalO0O, present q pistol
to the barkeepers head and demand
that the liquors be set out. Az the fiery
element warmed them up they would of.
ten secure violin or banjo and improvise
/. regular "stag Dance" Each fellow would
get u partner from among the crowd, the
musician would start up the ''Arkansas
Trv cler' or some other familiar time
and the leader would call out "Forward
four" and the dance commenced. When
the figure "balance to your partners"
was reached, many 4 fellow would ''cut
the pigeon wing" and his partner, not
to be outdonr, would indulge in some
fantastic steps, which would do credit
to the most famed clogeed.dancer on
this revelry would begin a flsilade from
revolvers. Bang! Bang! Bang! and
above the din the leader would be heard
calling out: "turn out your partners;
promenade ALL" The first figure being
finished every fellow would begin to
look at the heels of his boot
to see where the bullets went. The re-
suit would disclose that large majority
had been hit about the heels with bull
let. This practice Of shooting at the
heels of ones boots is common among
| cowboys, and SO accurate are they in
their aim .llat an accident seldom occurs.
Shooting the heels Oft one another's
boots is q common recreation with them
On the occasion of one of these "stag
dances" = cowboy who had recently
joined the gang participated in the fi,si-
lade. On an examination ut the close of
the first figure one Of the members was
found to be shot through the foot. The
The leader announced that an investiga-
tion would ut once begin to ascertain the
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
chosen and the court assigned counsel
to defend the prisoner.
In few moments the prosecuting at
torney handed the clerk the indictment
and the court ordered the clerk to read
it to the prisoner, who was commanded
TO stand MP. The clerk did a. he was Or
dered and this was the document he
read:
We. the undersigned, grand jurors for
the county Of C0ehise, in the terri
tory of Arizona, do find Joe Palmer
guilty Of felony in having wounded Abe
Saunders in the foot in attempting to
shoot the heel of said Saunders boot
while said Saunders "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 Sat
urday night, June 20, 1881. e..
The court. Guilty or not guilty?
Prisoner. Not guilty.
Court. The trial will proceed. Sheriff,
call the jury. s-..'..... .
All the tormality 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 q verdict.
The Court. Gentleman, have you
agreed upon 4 verdict?
Foreman Of the Jury. We have, your
Honor.
The Court. Clerk, read the verdict
The foreman Of the jury hands the
clerk 4 paper. Clerk reads:
We, 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 ola heinous
offense, it becomes the duty Of this Court
TO pronounce sentence upon you. You
have had q fair and impartial trial.
Able counsel defended you. There IL
nothing left but for the Court to pro-
nonnce sentence. The sentence of tho
Court Is that you be taken to the San
Simon Valley and between daybreak
and sunrise be executed. Sheriff, take
charge Of the prisoner" - a
Tho next morning the sentence was
carried into execution and Palmer was
shot. Curly Bill" in speaking of this
afterward, remarked that no man was
worthy to associate with residents of San
simon who could not shoot the heel of
OF ? fellows boot while he danced.
The true inwardness of the killing Of
Palmer transpirel afterwards to be this:
tle had but short time before Joined
the gang and they became convinced
that ne was a stool pigeon" or in 9TH
or words, an intormer. So they deter
mined IN kill him Tho ronthnrl oho,,>