The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-11-10
Arizona COWBOYS.

Arizona Cowboys
Arizona is full of cowboys. Some Of
hem are outlaws of the worst descrip-
ion. 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
70 dispense, and threatening to call the
military power Of the Government into
:equisition to aid the local authorities in
:he maintenance of law and order. The
necessity for the issuance of such proc
lamation had its origin in the depreda-
tons of n certain gang of outlaws under
he leadership OF the famous cowboy IA
military known in the Territory as ''Cur-
ly Bill, but whose read name was Win
lam H. Broscion. These desperate char
scters 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 pcrtion
Of Cochise County. These despersdoes
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, a
place of several hundred populstion. 1t
contained three stores, 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 s.tenderfoot' Ia term applied
to all newcomers in border tewns--who
happened in California City on such o.
caslons.
1t was common thing for eight or
ten of these cut-throats to ride into Cali
fornia City, enter a saleen, 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 vielin or banjo
and improvise a 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 commenced. When the figure
balance to your partners" was reached
many fellow would ''cut the pigeon
wing" and his partner not to be out
done, would indulge in some fantastic
steps, which would do credit to the most
famed clog-dancer on the minstrel
boards. In the hight of this revelry
weuld begin a fusilade from revolyers.
Bang! bang! bang! and above the din the
leader would be heard calling out: Turn
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 bullet went. The
result would disclose that a large ma
iority 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 ar accident seldom occurs.
Shooting the heels off one another's
boots is common recreation among
them.
On the occasion of one of these .'stac
dances" a cowboy who had recently
joined the gang participated in the fusil-
ade- 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. Tie
leader announced that an investigation
would at once begin to ascertain the
guilty party. A mock court was con-
rened. Curly Bilr' 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. vino was commanded
10 stand up. The Clerk did as he wa.
and this was the document he
read:
I've. the undersigned grand jurors
for the County of Cochise, in the Terri
tory of Arizona, do find Joe Palmer /
guilty of felony in having wounded Abe
sanders in the foot in attempting TO
shoot the heel of of said Sanders boot |
when said Sanders 'cut the pigeon-wing'
IN figure next to the last, in the first set. |
N the stag dance held in California
City. in said Territory, on Saturday
night, June 20, 1881"
The eourt-''Guil lily or not guilty."
Prisoner-'.Not guilty.
All the formality of selecting jury,
he taking of testimony and the cross
of counsel was gone through |
with. No detail of an ordinary trial at |
aw was omitted. Finally the case was
submitted TO the jury, who. after few
minutes consultation, announced that |
hey had agreed upon a verdict.
The Court" Gentlemen, have YOU
agreed upon verdict?''
Foreman of the jury" We have, your
Honor"
The Court" Clerk, read the verdict"
The foreman of the jury hands the
Clerk a paper. Clerk reads:
''We, the undersigned jurors, do find
he prisoner guilty, as charged
.. Joe Palmer" said the Judge, "stand
Up. Joe Palmer, the jury of your peers
laving found YOU guilty. OF heinous
'fense, it becomes the duty of this Court
o pronounce sentence upon you. You
ave had a fair and impartial trial. Able
ounsel defended you. There is nothing
eft but for the Court to pronounce SEN
ence. The sentence of the Court is that
ION be taken to the San Simon Valley
nd between daybreak and sunrise be
xecuted. Sheriff, take charge of the
risoner"
The next morning the sentence was
arried into execution, AMI Palmer was
hot.-7ombstone (ArizonaJ Cor. Ptita-
etphia Times.