The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-11


ton. During the month of June last the
President of the United States issued a
proclamation calling upon certain law
less persons in the Territory of Arizona
to dispersc, 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 proc
lamatiOn had its origin in the depreda-
tons of Il certain gang of outlaws under
the leadership of the famous cowboy IA
military known in the Territory as Cur
ly Bill, " but whose real name was Will
lam H. Broscion. These desperate char
acters 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 California City, a
place of several hundred population. 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 ''tenderfoot" "A term applied
to all newcomers in border towns who
happened in California City on such oc-
caSions.
1t was common thing for eight or
ten of these Cut-throats to ride into Cali
fOrnia City, enter a saloon, 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 violin or banjo
and improvise a regular stag dance"
Each fellow would select a partner from
among the crowd, the musician would
start up the Arkansas Traveller or
some other familiar tune, id the leader
would call out forward four" and the
dance commenced. When the figure
balance to your partners was reached
many a 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
would begin fusilade from revolvers
Bang! bang bang! and above the din the
leader would be heard calling out: ''Turn
your partners; pro nenade 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 an accident seldom occurs
Shooting the heels Off one another's
boots is common recreation among
them.
On the occasion of one of these "stag
| dances" 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. The
leader announced that an investigation
would at once begin to ascertain the
guilty party. A mock court was con-
vened. "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, who was commanded
to stand up. The Clerk did as he was
ordered, and this was the document he
read:
1--WE, 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 off of said Sanders boot
when said Sanders cut the pgeon-wing'
in figure next to the last, in the first set.
in the stag dance held in California
City, in said Territory, on Saturday
night, June 20, 1881"
The court-"Gu lily or not guiltyP"
Prisoner-"Not guilty"
All the formality of selecting Jury,
the taking of testimony and the cross
examin ton of 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 Il verdict.
The Court" Gentlemen, have you
agreed upon verdict?n
Foremanof the jury-"We have, your
Honor"
The Court" Clerk, read the verdict"
The foreman of the jury hands the
Clerk 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 of a heinous
otfense, it becomes the duty of this Court
to pronounce sentence upon you. You
have had fair and impartial trial. Able
counsel defended you. There is nothing
left but for the Court to pronounce sen
tence. The sentence of the Court is that
you be taken to the San Simon Valley
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.-TombStoHe (Arizo~a) Cor. PHita-
dclphia Times.
Boston Brown Bread: Two cup
fuls Indian meal, even; one cupful rye
meal, one cupful flour, one quart (smal)
4 4 1 e 4