Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-09-08
Letter From Florence.

LttltE rom florence.
 FLORENCE, Aug 9th, 1883. ED. CITIZEN: In reply to J. "
 Evans, Deputy U. $. Marshal, card Tn the CITIZEN, l wish to state that he arrived here at 3 Q. m. and proceeded forthwith to wake up Deputy Sheriff Scanlan and read the writ to hlm and demanded the delivery of the prisoner l.. G. Redfeld, immediately MT. Sean land asked for time to telegraph Sheriff Doran for instructions and to consult the District Attorney, and refused to deliver mp the prisoner until he had done so. Mir Evans then placed a guard over the jail. Upon consulting Mr. Hardesty, he (Hardesty) said that he would examine the law in the matter and give him his opinion as to the legality of the order. In the meantime the citizens heard of the arrival ot the Marshal and his posse and of his inten- tIon to take Redfeld away with him. Armed men immediately made their Hp- pearauce on the streets around and leading to the jail Mir. Hardesty at once saw that it would cost the Marshal and hI- posse their lives should they attempt to enforce the order of Judge Pinney. At least one hundred armed men were around the jail and in buIld- iug- adjacent thereto. Hardesty at once Ff. him to revoke or suspend his order for a short time and told him that any attempt to take Redtield away would surely result Ill his (Redfeld'sl death. All this tune She report uf cowboys be- ing near town and ready to rescue Red field was circulated among the citizens, and to make matters worse members of the iarshars posse stated that they could soon have forty men to help them get possession of Redfeid. J. J. Bulls and Henry Redteld having been in town, armed to the teeth, at the time of the MarshaPs arrival and having at day light got a team and started out of town ln great haste, It was supposed they had gone for the forty cowboys spoken of by the Marshals posse. Had the Marshal had possession of Redfield at this time, being a self-proclaImed fighter and having a fighting crowd with him be would undoubtedly have refused to give up hls pusODer and the result would have been great many more than two dead men. Now 1t IS fact that NIT. Evans will not dare to deny, that when he served the writ on MT. Scanland that he asked him if he knew the penalty of hls refusal to deliver up to him the per son of l.. c. Rediield, and upon receiv- ing a negative answer sald, ''It Is five years in United States prison Again, the Marshal overstepped his authority when he placed a guard over the county Jail and when informed by Mr. Hardesty that be had nn right to do 1t called off his men. Again, he tried to run the bluff that he would proclaim the town under martial law, and made numerous other "bluffs' to carry his point In the first place his pretended order was not directed to the sheriff of any county to deliver up the prisoner, but read to take" the person of l.. G. Redfield, and the order had DO seal of any kind on It and was written on railroad letter paper. Again. the order was signed by Judge Pinney as judge-of the second judicial district and not as an associate justice of the U. 5. Supreme Court and therefore MT. Evans was not the proper person to serve the writ.
 If the writ was good why was there such haste made, as to wake the deputy sheriff up at 3 o'clock Tn the morning, to get service on him The prisoner was perfectfuliy safe in jail, and I ven- ture the assertion, without fear of con tradlction, would be there safe to-day, but for the foolish attempt 10 get him out of the custody of the proper officers hands on techmcalities and thereby thwart the ends of justice. When Red field and the others waived examination 1t was done upon the distinct under standing, between the attorneys for the prosecution and the defense, that they would not thy to get the prisoners out on any technicalities, habeas corpus, etc, to live mp to this agreement, and now can probably see the result of their treachery.
 It is more than probable that fl Sheriff Doran had been here and Chief Deputy U. $. Marshal J. W. Evans had attempted to run his game of bluff, that he would have been keeping Redfeld company behind the bars, and If he should ever attempt such a thing again in this community that IS where he will ba put. He will probably gam all the newspaper notoriety, which he seems to pine for, in this matter that he wants.
 The citizens of Florence and Pinal county will compare very favorably with those of other counties Tn the Territory as regards law abiding citizens, and when an officer has the proper authority and does not attempt to overstep his authority. will place no obstacles m hls way and will render hIm assistance m their power to aid hin in performing his duty.
 The guilt of Len G. Redield and Joe Futile was an established fact and they received no more than their just deserts. The voluntary confession of Joe Tuttle and an unsurmountable amount Of CIT cumstantial proof shows that Len Red field was connected with the murders and robbers from the conception Of the plans till and after they were con sumsted DOS.
 RTrallfs gH-