Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-12-13
SOME UEwRITTEH HISTORY.


witnesses for the prosecution IN the Whani
robbery trial, and It is said the defense
will attempt to have bis testimony i'm.
peached. 1t is claimed that it can be
shown that he gave testimony in the Cliff
ton stage-coach robbery, tried before Jus.
tiee James sias, some six years ago, which
was not in accord With the facts.
The following details connected with
that event will be Of interest, and at the
same time satisfy the ordinary mind that
Mr. Fowler's testimony AZ that time was
just what anybody else would have given
under similar circumstances.
About six years ago Henry Fowler was
driver on the Pomeroy Stage Line, run
ming out Of Clifton. One morning Fowler
followed the regular stage-coaeh out with
q special, having on board about fifteen
Cinnamon. Driving down the street he
passed Dan David (BiR DAM. Doc Baker
and big Dave" going to breakfast.
Hastily eating, they followed him down
the road about four miles. to place called
Big Hill, where, on account Of the steep
ness Of the road, the Cinnamon had to get
out and walk. Looking from the top Of
the Hill, Fowler saw the robbers coming
and suspecting their purpose, shouted to
the Cinnamon to hurry up. They got On
and he drove rapidly forward attempting
to catch the regular coach a short distan-
ce ahead. Before the brow Of the hill
WAS reached the robbers caught up and
one shouted, 'slow up" The driver re-
cognized the men and stopped. The high
waymen Immediately began firing, hit
four Cinnamon, killed three. and relieved
the outfit OF between two and three hun
drrd dollars.
When Fowler reached town Mr. Cutter,
engineer for the R. r.. about to be put
through, asked him who held him up.
Fowler winked at him and said be didn t
know. Justice of the Peace Mosgrave,
who was on the regular coach at tho time
OF the robbery and raw it all, said to Mr.
Cutter, You ought to make him tell who
they are Cutter answered; why not
tell yourtelf; you know who they areY'
Mr.. Mo grave Immediately dropped the
subject. As soon as it was known through
the town who had made the assault every
body else treated the matter in the same
manner. The tact was. Dan, Dave and
Doc, and their pals. had the community
completely terronzed, They carried
things with high hand and no man could
call his life his own. They ruled with
bullets; and when they said yea no man
dared say nay They showed their utter
fsarlessnesS by riding into town month
later and demanding trial.
There were about thirty men in the
crowd each armed with two six-sbooters.
one IN sight, the other concealed in their
,hirt They had threatened to shoot their
way out it amy evidence was produced
against them. When the marshal de
manded thrir weapons at the door they
simply banded him the one at their belt,
and retained the other. Imagine u man
in small, rough, mining camp, surround
ed 10y thirty desperate Williams, ready to
shoot him down, kill the Justice and mur-
der everyone else they encounter on the
street. it he testified against them-and
you have Mr.. Fewlers position. When
asked if he identified the men, he SAID no.
and every other man would have SAID the
same, The entire community SAID he did
the only thing possible. The prisoners
were released. The desperate character
of the gang may be seen from their future
record.
Big Dan, together with Red Samples,
Billy Delany. Texas Howard and Kelly,
we're hung at Tombstone for murder at
Blsbee, while John Heath was lynched
Tor the same oifense. Big Dave was run
out Of Apache county for robbinR store
and died before captured. Doc Baker,
who had formerly run with the James
gang IN Missenri. together with Kid Vance.
Two Belt JoHfNe, Mexican JohnIe and
Mormon Bill, were also driven out os the
country for various crimes. Mart was kill
led while trying to hold up two railroad
men at Clifton. Kid Lewis killed a wo-
man in Clifton and was shot on the river
by a Deputy Sheriff. "shoot.em-up
Dick" was killed near Las Cruces, Mexico,
for stealing horses. Ike Clanton was shot
Cub is now in the pen at Yuma for rob
bing a store in Apache county. Cherokee
Kid and Sistis Garcia are also in the pen.
Pelar was hung in Silver City, New Mexi-
co. The other ten or twelve were of the
same sort.
These latter facts are taken from the
United States Marshal's records. The
former can be substaniiated by any Of the
older residents Of Clifton. The Justice,
James sius. before whom the trial was
held, and the above mentioned Mr.. Cut
ter will probably be down to testify to the
iucts il aD attempt is made to impeach
Mr.. Fowler's testimony.
When Mr. Fowler in the present trial
was asked the question whether be did
not know the parties who held up the
stage at the time mentioned he said he