St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-29
"BLOODY JIM" OF WYOMING.
His Name Treated With Respect
Even After His Death.

His Name Treated With Respect
Even After His Death.
ST. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Wyoming territory newspapers have
at last chronicled the death of James
Stockworth. Even after the deceased
gentleman was comfortably located six
feet under ground the Wyoming journals
treated his name with greatest respect
and only casually referred to the fact
that he was known throughout the West
as Bloody JIM" and also to the fact
that for several years he had terrorlZed
the section where he lived, and many
graves scattered broadcast over the
country are occupied by the victims of
his eXcitabe temper and wonderful
shooting.
Jim's record in the East was un
known, and nobody seemed to care
much about it. He was thirty-five years
old, however, when he first made his
appearance in Wyoming terri itoiy. and
he lost no time in creating a new repu-
tatiOn for himself, which certainly pro-
cured for him the consideration of his
fellow citizens, and left him nothing 10
desire OH the score of celebrity of a GER
tain kind.
Many time have seen Bloody Jim
leaning against the dOOrpOst of Mark
Killeen's saloon in Cheyenne, surveying
the town with look half apOlogetic
and half Self-aSsertivk, as much as to
say: Here | am in town again, and
there are warrants out for my arrest,
and am bad fellow. and the first one
who tries to take me is dead man, so
rd best be let alone"
Jim's first achievement as man
clio hoe, nd lyyn
legendary haze. Almost everybody in
Wyoming territory had story to tell
which was supposed to be the only true
account of his first duel, but the tale
most generally believed traced the diff
Guilty which resulted in the death of
Jim'S opponent back TO horse trade.
The story was that on one occasion
jim traded horses with man from Col
Orado, and got so much of the bargain
that the Colorado man got mad and
swore to have revenge.
The next day Jim walked into bar
room and there he found his enemy,
armed with big pistol and ready to
begin shooting. He had seen Jim APP
preaching the saloon, and he was con-
sequently all prepared and had the drop
on jim.
In second jim realized the situation
and determined how to act.
"lf you want to fight" he said, 81 am
your man, but l amt armed. and IL you
shoot me now it will be cold-bloOded
murder. l have knife in my pocket"
he continued, land if you'll put up your
gun I'll fight with knives, or it you'll
let up on me I'll go and heel myself and
come back and shoot it out"
The Colorado man decided that as he
had Jim covered he would keep him
there, but as he did not wish to commit
a cold-bloOded murder he consented to
fight with knives.
No sooner had he laid his pistol on the
bar than Jim slapped his hand in side
pocket, where he kept a heavy Der
ringer, and without drawing the weapon
he shot through the lining of his coat
and killed the Colorado man instantly.
Whether the legend was founded on
fact or not, Jim was never known to
deny it, and it was, therefore, gener-
ally accepted as gospel truth.
Once. many years later, and after Jim
had established his reputation as dan
gerous man. l was in Wyoming when
he performed one of his greatest eX-
PLOTS, which proved conclusively that
his character was well earned.
Several months before 1 arrived in
Cheyenne trouble had occurred at the
theater between him and some cowboys.
Jime was in box OH one side of the
house, ana the cowboys were in box
on the other side. After calling each
other some hard names across the inter-
vening space pistols were drawn, and a
lively fusllade commenced.
the lights in the house were all put
out and the shooting continued in the
darkness for several minutes. When at
last it ceased and the lights were turned
Oh again Jim had disappeared and three
dead cowboys were lying i'll their box.
The affair created considerable eX-
element, but as jim retired immediate
ly to his ranch, about twenty miles out
on the prairie, nothing was done be-
cause nobody dared to go after him.
Finally a deputy sheriff offered to bring
him in if he could get man to 20
with him. 1t was know II that the des-
peradO would never enter court house,
and everybody expected that the sheriff
aud assistant would be killed. They
stated. however, that they intended to
use strategy. and they departed OH their
quest, followed by tie eager curiosity
of the whole town.
When they reached Jim's ranch they
found him on the lookout. and from be-
hind his door he forced them to Law
down all their weapons before he would
admit them 10 the house.
During the evening the deputy told
Jim that big land case was in prog
ress, and that one of his particular enc
mics would win the suit unless jim
would consent to go into court as a wit
ness. He also pledged himself that the
little affair at the theater would be con-
doned if he consented to go into Cbey-
enne.
jim finally gave his consent. and the
next morning the people of Cheyenne
were surprised to see him ride quietly
up to the court house between the sher-
IFS.
The judge was on the bench, and
after the three men had dismounted tbev
walked into court and up to the bar.
When the sheriff thought he had Jim
securely trapped he turned on him and
announced that he was prisoner.
Quick as flash Jim's pistol was out
and ne commenced firing. First he shot
the sheriff. then his assistant, and, as a
parting salute, he sent bullet into the
stomach of the judge. Then, with a
bound, he reached the window. sprang
into the street, and before he could be
stopped he was scurrying out of town.
followed by storm of bullets.
His last act thoroughly aroused the
people. and they organized a pursuit.
1t was too late, however, because Jim
made his way out of the state and never
returned until few months ago, when
be came back broken down with con-
sumption, to die on the ranch he had
established during his days of pros
perity.
In spite of his many murders Jim had
many friends in Wyoming, and when
he was buried last week long pro