The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-05-09
pc Robbers and Cattle Thieves
Battle for Supremacy:
TOMBSTONE IN OLDEN DAYS
How the Earps Were Driven Out and the
Tragic Romance Which Followed
-Four Men Shot as q Starter.

sco-e of other mines are no longer
fountains of wealth, but the town Is
still an interesting one and the tales OF
the early days told by its old inhaol-
tants more interesting still. In 1880
Virgil carp was the city marshal and
John H. Behap was the sheriff OF the
county. Between these two officials
there was deadly feud. Behan was an
honest man and a good official. carp
was the head of band of desperadoes'
a partner of stage robbers and friend
of gamblers and professional killers. 1t
was the custom that the friends OF
Behan should occupy the boxes on the
left of the stage of the "Blrd-Gage"
opera house. What pleased the Behan
people was certain to displease the carp
people, and if applause or dissent on
one side or the other became too en-
thusiastic shooting was sure to ensue.
Behan would fight 4 buzz saw in full
motion, and after doing up his worst
enemy he would give him his last cent
if the PROSTATE foe needed it. carp
was equally brave, but he was dishonest.
Virgil was the eldest of the carp fam
lily. At that time the people of Conchise
county, of which Tombstone was the
county seat, were in reality divided be-
tween two factions-the stage robbers
and cow robbers. The current name
for the stock thieves was the rustlers,
while the stage robbers were known as
such. Sheriff Behan, though not a cow
bow or rustler himself, was solidly
supported by the cowboys, the ranch
men and the wandering cavaliers who
had nothing today, but we're possessed
of their neighbor's live stock tomorrow.
The connection of the Earps with the
stage robbers was matter of question,
suggestion and suspicion for some time.
Agent williams of Wells, Fargo & Co.
and the Earps were like brothers
Virgil carp was the city marshal of
Tombstone, his brother Wyatt was the
boss killer of the region, and another
brother. Warren, was the chief express
guard on board stages carrying valu-
able express freight between Tombstone
and the railroad station at Contention.
Whenever the stage was robbed, as it
was whenever there was anything
worth taking aboard, the city marshal
and his brothers always organized a
posse to pursue the robbers.
It was discovered after while that
Agent Williams and the Earps had
formed a combine for express robbery
Whenever the agent had valuable
consignment of bullion or currency he
gave Virgil carp the tip, and he posted
his trusty men along the road, and his
brother Warren, on the stage front as
guard, was careful to be caught so that
he had to obey an order to throw up his
hands when ordered. OF course. the
Earps always put the blame of the rob-
berries on the rustlers.
A presidential proclamation had at
length the effect of making the crimi.
nails the law officers and the law officers
the disturbers of the peace, and not
withstanding certain revelations the
Earps continued to lord it over Tomb
stone. But only for time.
One day the McLowrys and Frank
Stillwell rode into town and put up
their horses at a corral on Eremont
street. Just as they emerged from the
corral the Earps and Halliday confront
ed them and IN minute the two Nc
Lowrys, Billy Clanton and Stillwell
~ese--dead. Word was sent to their
friends, who were camped in the
Huachuca mountains, and they prepared
to march to Tombstone in force to clean
out the Earps. The Earps recruited
and fortified in an adobe building in the
west end of town. The rustlers, thirty
strong, under command of Ike Clanton
and Jack Ringo, marched to town and
took up headquarters in corral at the
extreme end of the town. Here were
the honest people of Tombstone between
the hostile camps, but Tombstone went
right along about its business and
rather enjoyed the sensation. The
saloons and gambling houses did thriv-
ing business twenty-four hours daily.
The banks were open and in the even
ing four mines were operated by 5000
hardy workmen, and more than l 700
men and 300 mules were busy hauling ore
from the mines to the reduction mills
at Contention, eight miles distant. The
rustlers circulated through the town
and the carp or stage robber faction
confined themselves to their camp.
Ike Clanton, the rustler leader, sent
several messages to Wyatt carp, the
leader of that faction, daring him to
come out and show his nose. carp sent
back invitations to Clanton to come and
visit him. This thing continued for
three days, and at last the Earps began
to get tired. In fact, their liquor was
exhausted and they we're on the verge
of thirst famine.
Warren carp, one of the brothers,
hecled himself properly with two re-
volvers and shotgun and walked up
town one evening about O'clock. He
walked into saloon, took drink at
the bar and walked back to the faro de-
partment in the rear. He hadn't bucked