The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-06-29
A TERROR TO OUTLAWS.
The Sanguipary Record Of Quak-
- er in Arizona
He Never Murdered Man But He Had
Killed Many One i'm Performing
the Duties Of His Office as
Sheriff.

THE best-known man in Arizona to-
day." traveller remarked who had
jus. returned from that territory, lis
Commodore Perry Owens, who has
been sheriff of Apache county, city
marshal of Winslow, and is now one of
the guards of the Wells-Fargo express
across Arizona. He is an Indianian,
who went to Arizona fifteen years ago.
Ihad long talk with him the other
day as he rode on the train, his Win
chester rifle and couple of navy skies
within easy reach.
'When he learned that was also a
HOosier," writes a contributor to the
indianapolis News, land knew his
people, Quakers, who live near Carriers
burg, in that country, we were at once
on the best of terms. When | asked
him if the report was true that he had
removed from active life more men, by
the Winchester line, than any other
man in Arizona he looked panied for a
moment. Then he answered.:
Il was raised a Quaker, but out
here, you see, man can't work at that.
1t amt suited to the Arizona climate
l have done a good deal of shooting,
but it has all been necessary and in the
line of my official duty. / never muir
dcred a man in my life, never. My
Good mother, back in Hendricks coun-
ty, every now and then writes me
letter. She sees these newspaper re-
ports and she misunderstands them.
You ask if I've shot one hundred men?
Well, no. | havent-that is, unless
YOU want to count MeXicans. I've
only killed fourteen white men and
wounded ffty-three. Some of them
died after they were wounded, but
that was the fault of the doctor
"'You ask what episode of this kind
| consider the most exciting in my eX-
pcrience? These events are all more
or less exciting, but think the live
lest of these affairs took place over at
Ninslow, when was sheriff. l had
warrant for the fellows arrest, and
had written for him to come in and
surrender. He didn't even answer my
letter. which wasn't treating with
proper respect my official position. So
after awhile | went after him. He was
at his mothers house, Il double
log cabin, built in L-shape tied my
horse and went to the house. AS l
linocllcd on the door caught q glimpse
of two faces at q window at my back.
The door opened about foot, and the
man was after stuck a gun out. l let
drive with my Winchester, and as l
heard him drop fired over my Shout
Ter through the window. The second
Load caught two, killing one and shat
irrng the arm Of a younger brother.
! new there was still another man in
Ia house, and that it was dangerous
- remain on the porch. jumped out
alto the open ground, and, as | did SO,
| saw a man sheltering himself behind
blackboard. | ran a few steps and
uncovered him. When | took account
III >toch there were three killed and
"i'r wounded. There were no further
.'ortilities. The coroner took charge
# he effects, US didn't think it would
y" proper for me to act under the cir
cumstances. The whole affair took
place inside minute.
~ don't drink. don't gamble, and
| haven't ever been a favorite with the
v-omcn. Most of the fellows who are
: lot get it because they want some
woman to think he's bad man.
;'hcy put on Mexican spurs, SOM
:rrrn, and q cut-throat outfit and start
il for trouble. The coroner finds them
with their boots on.
II knew a young fellow up at Will
!ians', L nervy little chap, never said
laac,,. hut when it came time for work
~ nnl:;.! ',ot his revolver out as quick
=: Anybody. But he was perfect gen
tl"man. There was only one thing he
sTas afraid of-that was dying with his
boots on. One dav, by some kind of
accilent-it could never be explained
he got into difficulty with a Mexican.
and the Mexican shot him. We saw he
was hit hard. picked him UP and carried
him into a saloon. We asked Dan if he
had any last request to make. In
faint whisper-we could barely hear
it-he said: Boys, take my boots off,
As we did SO smile broke over his
face, and he went out like an angel"