Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1896-08-22
BANK ROBBERS.
Deputy Sheriff AlVOrd Civ Ss
A Detailed Account of
The Case.
BRAVE OFFICERS.
They Fight Under Discourage
mentS and are Still After
The Murderers.

The Tombstone Prospector says that
Deputy Sheriff Burt Alyord has return
ed from the pursuit of the Nogales
bank robbers and the scene Of the
brush with the fugitives in which Line
Rider Robson was killed.
MIR. Alvord states that from the time
the trail OF the robbers was taken
by tie posse the fugitives were so
hard pressed that in order to cover
the country more rapidly they discard
ed much OF their camp outfit. Earoute
one pack mule already packed was
found, and little further on a sack Of
-four discarded, also cooking utensils,
etc. They were following the trail
into Skeleton Canyon, when suddenly
they were tired upon from behind a
thick underOursh.
At.the first volley Robson was killed.
Sherltf beasherwOod Immediately got
off his horse which had become tract
ious and 1t ran into the robbers camp.
Alvord's horse also became scared and
did likewise. Hildreth who was a
little on the side of the hill above the
road was just high enough to see the
robbers concealed aud immediately
began shooting at them. A horse fell
ct first fire which belonged to "Black
Jack" behind which he was standing.
BLACK Jack" seeing Leatherwood's
horse coming past caught him and
taking the saddle off his dead horse
and removing Leatherwood's saddle,
roooHflfa6 tho ohnrtfffo
all being done In the midst of a heavy
IRE from both sides. During this pro-
cess Rildreth was made the target of
the robbers and lis horse was shoJ dead
from under him. Hildreth then made
for tree close by and q shower of
shots fell about him one bullet graz
ing his neck leaving a mark several
inches long and the tree covered with
bullet holes, however, Hildreth kept up
his return fire, and just as "Black
Jack" finished ressddling Leather.
woods horse another bullet killed the
animal, which doubtless did not put
that worthy IN a very good humor.
The balance OF the posse also re-
ceived consideration at the hands of the
robbers. Sheriff Fly was honored
with their attention and be bravely
returned the salute. Sheriff Leather
wood also pumped lead with a steady
hand and narrowly escaped. Alvord
and johnson were behind rock and
as evidence OF the workmanship OF
a robbers the rock is covered With
spU,- from their bullets, and while
returning the fire both deputies had
narrow calls from whistliHg BULLETS.
Try as they may, the posse could not
possibly see where the robbers lay
and directed their shooting only to
the point where the smoke arose from
the robbers guns. The place selected
by the robbers for smbush was q
most strsgetic point and it was impos-
sible from where the posse were sur.
prised for the latter to shoot to advan-
tage.
After the robbers had left and it was
found that Robson was killed, all haste
was made for a wagon or vehicle to
take the body to town. From here the
nearest ranch, Mulberry, was 20 miles
and no wagon being here or at Coggs-
well, there remained but one thing 10 do
and that was to bury their brave COM
panion where he fell, which was done,
his body being sewed in a blanket and a
grave dug not 10 feet from where he
met his death, it being impossible to
move the body on account OF decomposi-
tion setting in.
Alvord states that John Slaughter,
Burt Coggswell and VIM. King, have
joined the posse which includes Sher-
ifs Fly and Leatherwood, johnson.
Hildreth, Slaughter, King, Coggswell
and two MeXicans. The trail was
taken Up and the robbers iollwed, who |
appear to be heading for Mexico.