The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-04
Justice Burnett of Tombstone.

A stormy life il was that ended last
month, says the Kansas City Journal
when old Jim Burnett was killed in Tomb
stone by William Greene-a life fun of
experiences of the border kind that would
supply material for twenty of the most
thrilling of the yellow-backed novels. The
end was in keeping with his life. Burnett
a justice of the peace in Pearce Camp,
had left his work in order to go down 10
the San Pedro river fifty miles away, and
blow out with giant powder the irrigating
canal dam of his enemy Greene. Below,
at the time, probably unknown to Bur
nett, were two young girls, one daughter
of Greene, aged IS, and her friend from
Bisbee. They were caught in the flood
that followed the explosion and were
drowned. The father learned of the pres
ence of his foe, saddled his horse rode
over to Tombstone, found Burnett on the
main street, and shot him down. The
town stood behind Greene in his deed. He
has been admitted to light bail, and will
probably be acquitted if ever brought TO
trial.
Since Burnett's death many are the tales
being raked up about him. He was a sin
gular personality. Strong-willed and Vio-
lent in temper, he especially shone IN
frontier camp. 1t was, therefore, quite
appropriate that he should have been elect
ed justice of the peace, in 1884, at Charles
ton, on the San Pedro, where the rich
ores of Tombstone where at that time
milled.
Charleston was then a bowling camp,
full of freighters, miners and the wooliest
of cowboys The whisky sold wasn't of
the mildest brand, and, consequently
tribulation grew within the community,
and the Justices court was always open.
Burnett did a rushing business. At the
end of three months he duly reported,
as by law required, to the county SUI
pervisers sending in his bill to the
amount due him from the county. The
county fathers cut the bill down one
half Burnett swore vigorously when he
got the returns. but held no further com
munications with the county seat. An
other three months elapsing, the county
treasurer wrote Burnett to furnish his
quarterly statement. The reply came
promptly. 1t was: 1.-THE blazes with you;
this court after this will be self-sustain-
ing"
And so it was, in great shape. Every
time cowboy would get exhilarated and
shoot up the town, the judge would fine
him several hundred dollars, and would
pocket what remained after paying his
constables for the arrest.
One day old man Schwartz got excited
and killed a man. After the Justice as
ex-officio coroner, had finished the inquest,
he had Schwartz hauled before the bar,
found him guilty Of the crime, and fined
him $1,000 Schwartz wanted to appeal
the case, but Burnett would issue no pa
pers on appeal. So the defendant sent
up to Tombstone for Attorney Mark
Smith, now delegate to congress from Ari-
zona Smith came down at once and heard
Schwartzs tale of woe. 1t was a clear
case of murder.
PAY the money, you ass the lawyer
fairly shouted, land then you go bury
yourself somewhere down In Mexico"
Schwartz paid and skipped, and the case
was never again heard of in court.
But the county never received any of
that coin. Those who figured on the prop
osition said that Burnett came out $4,000
ahead on his office in two years.