Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-08-23
How Big Tom Henry Died.
IWrIttep for TnR Orrlc.l

Pullman at Las
ps Vegas, and Is car
led by carriage to his quiet and com
portable hotel. 10 looking over ihatL
busy and peaceful city, surrounded as
1t now is by all the indicia OF order and
tion, may wonder at. and per
heps may doub', the vcracity Of this
woeful taio The tranquil peace that
now pervades the mountain air may
pecsuade him that here the chapters OF
crime, 30 common on the frontier.
have been omitted, that here the wild
passions OF men have spent their
fury on each other.
But there be those among the Indus
trious business and professional men
with whom he daily mipgles who re-
member to the full the details Of the
tragedy I have undertaken to write.
Indeed, the ~ehronicler Of East Las
Vegas. II he shall seek material on
which TO build a; lnrid story. will find
himself embarrassed by the very
abundance and facundity Of his field
for here enough blood was shed to in
carnadine the ground on which George
Closes dance hall stood.
In 1879. the great Santa Fe road was
completed 10 Eas Vegas, leaving the
i'd or Mexican town some half d mile
from It's station. Immediately. . new
own, the nucleus ofthe present East
Las Vegas, sprung into existence. or
Reputable business houses. Of law
ADDING, peace. loving and highIy-re-
,pectahtsscinzans .thers ware many.
Russ Kfstler, the best newspaper
man In New Mexico, had just begun
The publication Of the DAILY OPrrC,
the best paper the Territory has, ever
had, and Lutte Wilcox, the westeFnt re-
| oorler par etcelience was working like
IA beavsr TO make ~ acceptable, under
trying conditions, and TO dissimilar1
tastes.
But Of saloons and dance halls. OK
outlaws, thieves and murderers, there
| were more.
The restraint Of the Mexican authori
ties, always feeble on the reckless Apkin
Saxon offender. was found wholly in.
1deqcate to the new conditioIs, and .
Separate municipal organization was
/ ffected. fIfJodo Broyn,rr the
talented but degenerate md desppstste
son 8of 4 Missouri pteaehsrs whose
name III not Brown, was elected police
Judge and justice Of the peace, after a
ten days residence; add Joe Carson
and mysterious Dave, Mathes were
made the guardians and marshals OF
the new city's dignity and peace.
The legal training Of the new Judge
was not claimed to be greet, nor was
he supposed to possess to any. notice.
able extent any large apprehension Of
| right and justice that might compen-
safe for pauc,ty OF learning. But as
upon all occasions, both on the bench
and off OF it, he wore q large revolver,
aud was knowu'to have both the incli-
nation and the ability to use it, his
fitness for the position was never ques-
toned. nor were his decisions ever
disputed. II
Considering the disorder then exist
ing, and the even greater disorder tha'
vas sure 10 follow the wake OF tn"
characters gathering there. the fitness
and qualifications OF the executive om-
GERS we're more apparent. Joe Carson,
slow to anger and gentle Of speech.
was. a noted man, both In Texas and
10 Colorado. His heroic courage and
deeds Of daving were Known to the
desperaioes Of many countries. and
bis presence was . salutary check upon
thAir lawlessness. s.Mysterious Dave"
was q SON Of that universal mother of
killers, Dodge City, Kansas, and had
carried her ensanguined banner--a
Colts forty. iye-into every battle
ground OF the west.
Mommsenssays OF Caesar that he
was the q entire and perfect man.
In the criminal annals OF the vast .
like distinction may justly be accorded
ssMysterious Dave" As a professional
fighter he never had q peer. There
were men ss-brave; possibly men as
cunning; but the highest order OF
courage, joined to the highest grade OF
cunning, form . combination found
alone IN him.
With these two formidable officers to
enforce the law, the less desperate
were easily restrained, but 90
not a few occasions the storm Of riot
broke with a fury sufficient almost to
even their disciplined valor.
Among the early arrivals at East
Las Vegas was q composite freighter,
gambler, fighter and dance hall keeper,
~ name, George Close. With a quick
I'VE to The opportunities offered by the
'ituation for his particular line Of
business, he immediately erected, in
he heart of the embryo city. the mos,
'retentious dance hall and variety
heater that II has eyer boosted, which
t noe became as well the meeting
lace and rendezvous OF fashion, as the
OF rsvelry and song. Here
Monte Verdi" with \ sotoriety redo
ant Of stage robberies Il the Black
ILLS, disported in elephantine lith-
omeness-her 500 pounds of avoirdu-
ois, and chilled the sonl of harmony
/ ssAnHie Laurie" Here the CHEEKY
oice Of uChuck" Harrington was
lightly heard inviting the stranger and
Re sucker to risk bis money on the
wen spot I'D chuck-a-luck
Here tsFTench Pete" welcomed all
the ssfressroll' in high ball poker,
ad admonlshed "Sadie" to pass the
buck" Here Terpsichnre vas en-