The Florence tribune., 1897-10-30
J BuRNETT, oF ToMasToNE.
He Made His Court self-sustaluins.
From The Kansas City Journal

kAAOul uC AtlAisdS AltJ JOuEuElsl
 A stormy life it was that ended not long ago, when old Jim Burnett was killed in Tom mbstone by William Greene "a life full 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 the life Burnett, a justice of the peace in Pearce camp, had left his work in order to go down on 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 Burnett, 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 presence 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 raized up about bim. He was 3 singular personality. Strong [ willed and violent in temper, be espe- eially sbone in a frontier camp. It was, Therefore, quite appropriate that he should have been elected justice of the peace in 1881 at Charleston, on the San Pedro, where the rich ores of Tomb stone were at that time milled.
 Charleston was then a bowling camp, full of freighters, miners, and the
 wooliest of the 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 rush. ing business. At the cad of three months he duly reported. as by law re-
 quired, to the county supervisors,
 sending in his bill for the amount due
 from the county. The county fathers
 cut the bill down one-half. Burnett
 swore vigorously when he got the re-
 turns, but held no further communica-
 tions with the county seat.
 | Another three months elapsing the
 county treasurer wrote Burnett to
 furnish his quarterly statement. The
 reply came promptly: 1.-The blazes
 with you; this court after this will be
 self-sustaining."
 And so it was, in great shape Every time cow boy would get exhilarated and shoot up the. town the judge would fine him $700, and would pocket
 what remained after paying his con stables for the arrest.
 One day old man Schwartz got ex, cited and killed man. After the justice as ex-ofacio coroner, had finish ed the inquest. he had Schwartz hauled D before the bar, found him guilty of tn, F crime and fined him s10eO. Schwartz Y wanted to appeal tic case, but Burnet e would issue no papers on appeal. & c the defendant sent up to Tombstoni
 for Attorney Mark Smith who cam
 down at once and heard Schwartz e tale of woe. It was a clear case O s murder.
 j. "Pay the money, you ass," tn  e lawyer fairly shouted, "and then yo1
 go and bury yourself somewhere dow y h Mexico"
 Schwartz paid and skipped, and tn e case was never again heard of in court ,e But the county never received any c |, that coin. Those who figured on tn ,n proposition said Burnett came out $22 'u 900 ahead on his office in two years. "