The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-21
Jim Burnett OF Tom b>tons

A stormy life 1t was that ended lass
month when old Jim Burnett was killed
in Tombstone by William Greene-a HE
full c, experiences OF the border kind that
would supply material for twenty OF tbs
most thrilling OF the yellow backed novels.
The end was in keeping with his life
Burnett, a justice Of the peace In Pearc~
camp had left his work In order to 20
down on the San Pedro river. fifty miles
away, and blow out with giant powder
the irrigating canal dam OF his enemy
Greene. Below al the time. probaly urs-
known to Burnett, were two young girls
one a daughter of Greene. aged lR and
her friend from Bisbee. They were caught
In the food that followed the explosion
and were drowned. The father learned OF
the presence of his foe, saddIed 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 be acquitted II ever brought to trial
Since Burnett's death many are the
tales being raked up about him. His Was
a singular personality. Strong willed and
violent In temper. he especially shone I'm
a frontier camp. 1t was. therefore. quite
appropriate that he should have been
elected justice Of the peace I'm 1881 nt
Charleston on the San Pedro where the
rich ores OF Tombstone were at that time
milled.
Charleston was then a bowling czrnT,-
full Of freighters. miners and the WOOL
est Of cowboys. The whisky sold wasn't
Of the mildest brand and consequently
trfbulation sate within the community
and the justice court was always OPEN.
Burnett did "A rushing business. Al the
end Of three months he duly reported. an
by law required. to the county supcrvis-
ORE. sending in his bill for the amount
due him from the county. The county
fathers cut the bill down one-haH. Bur
nett swOre vigorously when he 20; the
returns, but held no further communica-
tions with the county seat. Another
three months elapsing, the county treas
urer wrote Burnett 10 furnish his qu0r-
terly statement The reply came prompt
ly- 1t was: The blaZes with you: this
court after this Will be self sustaining"
And SO IL was. In great shape. Every
time cowboy would get exhilerated and
shoot up the town the Judge would tine
him several hundred dollars and would
constables for the arrest
one day old man Schwartz got excfes>x
and killed n man. After the Justice. m
ex x-officio coroner had finished the Inquest
he had Schwartz hailed before the bar
found him guilty OF the crime, and f;ne<u
him 900. Schwartz wanted TO appsrI
the case, but Burnett would issue no
papers on appeal So the defendant, scnf
up to Tombstone for Attorney Mart
Smith, now delegate To congress from Arf-
zona- Smith came down at once and
heard Schwartz's tale OF wo. 7, Wa, :.
clear case Of murder.
Pay the money. you ass" the lawyer
fairly shouted, "and then go bury your
self somewhere down I'm Mexico"
Schwartz paid the money and skipped
ano the case was never again heard uf I'm
court
But the county never received anv -
that coin. Those who figured on the prurA.
oettion said that Burnett came out 81 70
ahead On his office In two yeara-Phfaa-
delphia Times.