Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-10-28
jim BURNETT, OF TOMBSTONE.
He Made His Court Not Only Self-Sus-
tanning, But a Source of Revenue.

He Made His Court Not Only Self-Sus.
tanning, But q Source of Revenue.
A stormy life-it was that ended the
other day when old Jim Burnett was
killed in Tombstone by William Greene
"a life full of experiences of the Dor
der kind, that would supply material
for 20 of the most thrilling of the yell
low-backed novels. The end was in
keeping with the life. Burnett, JUS
tice of the peace in Pearce Camp, had
left his work in order to go down on
the San Pedro river, so 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 raked up about him. He
was a singular personality. Strong
willed and violent in temper, he es-
pecially shone in frontier camp. 1t
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
80 OF hot rnil1aA
Charleston was then bowling camp,
full of freighters, miners and the wool
lest of cowboys. The whisky sold
wasn't of the mildest brand, and, con-
seguently, tribulation grew within the
community, and the Justices court
was always open. Burnett did a rush
ing business. At the end of three
months he duly reported, as by law re-
quired, to the county supervisors, send
ing in his bill for the amount due him
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-
lions with the county seat. Another
three months elapsed, the county
treasurer wrote Burnett to forward
| his quarterly statement. The reply
came promptly. 1t was: ''The blazes
with you; this court after this will
| be self-sustaining."
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 pay
ing his constables for the arrest.
One day old man Schwartz got ex-
| cited and killed a man. After the JUS
| tice, as ex-officio coroner, had finished
the inquest, he had Swartz hailed be-
fore the bar, found him guilty of the
crime, and fined him $1,000. Schwartz
wanted to appeal the case, but Bur
nett would issue no papers on appeal.
So the defendant sent up to Tombstone
for Attorney Mark Smith, now dele
gate to congress from Arizona. Smith
came down at once and heard Schwartz
tale of woe. It was clear case of muir
/ der.
"Pay the money, you ass" the law.
| yer fairly shouted, land then you &c
bury yourself somewhere down in Mex.
ico''
Schwartz paid and skipped. and the
case was never heard of again in court
But the county never received any
of that coin. Those who figured or
the proposition said that Burnett came
out $4,000 ahead on his Office in two
years.-Kansas City Journal.