The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01
FINISHING JOE FOWLER.
TIE LAST Jon OF TIE soCoRRo
TIGILANTEs.
He was y NAE MAN. but q Good Phiiosopher.
ana ne Approached rsis Eud NJ the Gotten
wood Tree with Dignity ana Reclamation
9,nry or , spnn who ye,c.a ...A ri.

"hu HosihuhNtou-
''prS OF . "A" wa" Helped Lynch Him.
PITTsBURe, July 31.-"1he frequency with
which lynchings occur at present reminds mo OF
the stirring times when / myself took n proml-
mont part In such affairs" said G. A. PuryIs OF
Las Vegas, n. NJ, at the Henry n few NIGHTS
nRo. In fact I never hear ~ a lyncbinp with.
out recalling tho last one In which | took part
the lynchinR Of Joo Fowler IN socorro. n. NJ. in
March, 1884. It was the Inst Job done by the
Socorro vigllantes, of which | had tho honor TO
be an active member. II WIS our eighth within
a short space OF time, and though wo remained
together long after Fowler case had been set
tod, wo found 1t unnecessary to do any more.
~ doubt IL the history Of the great West,
where the gun and rope were law for 40
long. can show a l~ynching surrounded with
more sensational details than that of Fow.
Ter. Joe was swung from the biz cotton.
wood tree on McCutchen street for ono cold.
Hooded, cowardly murder-the killing of Johnny
Cole In the Monarch saloon-but after he was
gone we found eight corpses buried on his ranch
at Bear Springs. thirty miles ont. He had mn
doubt enticed the persons there and killed them
for What little money they had. We also traced to
him the stealing of many cattle and horses with.
in the year which he had lived at the Bear
Springs ranch.
Fowler had a history which we were never
hOIe 10 TRACE. Tic uEODp6u mo SANTA no ono
night, went against a faro game which n black.
eyed Virl named Belle was dealing. He took n
fancy TO her. won a few hundred from her deal.
ing, and married her that nirht. They next
turned up at Bear Springs, which he bought. I
used to yet glimpses of Joe and Belle Fowler as
they came dashinR into town about once every
two weeks. Belle rode astride her mustang and
could put many of the old-time crack cowboys
to shame by the way she handled her horse.
AT this timo was office boy on the sun, the
-. ,...ra -, w,toh S,o,,ro on,Is -. -
only paper OF which Soeorro couio BOAST. was
Just out of my teens. and. it is needless to add,
was the Youngest member OF the yieilantes.
a.. 49, ~. o. ,na 90 .n.n r..HND
ohsuas a Nv a .nu '" npfh fo"ier came
| ugly drunk. I saw at a glance. He walked In.
and throwinr down n cold niece ord.red - 20
anu throwing cow" so'u pieeo ofoered me 10
t ths, II, IN n.r .mS paper Sae,nS an s,i na, "@,,S.t SIn, SAYING SAYING
nros.nt ,hom NJ IN. hark within - 80 w.
he intended jumping out at the expiration Of
that time. He had sold his ranch for $50. 600
was a nervous. quick little fellow, weighed
about l4' pounds. and seldom talked without
his hand on his gun. HIS aiertness alone would
create suspicion that all was not right with him.
HI. conversation tod that he was educated.
Fowler evidently had come to socorro for
and almost fell over tho Rev ]. NJ. Roh,son
nastor ~ tho p,nt,st church loo nn,Ind w..
gun and ordered the minister to dance q jig.
Tho n,,,,st.r d.nood II. .hnotIn" -.
occasionally just to make him go higher. When
both Joo and the minister go. tired of this Joe
started down the street loading his empty guns.
Joe led the gang into the Monarch saloon,
Just come out from New York. Fowler ordered
drinks for the crowd. Give them oil whiskey,
f Foa show t ps the R man .b %ho d5e nc Ss s this ! is . Zoe
dismay. hut Joe had him covered with his gun.
Maybe you don't like that he said. Well.
let's see how you. can dance. Just climb up on
that bar and SEQ how fast you can 20. Como,
There was no room for Cutler
had to climb up on the rough bar. where in alb
Fowler was enjoying the show, Keeping his man
covered. City Marshal Bob Monroe came In and.
aided by Squire Dougherty and Gale Denlming.
had Fowler on the floor and his guns taken away
when he saw h was up against it. and .i'" we
Fowler better than any one there, inter.
coded for him.. saying he was drunk
ilese was granted Cole By Monroe. who
had started with Fowler to lock him up. Joe
and Johnny started out arm in arm. They
hadn't gone three steps in the crowd when Joe
self on his friend. / saw the flash OF steel as
ward swing. Cole fell over with an agonizing
cry az Fowler again sank his knife into his
breast.
TO this day I cannot understand why Fow.
Ter was not shot down in his tracks. bob Mon
top OF Fowler. Poor Cole died IN my arms. or
course, there was no hope for Fowler; he must
swing. and at once. Some one brought a rope,
but a. the sight OF It Joe sobered up and began
BOYS. give mo q little time. KILLED him.
dead drunk. Give me a little time TO get ready.
I can't get away. Don't throw me before my
Maker this way. II amt right
20 course there we're those who thought he
to Co. Eaton, who was the reco ;nlzed leader OF
the Vigilantes, the rope was taken o~ his neck.
Col. Elton mad Joe promise that il he got a
trial by jury and was convicted he should make
no appeal, but would submit TO the death pen.
atty. This Joe promised. He was tried tho next
day, and after an hours work he was found guilty
OF murder and sentenced to die in thirty DAYS.
Tine look of satisfaction which Joe gave as he
was led from the court room made some OF US
hanged. SO to make things secure the Vigilantes
the hanging. The honor Of our organization
was at stake. We had turned over a red.hnndcd
pnnrderar ~ tho laU and didn't ropo - -.