Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-07

tt"~A W ouiAu . plan IN which th
dangers shall be minimizsd and th
ad~vantages all utilized, and such
man was Johnnie. This was the pla,
be finally submitted to his followers
The ak men should all leave Clifto,
together, and while no one was ed
vised Of their destination, the sstip'
was given out that the ssgsng" had
gone to ssturn = trick" Whei
half way to Beebe, four o
them should halt while Johnnie an,
"Tex" went on to reconnoitre. Ar
irving at Beebe hey should loaf arount
for = day TO sssize up" the situation
TO avoid the possibility Of having sus
picion attached to him, Johnnie, who
was to remain In Beebe, bought al
interest In q saloon and at once tool
possession OF It's gambling department,
"rex'' was then advised TO return tc
his comrades who remained Ia camp,
and concealed, half way between Beebs
and Clifton, and deliver to them their
hnal instructions az to the assault on
the store, and then 20 on alone to
Clifton, so a. to be there when the
robbery occurred. The plan was with
out a flaw. Johnnie and "Tex'' we're
the only two Of the gang who had been
Ia Beebe. When the robbery occurred,
johnnie would be In his gambling
house and "Tex" would be In Clifton.
Suspicion could not attach to them and
no n knew anything OF the others.
When "Tex" rejoined his compan-
ions he found them unruly, turbulent
and drunk. The hand Of the master
was not there to restrain them.
They insisted on going to Beebe
at once and also insisted that
"Tex" should accompany them. To
their. arguments and whiskey his judy
ment. If he had any,fnally succumbed,
and the five started on that fateful
ride which lead to the gallows. Ar
irving in Beebe, they rode direct to the
"Company's store' and proceeded to
rob 1t, but In their eagerness they had
reached town a day too soon. The
money had not come from Tombstone,
and all they got was q few hundred
dollars and a few watches that had
been left, for safe keeping, in the big
safe. To vent their fury and disap-
pointment, in riding out Of town, they
discharged their Winchesters in every
direction, and in SO doing, killed q
woman In the streets. A simple rob-
berry in Arizona in those days might
not have created much concern, but
the wanton killing Of an innocent
woman aroused a fury and indignation
that could only be appeased by the
capture and death of the miscreants
who were guilty Of 1t.
The town arose as one man and or
ganized into pursuing parties. With
ever ready presence Of mind, Johnnie.
who was dealing bank when
the tragedy occurred, offered TO
lead n Of these parties,
and as q matter OF self preservation,
lead 1t OF course, in the wrong direc,
ton. That he deplored the murder Of
the woman. and despised the murder
ers for their folly. there can be no
question but to shield himself he was
Obliged to shield them. Nothing, how
ever, could save them. They scattered
and pursued different ways, but ail to
no purpose. "Tex," Maionay, "Big
Dan" aud ssBig Bed" were canght in
the mountains, "Yorky,n in Demipg,
N. NJ, and heavily ironed, they were
brought to the scene of their last crime
to face the law against whose reign
they had always lived. No defense
was possible, mol was much attempted.
Their only desire seemed to be to i'm
plicate their leader. end with bruta
Jest and laughter they told Of john
MES sscheme" and how it worked
over and over again. He was arrested
and tried, but not with them. They
were convicted, sentenced to death
and executed by law In Tombstone.
His end is another story.
The Jury in his case, after being out
all night, announced, at an early hour
in the morning, their agreement.
The court was hastily convened and
the verdict received. 1t doomed him to
the pe~Hitentiary at Yuma for ninety
nine years. aaickly he was taken
back to all to reflect upon the fright
full fate to which he had been cen
But hardly had the doors OF
his PRISON closed upon him when he
the noise Of an angry mob beat
ing down the outer gates, and his keep
en- says be smiled. He knew their
mission, but he knew no fear. To ak
and sledge the bars quickly yield,
and the mob clamorous for his blood,
is ppoH bim, Utterly without means
of resistance, get dalntless as OF old,
no arose to meet them.
A rope is thrown around his neck
and q mad rush made for q telegraph
pole, but In the rush the rope is never
No pulling is necessary to
keep him up with bis executioners
No hating, no pleading. no delay Is
attempted. The same insoucicance an
ths same courage that marked the
years of HIS freedom, characterize
him now. On this RWtpl rage to death
q word Is spoken. ,fhe fatal
pole is reached and all stop to
Iook again at this man, who
lnoomplainiDgiy, has u here to
lie. He is composed, apparently
.lnconcerned, and absolutely silent.
Through all this dreadful ordeal no
nan has heard him speak. While they
in wonder and engagement he
axes a cigarette from his pocket. lights
/. and begins to smoke. A few whiffs
md he throws 1t away. Then from
another pocket be takes out a silk
,andkerphiet. carefully folds it across
us knee, and with steady hands binds
{ over bis eyes. Will the man never
Will he utter no prayer for
Will be send 10 message