The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-08
JIM BURNETT OF roMssroxr
County Cat Down Hls Rl,. and he Han n,
Court TO Suit Himself.

A stormy lifo II was that ended lts, ,no.,
when old Jim Burnett was killed in Tomb.,nns
by William Greene-a life full of cNrcricnco.o -,
the border kind that would supply mrtcriaI TO-
twenty Of the most thrilling OF the yellow .hackoa
novels. The end was in keeping with Tho lto
Burnett, n Justice OF the Peace in pcarrc CAM
had left his work in order TO 20 down on n,
San Pedro River, fifty miles away, aud blow on,
with giant powder the irrigating canal dam
OF his enemy, Grecne. Below Mt the uruc. p,,n
ably unknown to Burnett, were two Young p,t,
one a daughter of Greene, ngcd Is, and bs,
friend from Bisbce. They were caugh, in m,
food that followed the explosion and wpr.
drowned. The father learned OF tn" presence az
his foe, saddlcd his horse, rode over Il, Tomhh
stone. found Burnett on the main stree at5
shot him down. The town stood behind Greene
in his decd. He has nccn admitted to light hail
and will be acquitted If ever brought to triaI'"
Since .Burnctt,s death many are the tae,
being raked up about him. His was a singular
personality. Strong willed and violent in TEN.
per, he especially shone in n from tcr camp, IA
was. therefore, quite appropriate that he ShouiS
have been elected Justice Of the Peace in lssi
at Charleston. on the San Pedro, whore The rich
ores OF Tombstone were at that time mIllcd,
Charleston was then n howiing camp. iul OF
frciRhters, miners, and the woo!icsl OF cowboys.
The whiskcy sold wasn't of the mildu-t BRAND
and, consequently, tribulation safe within ihe
community and the Justices Court was always
OPEN; Burnett aid . !, rushing dhing business. A. Tho
required. to the County Supervisors, sending In
his bill for the amount due him from the county.
Tho county fathers cut the bill down one.haiL.
Burnett swore vigorously when he got The re-
turns, but held no further communication with
the county seat. Another three months elaps
ing. the County Treasurer wrote Burnett 10
furnish his quarterly statement. The reply
came promptly. 1t was: THE blazes with youi
this court after this will be self.sustnininr.'' y
And so II was. in great shape. Every time a
cowboy would get exhilarated and shoot UP The
town the Judge would fine him several hundred
dollars and would pocket what remained after
paying his constablcs for the arrest.
One day old man Schwartz got excited and
killed n man. After the Justice. as cx.ofacio
=! Coroner. had finished the inquest he had
Schwartz hailed before the bar, found him guilty
OF the crime, and fined him a thousand dollars.
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 Delegate to Congress from
Arizona. smith came down at once and heard
Schwartz's tale Of woe. 1t was a clear case Of
murder.
PAY the money. you ass" the lawyer fairly
shouted. land then go bury yourself somewhere
Schwartz p i'd and skipped. and the case was
never again heard OF in court.
But the county never received any OF that
coin. Those who figured on the proposition said
that Burnett came out $4,000 ahead on his OF.
flee in two years..