Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-02-17
COMMODORE OWENS.
The Story ofhis Killings when sheriff Re
viewed In Denver.

Inc oIOfy VI ult htituko Wheu Sh~iiAi Nv
viewed In Denver.
Denver Republican.
The sheriff OF Navajo county. Arizona,
has Killed about fourteen men since he
has been in office" said John Mulkey. Of
Jerome, Atiz at the Brown Palace hotel
last evening. II guess that IL a record
that has not ~ yet been eelipsed by any
other sheriff In the United States. The
man in question is Owens-Commod IRE
Owens. Tie came to that section a total
stranger some years ago, saying he had
parted with his old comrades for the
purpose OF reforming. lie tells OF the
gang Of tough characters lie used TO as
sociate with. and Is not reticent In d.
lating >upon earlier exploits, such as
drumming whisky, rustling horses and
planning TO rob trains. But this Il all
In the past aud Owens Is now leading a
moral life. lie does not know what the
word afraid L., ~ Is proven by the fact
that on two occasions he killed four men
single handed. When he came to our
section Of the country he said 1t was for
the sole purpose Of aiding In a general
reform movement, and that IL the way he
got the appointment OF sheriff. lie Is
without doubt the doest shot In the west.
lie does his fancy shooting with bali car
thdges, while Buffalo Bill and others use
cartridges filed with shot.
THE first wholesale killing Owens was
the prime mover in consisted In the
shooting Of Andy Cooper. q bad man gen
orally, two young men named Bleven
aud another man whose name can't re-
member. Cooper was so tough that PEG.
ole were afraid Of him, and one day some
men twitted Owens because he hid never
arrested him. That got his dander up
and without saying a word he picked ~
his Winchester and started for the house
where he knew Cooper and his pals were
When Owens knocked at the door Cooper
opened IL a little ways, but closed II
when he saw who IL was. Al that Owens
dred through the door at random. killing
Cooper, the ball striking him in the side
After the melee was over IL WAS fount
that Owens had killed four people, on'
being a ~l3-year-old boy, who received hiI
death wound while seated In his mother,
lap. The killing Of the little chat
was accidental. The federal authorities
refused to prosecute him for that affair
The next quadruple killing was that o
four Navajo Indians. The Indians die
not like Owens because he wa CONSTANT!
arresting some OF them for violating tn
laws. One day about twenty OF then
came into town for the purpose Of takini
his life. When he appeared upon IN
scene the bravery Of the redskins ooze
out OF their finger tips, and. instead o
killing him, II was found he had sen
four to the happy hunting grounl, an
had wounded the 9th.
Talking about killing reminds me Q
the Tonic Basin war, which occurred 4
Arizona about ten years ago. II Taste
about two years. II vas a fight betwee
some stock men and sheep men. BefOr
the feud terminated 6fty men had bite
the dust. The most peculiar thing abOu
that war was the fact that 1t came TO
natural end. owing to the fact that mos
all the leaders were killed of on bot
sides. The chief survivors OF that affai
are Jim Roberts, town marshal Of j,
rome, Ariz., and the Tuksberry brother
They are all alive to-day and live l
!. Jerome. The trouble originated over
: dispute between the sheep men and ca
tie men concerning the rights OF each
the use OF the ranges. Words led
: blows. which led up TO the spilling
= blood"