The St. Johns herald., 1899-05-20

saddle straps he replied II thought
 would ride down the canyon to look al
 the country" With that he threw him.
 self into the saddle. Black Jack called
 to him to wait minute and all the boys
 would go, but Shaw did not want thelr
 company. He dug the spurs into his
 horse and as he went over the hill thev i fired five shots at him.
 Shaw made his way into Clifton that night and went directly to Deputy Sher- if Clark and told him of the where abouts of the gang and offered to pilot them back to the place. Clark sum- mOned Billy liar, and w. T. Johnson and together with Shaw the posse of four was ready to start. Later Shaw told Deputy Clark that Chas. Paxton was good friend of his and that he would like to have him go along. As soon as Paxton knew what was going on he found Deputy Marshal Higgins and told him that poss was going after Black Jack and he attached himself to the posse. The posse was now composed of Paxton, Hart, Johnson, Higgins and Clark.
 The start was made at night and at tne time Higgins was considerably under the influence of liquor Arriving at the ranch the posse hid themselves in can yon and covered the house with their guns. Higgins sprawled on the ground sleeping of the effect of his drunk Be fore the posse left Clifton Shaw inn pressed on their minds the necessity of killing that "big black fellow" if the fight took place.
 The battle opened at day break the next morning when the robbers sur prised the posse from the rear. Higgins woke up when the fight commenced and seizing his gun he fired shot in the air A s result of the fight the big black fel- low was killed. His body was brought into Clifton where it was identified b, Shaw and a brotherin-law of Black lack { who described every scare on his body
 Black Jacks true name was Wm Christian. He was native of Kansa | and went from there to Texas where he ! changed his name to Ketchum and | drifted into New Mexico and Arizona When the posse returned to Clifton Hig ! gins rushed over to the telegraph offic, | and telegraphed the U. s. Marshal il New Mexico as follows =
 Apply for reward immediatly I have killed Black Jack"
 HIGGINs.
 The reward was applied tor as direct ed but in the meantime the other mem bers Of the posse had caught on to wha Higgins was doing Ben Clark wrote [, Supt Valentine of w. r. & Co.,, at Sar and explained the whole s' nation to him. As soon as that offici. get all the facts befere him he saw tha each member of the posse was en'itle, o part of the reward Higgine refuse, o accept any part of the reward nnleS le got it all. Wells, Fargo, & Ce. sen Johnston, Hart, Paxton, and Clark $6l lpiece, their part of the $500 reword am md deposited $60 in the bank at Ro. we'll to the credit ot Fred Higgins wit heinstrpctiOn that if it was not draw 'ntin sixty days to return it to Sa Francesca. Higgins saw that he coul lot make his claim stick and accepte he sixty dollars
 Now it seems he is after the 5000 O cred by the post office department witt ut consulting or even advising tn 'ther members of the posse who bor he brunt of the fight.
 Jim Shaw has since heen arrested Nevada charged with complicity in th ohbery at Grant and also Steins Pass
 Beyond q douht Black Jarl>'s tru ame was Wm. Christian and he Wa filed by posse of Graham county o cers led by Ben Clark This was prove o the tsiaction Of Wells. Fargo & Co sho paid the reward-Buletin.
 Seen the horse you have bet you