Bisbee daily review., 1902-12-05
MISCARRIAGE oF JUSTICE


 The citizens of Cochise county have witnessed this week the last act in the farce comedy entitled the Terri tory of Arizona vs. William Stiles and Burt Alvord. The time covered in this play extends over period of three years and dates back to 1899 when Stiles, Aivord, Burtts and Bravo Juan robbed sn s. P. train near Co chise station and succeeded in getting away with considerable silver belong ing to the Wells. Fargo Express com. pany. This was the beginning and Tor the succeeding three years. ending with the dismissal of all charges against Alvord on last Wednesday, the tax payers of this county have paid the bill, while William Stiles has wrapped the prosecuting attorney and other officials of this county around his lite finger.
 Certainly never before, and we hope never again in the future, will the court records of this county show such prostitution of justice as that witnessed in this particular instance.
 William Stiles, with the others above mentioned. did hold up a train. None of the trio deny that fact, but owing to fool law on the statute books of Arizona at that time prescrib- ing the. death penalty for such an of fense, nos jury could be found in the county thaf would bring in verdict of guilty, although satisfied in their own mind that the crime had been committed. Alvord and Bravo Juan were arrested on the testimony of Stiles, who soon after the hoid-up, turned states evidence, for which no doubt he. was promised his liberty. Up to this time the oficers were justi- I lied in their trade with Stiles, but how lmuehsaid they gain by it. When they thought they had sure case aEainst lyord and Bravo Juan, and these Hosu were waiting trial in Tomb stone. Mr Stiles appeared and asked 1efmfssi i to visit the prisoners His reqpesss Naa Srsnted and when he ] emerssd from the Jail he opened fire on Jeissrs 86sfse Brayin, wounding him. sSn assisting Alvord and his pal. tp tape. Right then and there all negotiations should have been de clared on and Stiles punished for this offense, the same as any other crim- fnal After his escapade Stiles re mained under cover until the district attorney of this county refused to bring an indictment against him. Stiles next appearance was as mem Der of the Arizona Rangers. Stiles who short time previous shot a jailer and liberated a band of out laws, sworn in to protect the peace aud dignity of the territory of Ari- zona. This man Stiles is a genius. First, he robs a train; second. he turns states evidence and lands his pals behind the bars; third, he comes back to Tombstone. shoots the jailer. and liberates the very men whom. he had made prisoners; fourth, as a seeming reward for such daring he is enlisted in the Arizona Rangers. Stiles knew he had good thing and decided to push it along. He was detailed to bring in Alvord, but in the meantime landed Chacon, who, was much wanted in Graham county. When Alvord and Stiles were sure that allaof the dam aging witnesses were out of the coun- try, 10 and behoN Alvord, escorted by his true and tried comrade, made their appearance on the international line ready to surrender. But when the case was called in Tombstone few weeks later, each case in turn was dismissed, because. forsooth, there were no witnesses. There was time when the witnesses were all present but just at that time Alyord was in Mexico, where he had been aided to escape by Stiles. It vas a pretty game, from some points of view, but to the law abiding citizens of Cochiss county and the tax payers thereof ii is . disgusting spectacle of a miscar riage of justice.
 Every outlaw in the country has been encouraged to wade in and imi tate the remarkable pace set by Stiles Alvord ( Co.