Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-05-16
THE FIRST MARSHAL AND HIS
PASSING.

enforcement OF the rules OF order In II
the hands OF the people until such tim,
as they, by common consent, delegat.
that authority to some designated per
son who thereafter is recognized as {
law officer
in the summer of 1880 there cam,
into new town six foot four incl
cadaverous looking fellow, who hat
drifted from Arkansas by the way oil
Texas, looking for some bad town
which he and his reputation could
hold In the peace and quiet column
He was chosen by the people to repre-
sent the law in this new community
and by common subscription was paid
one hundred and fifty dollars per
month. A commission as deputy sher
IN was procured and thence as long as
he lasted Milton Yarberry was marshal
Of New Albuquerque.
Whatever reputation he had had for
manliness or bravery he must have left
on the trail, for during his reign, when
danger was nigh the marshal was not
comatable. nor did he ever make an
important arrest.
At that time there was In the employ
OF the Adams Express company, as
route agent. Harry II. Brown, q young
man Of fine physique. OF good descent,
genteel and brave. His father was ex.
Governor Neil s. Brown, and his un.
Gle Ex-Governor John G. Brown. OF
Tennessee.
We had also a woman OF the half
world known as Sadie Preston, who
was Browns steady company when he
was OF duty, and whose favors were
courted by the marshal when Brown
was on duty and the way was clear
We who were posted could foretell the
storm, but for months there was only
calm. These men met and spoke and
drank together and at every meeting
we looked for the tragedy. but with op-
posite results TO those which occurred
when II was enacted.
On Sunday afternoon. March 27.
1881. Brown took Sadie with her
year old child for drive with Niger
John Clark as coachman. About 4
O'Clock their carriage pulled up at lei.
gers and they ordered drinks. At the
corner OF Railroad avenue and First
street stood the only force pump in the
town. Yarberry stood near the pump
and turned the hose into the carriage.
slightly wetting the driving party.
Only pleasant words were spoken. the
drinks were taken and the drive con-
fipIlAd hA ~ Al,
the Victoria restaurant. now 1913 First
street, for dinner and about one-half
hour thereafter Yarberry called Brown
out onto the sidewalk, took him by lac
right arm. and they quietly and seem.
ingly socially, walked north. down two
steps on the end of the walk, turned
west onto vacant lot. now los First
street. and Immediately and rapidly
four shots were fired. We who rushed
to the scene saw Yarberry moving
away from the prostrr., Brown, heard
Browns dying words. "Milt. you killed /
me cowardly." saw Sadie Preston rush
to Browns body. take his gun from
the scabbard beneath him and secret.
ing 1t In her clothing go away. SO
ended poor Brown.
At the second shot Yarberry loosed
his hold and Brown fell TO receive two |
additional bullets. Truer words than |
his dying declaration were never spok. |
en-. |
The body was taken to Adams ex.
press Office, row 113 Railroad avenue,
and In this II was remarkable that
from his manicured toe nails to the |
dressing OF his hair. except for the |
four wounds In his breast, Il was as
delicate and neat as that OF q newly
washed child.
Yarberry was arrested. but a suit OF
and farm wagon induced
Negro" Martin. the old town alcalde,
to hold him justified. Upon trial in the
district court s240 paid to the proper
men on the jury brought verdict of
not guilty.
The sporting element and the bunco
gang stood to their friend.
Yarberry was continued In once un-
I'll Saturday night, June is, 1881, when
occurred a second tragedy and his sec.
ond murder
About 10 o'clock that night a shot
was fired In front Of r. H. Greenleaf's
now i05 First street. Var
berry was In Maddens saloon, now
Sturges', and rushed out With his man
Boyd-at his heels.
Across First street, going toward the
iepot, was the first man Yarberry saw
md after Kim they went. Boyd. ON the
north. took shelter behind a pile OF
street railroad ties, and with Milt In
he rear, they poured II into him. ,
back ~ the saloon he remark.
ID, We'll, killed the --- -"
Tha. he had. for two bullets had ell.
cred the back and one the left side
If poor devil of carpenter from
\. a p. shops. Charley Campbell. who ,
vas wandering around alone and un-
Irmed, but not friendless. as II proved.
Campbell's funeral took place June
q from the platform OF Putney's store .