The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1906-02-22
A BRIEF DUEL IN PIRTLEVILLE.
c. Y. Webb and A. J. BriCe Meet by
Previous Agreement.

An ernational-American report
er called at the G. & A. hospital last
week and obtained the following
statement of the rifle duel at Pirtle-
vile from A. J. Brice, one of the
duelists:
"About $50 O'Clock 1 was riding up
the main travelled road in Pirtieville,
which runs within $50 yards of
Webb's house, where his sister, Mrs.
Thomas, also lives. Webb walked
out of the yard and yelled at me, but
1 did not understand what he said. /
stopped and Webb fired two shots at
me. l got off my horse and shot once
at him, when Webb shot once more.
Then l got on my knees and fired at
him again, and cartridge hung in
my gun so 1 could not shoot any
more. Webb then fell to his knees
and shot at me, striking my right
arm with a soft nose bullet, which
shattered it all the way down to the
wrist, causing me to drop my gun. L
then got up and started to walk of,
leaving my gun upon the groand.
Webb fired again, just as l turned to
walk off, the bullet striking me in
the left eye and tearing the eye out.
1 then fell, got up and fell again.
Then 1 got up again and went and
sat down by fence. A stranger on
bread wagon came along and took
me in his wagon and brought me to
the hospital where L now am"
There had been bad blood for some
time between the two men, which re-
suited in fight, the result of which
still fingers in Webb's bloodshot
eyes.
Both men were expecting trouble
when they next met, and when the
meeting took place at point about
half way between the Clifton saloon
and the home of Webb's sister, Mrs.
J. G. Thomas, the affair came off. 1t
is about four blocks between the
saloon and the Thomas residence.
Statements conflict as to exactly
where the shooting started and as to
who fired the first shot.
Brice was riding toward the Thomas
house when seen by Webb, who came
out of the house and advanced to-
ward Brice. Brice slid from his
horse and the shooting began, both
men firing their repeating rifles
rapidly. After each man had fired
five shots Brice was disabled by a
soft nose bullet striking his right
arm, near the shoulder, and shatter-
ing it to the wrist. There was a
short pause in the firing, and then
Webb fired again with careful aim.
The soft-nose bullet from Webb's gun
struck Brice in the corner of the left
eye, and came out at the base of the
ear, apparently tearing away great
part of the left side of his face. He
fell to the ground, but presently
arose and staggered down the road
toward the Clifton saloon. He again
fell, arose and staggered on; turned
and looked at Webb with his unin-
jured eye and then, satisfied that
Webb had ceased firing, he reeled on
toward the saloon.
Just here Mrs. J G. Thomas,
Webb's sister, rushed out of the
house and screamed to her brother to
''Save him. Save him" meaning
the injured man, ii is supposed.
There is story that the row was
about a girl, a relative of Brice's,
with whom Webb wished to "keep
company"
Webb came almost Immediately to
Douglas, and, going to the Haas
cafe, gave himself to Policeman
Splawn.
When seen by a reporter few
minutes later, where he was being
guarded by Officer Splawn, and being
asked for his stauement of the affair
he refused to talk, but later gave an
interview as to his side of the case,
in which he said that Brice fired the
first shot. He also said that the
fight was by previous agreement, and
that a conversation took place be-
fore the firing began, to the effect
that both were ready and that Brice
smiled as he declared himself so.
c. Y. Webb was brought before
Judge Mcdonald. No evidence was
taken in the case, and his bond was
fixed at $3.50, which he made easily,
and was released until his hearing,
the date for which has not yet been
fixed. Mayor Overlook and others
went on the bond.
Brice has since died.