Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-07-13
LAW
IN PHOENIX
Further Revision Of Early
Day History
FOUR ILLEGAL EXECUTIONS
They Were the Fruits of
Three Community Under
takings and Comprise the
Towns History In that
Line of Endeavor.
FOUR ILLEGAL EXECUTIONS

Until recently it has been supposed
by most residents of Phoenix that
there was never but one instance of
lynch law in this community, and
that was in the early sos. wnen two
men were hanged o" the Washington
street line Of the city plaza, to
cottonwood tree, for the murder of
two well known citizens. \ few days
ago The Republican came into pos
session of the facts of another for
NAL but Illegal hanging that occurred
July 3. 1873, when Mariana Tisnado
was hanged at the entrance TO the
Monihan and Starrar corral, for
stealing a COW, though he is also be
lieyed to have been the murderer of
a pioneer named Griffin. Thlt story
was published merely To keep the
record straight. that pOstority might
know just how much Phoenix had
INDUCED itself in that sort Of thing
in the days before the courts were
adequate for community protection.
Now comes the story Of the third
lynching, or rather the second one.
as il occurred between the dates of
the other two. in either December
1875. or January, 1876. The recital is
given or the authority of those who
were here at the time and remember
the incident vividly, and who have
assured The Republican that these
three events form n complete list Of
all the operations Of mob law in
Phoenix that terminated in capital
punishment. There have been scores
of homicidcs and murders but in no
other instances did they have COM
munity cooperation, even If there was
community approval II anybody has
knowledge of a lynching in Phoenix
he is invited To speak up promptly
if he wants To get it into the record,
otherwise the book will be closed.
In the winter Of 1856 an hdobc
building that stood on the present
site Of the Hoffman saloon, was either
owned or leased by the company
which operated the stage line between
Maricopa and Prescott, via Phoenix.
and various other bulnch lines. "Old
jim Stewart being the superintend-
ent of the company. residing here.
The building was large for those days
and answered more nearly the pur-
pose Of a social hall. on OCCASION.
than anything else in town. II was
customary from time to time to clear
it out as much as possible and give
a dance in which nll the elite Of the
city participated. There are yet quite
a number in Phoenix who spent hours
Of merry revelry in the little old
adobe
on one such occasion in December
of 10 or January Of &c n man
named Louis Tuiley, a brother of
Steve Bailey, now a resident Of
southern AFiZona and well known all
over the territory, was floor MIN
ager. \ man by the name of Young.
(his first name not being recalled by
The Republicans informanD, came
to the dance under the influence of
liquor. He made himself obnoxious
to several ladies in the room by in
sisting that they should dance with
him. against their wishes. The floor
committee elected him a few times as
courteously as possible but he per-
sisted in returning. Finally he was
put out forcefully. Bailey helping him
along a little with the toe of his
boot.
There was a window on the alley
end of the building, which stood
lengthwise along what is now Central
avenue md on the window ledge
stood a bucket of water A short
time after his election, Young re-
turned and planted himself at the
windon with a shotgun. Bailey was
near it but did not See who was out
side and just as Rniley leaned over
to get a cup of water for a lady.
Young discharged his shotgun through
the window glass. The charge took
effect in Bailey's head. He was rem
dered unconscious and IT was supposed
at the time he was fatally wounded
number of the young men at the
dance Immediately gave chase To the
shooter who fled to the east up the
alley, and caught him.
They made no report of their cap
ture until they had concluded the af-
ftlir. A rope was secured and Young
was taken to what was then the
northeast corner of the townsite. or
near il, and hanged to n cottonwood
tree. The location of the tragedy
was on the south side of what is
now known as the Tempe rond, or
Van Buren, street, a few yards east
of its intersection with Seventh street.
1t is now the north line Of the So
called Gardiner property bought by
Phoenix school district for the cree
ton of a grammar school at an early
day
After the lynching WIS over the
young men returned to town to find
that Bailey had revived and was not
seriously hurt, as the gun had been
loaded with fine bird shot and its
force had been broken somewhat by
the window There was no cOndoning
the shooting but it was rather re-
GREETED that the punishment had been