American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-02-25
TRAGEDY BROUGHT
MORAL UPLIFT
TRAGIC DEATH OF LEADER OF NO.
TORI0US BAND OF HORSE
THIEVES BROUGHT PEACE TO
AMERICAN FALLS.
A Bit of Early Day History Indicating
the High Pressure Under Which the
Early Settlers Liyed-Railroad Conn.,
pany Supplied Attorney to Defend
Slayer of the Outlaw.
(Recollections of w. T. oliver.)

(Recollections of w. T. Oliver.)
A tragedy which went far toward
uplifting moral sentiment in the early
days of American Falls was the killing
of Bob Paxton, whose real name was
Charles Reddington, on September IS,
1886 Paxton was the leader of a band
of cattle and horse thieves who oper-
ated from Oregon to Wyoming, and
from Montana to states on the south
of us. They sotpped here a good deal
of the time, having their headquarters
on the peninsula now owned by Tarbet
west of town about a mile. The gang
would drive in a bunch of stock and
stay here for several days to rest
meanwhile carousing and having
good time So many depredations had
been committed. that cattleman's as
sociation was formed and a detective
sent here. The gang had some men,
bers here, one of whom went down into
Nevada and joined the cattlemen's as
sociation and learned the identity of
the detective, which was furnished to
Paxton, so that he not only knew the
detective as soon as he saw him, but
knew what he was here for. Bradley
Jackson was the name of the detec-
tive. He later married Miss Susie
Taysom, daughter of one of the pio-
neers of the Rock creek valley and is
now living in Montana. Jackson came
here in August, 1886, keeping the ma
ture of his business strictly to him
self. He had not been here many
days until Paxton and his gang ar
rived. AS soon as Paxton saw him he
recognized Jackson from the descrip-
ton furnished him, and walking up to
Jackson, looking him straight in the
Z eye, told him who he was. said what
he was here for
Jackson, as cool as Paxton, admitted
the truth of the statements. From that
time on the men were inseparable,
drinking and eating together, and
watching each other like hawks. Both
understood they were playing life
and death game, that the life Of one or
both was the forfeit The few who
lived here understood the matter and
there was much suppressed excitement
They knew that tragedy was inim-
inent and did not now where 1t would
stop. Paxton had several men with
him and others who lived here or near
by, were stool pigeons for him and II
was feared that if Paxton was killed
they would retalliate by wiping out the
town because they knew that senti-
ment was against them.
Paxton and Jackson continued to be
inseparable, each constantly on his
guard. They ate at the same table, di-
rectly facing each other. On the even
ing of September 13, they came lit
tie late, finishing after most of the
others had left the table. Paxton was
drinking a little heavier than he had
been. Sitting at the table with them
was an old miner, who had very long
heavy eyebrows. Paxton commented
upon them several times and finally
remarked: "Pardner, those are pretty
long eyebrows you've got. guess I'd
better trim them," at the same time
reaching for his gun. AZ his hand
went toward his gun, Jackson jumped
to his feet and throwing six SHOOTER
on Paxton. said: Paxton, you have
lived long enough" Paxton, realizing
that Jackson had the drop on him,
bent his head forward, so that the gun
was pointing directly toward the top
of his head. Look up, Paxton, your
time has come, you have lived long
enough Jackson said. Paxton then
raised his head and was shot right III
the forehead. Mrs. Oliver was in the
dining room at the time.
When the shooting took place I was
at the railroad water tank getting q
couple OF pals Of water. ! saw the
flash OF the gun and knew that either
Paxton or Jackson had been killed.
did not hurry in because I did not
know which one had been killed. II IL
was Paxton, all right. But II IT was
jackson / did not want to go in at all
because feared the killing might only
have started. Pretty soon | heard Mrs
Oliver and Susie Taysom calling me
from the barn, which stood where the
Irene theatre is now located. / ans
wered and asked them what they
wanted. jackson has killed Paxton,
Mrs Oliver replied "Oh, well. come or
and let's go in the house." replied
II 1t had been jackson killed instead
would have said Let's go a little
further" We all knew that Paxton
had no intention Of trimming the min
er's eyebrows. Had he been able d
draw his gun under that pretens'
Jackson would have been the victim
The strain under which be had beel