The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-12-21
ALAW ENFORCER.

n
"a .,t;cers barring soldiers from visiting
,..ttle owing to the alleged immoral
.oditions, q ruling that has given the
.hief city of Washington ar unenvi-
,hle reputation all over the country
lol F. Warren, a pioneer peace Off
# .sr Of the northwest, has been ap-
nointed chief of police of that metro
nils. Whether Joe Warren can re-
n Doom the good name of Seattle re-
mains for the future to decide, but IL
Il Inc Warren cannot work the redemp-
N rim II is doubtful if any other man
A can
4 Daily papers mentioning the ap-
\ uointment of Mr.. Warren to the re-
smnsible position of chief of police
in city the size of Seattle have COM
mented and dwelt almost wholly up
nm his uncanny skill with the pistol,
his admirable GOODNESS and indomit-
able nerve. He certainly possesses
these attributes to a remarkable de-
gree. We never saw him exercise his
trigger finger, but We have seen Joe
Warren in dangerous situe tions
wherein iron nerve and deliberate
coolness saved him from bodily harm.
We were present in Spokane Falls a
third of a century ago when Warren.
then hardly more than boy, marched
into town with Bill Jackson, half
breed desperate, man absolutely
without fear who would not hesitate
amoment to take a life that stood in
his way, and who finally paid the pen
atty Of his wrong doings by falling a
victim to a pistol shot fired by the
late Billy Gillespie, brother, Blythe
way, Of Dave Gillespie, publisher of
the Brewster Herald. Gillispie was at
that time a member of the small po-
lice force of Spokane Falls.
The capture of Jackson was an ex-
hibition of wonderful fearlcssness. At
that time Warren was a farmers boy.
Jackson had killed Chief Three Noun
tains, of the Spokane tribe, under re-
Voting circumstances. JacksOn's rep
utation as desperate man was well
established, and it was we'll known
that he would resist arrest to the Bit
ter end. Few men cared particularly
for the job of going after him. Warren
then unknown, except to few neigh
bors and neighbors were few and far
between in those days, mOdestly ap-
preached Pat Dillon, at that sheriff of
Spokane county, and said that he be-
liesed that he could arrest Jackson.
Dillon told the lad to 60 to it. And he
did. Securing a line from Indian ac-
quaintances, all of whom were anx-
ious to see the desperate eliminated,
as to Jacksons whereabouts, Warren
laid for him on the bank of the Spo-
kane river, where Jackson was in the
hebit of watering his horse short
distance above Havermale island, then
very much outside of the settled part
Of town. AS We remember the circum-
stance Warren assumed the innocent
role of fisherman, and timing his fly
casting to the hour that Jackson usu-
ally appeared he caught sight of his
man. Gradually working up to his VIC
i'm, Warren suddenly dropped the
pole and threw six shooter on the
'reed. Taken completely by surprise
Jackson had no chance to put up a
light and so surrendered. Little old
Spokane Falls was thrown into in
ense excitement when the arrest be-
anne noised about, and the tall raw,
'awky farmer lad, for Joe was then
n his salad days, marched up the
treet with his prisoner.
This arrest brought Joe Warren in
o instant Prominence. The young
mans worth was recognized, his
luck won him a place in the regard
4 all the people of the little city, and
was not long before he was men,
er of the little police force, in which
e remained for a number of years,
erving for time as chief. His activi-
les were at time when Spokane was
the west western, the rendezvous
many hard characters, when it re-
uired backbone, alertness and dis
egard of personal danger to play the
art of a police officer.
And while on the subject of the
ackson episode it may be added that
ne first dramatic arrest was not the
My experience that Joe Warren had
18th Jackson. On one occasion we saw
Warren and Jackson face to face on
toward street, both men with hand
n their guns, ready to draw at the
lightest movement, yet the GOODNESS
f the white man overcame the cour-
ge of the man of mixed blood. On an
other occasion, while crazed with
rink, Jackson rode up and down the
ength of Howard street, then the main
lrtery of travel in Spokane, at mad
,allop, endangering the lives and
imbs of pedestrians. Everybody feared
he man and no effort was made to
Interfere with his amusement. At last
Warren got wind of the exhibition oi
lorsemanship. He stood in the middle
If a cross walk as Jackson came desh'
ng along. Seeing Warren on foot, and
he old grudge still alive, Jackson at
tempted to ride the officer down. War
rem grabbed the bride bit, seizeo
Jackson and had to beat him into IN
before he would give up.
That incident was the real cause Of
Jackson's tragic end, for as soon al
he regained consciousness he coollN
and deliberately announced that M
would kill Warren at the first good op
portunity for making the arrest, ant
Warren was ever afterward on hi
guard.
Some months after the Incident relat
cd, just about dusk, as We were on TN
way to the Review office, and near tn
corner of Mill street and Riverside
avenue We mot Rill Jackson He wa