The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-06-29
THIS SHERIFF WAS
HANDY WITH HIS GUN
Engaged In Many RloOdy Encounter,
But Came ont without
wound
THE TERROR OF EvILDoERS
Indians FcarvNi Him and believed
That Ills life Was Protected by
some Charm.

sEHoMAN. ARR. June 1s-A
romantic figure OF Arizona's pioneer
days has just passed In the person
OF Commodore Perry owens. cAttle
man, surc,shot. dashinE Indian fiEht.
er and fearless sheriff. who died
here
with his long waving hair falling
over his shoulders and his pleasing
personality and his diEnlfisd car.
riage Commodore owens carved a
Spectacular career op AriIonA's Ia.
bles ~ history between his arrival
In tho state In 1882 ana his death.
OWons was born In Indiana and
ehmc to Arizona via TcNns and New
Mexico. In 1882, 10 become range
foreman ~ cattle company ~
Navajo Springs.
Horn Charmed life
In y single battle with three MAYA
10 Indians who we're stealing hc
eompRny'H cattle. owens Killed the
trio. Then followed numerous
clashes with the red raiders. many
OF whom fell before his deadly Tifls
In time the Indians came to be.
lleye he bore charmed life and gave
him n wide berth, despite his fire.
qucnt battles with them he aid not
receive n single wound
In 1883. when outlaws through
out Apache county were dsfylnE the
law. owens was elected sheriff. and.
backed by Judge Robert T. MORT
son now OF Prescott. he obtained
indictments against "a of the most
notorious thieves and murdererE
while the grand jury was report
Ing tho true bills, dozen Of the
outlaws fled the country rather than
face tho new sheriff The latter
tracked three ~ the remRinder To
the nlue river and there when thsv
were resisting arrest. we're frlled hy
the guns Of Sheriff owens ana his
posse A fourth member ~ the
gang. Finn ClAnton. was trapped.
captured and sentenced 10 ten years
In prison.
ono battles Ihrrc.
Perhaps owens most sp~rtn lar
bsttle was one fought at Holhrooh.
where tho sheriff Killed Andy Coop
er a notorious had man and two
com pn MONS Owens had been told
that the trio had taken refuge In
q house near the railroad tracks.
Ho rode down the street to the
walked to the door and
raped for admission. with hts rifle
Cooper opened 20 door and at
tempted 10 draw n revolver. but the
sheriff fired from his hip. Cooper |
fell badly wounded. A. the same mo-
ment another shot rang out from |
behind from the gun Of one of Coop |
er's bandits. the bullet barely miss
Ing the sherifrs head. with his
hack to his second asraiiAnt. owens |
threw his rifle over his shoulder and |
fired. The outlaw dropped mortally |
wounded.
As tho sheriff retreAted n few
steps he saw a man through the win
dow maneuvering for shot and |
aghin the Sherifrs rifle spoke Tho
OUTLAW inside fell 10 the floor and |
died within few minutes II wnS
Cooper, who had been shot first |
whom he opened the door.
Then tho third dsHperado made
his appearance running around the |
corner Of the house with his rrVoiv-
er raised 20 fire. but before ne
and the last Of the gang died in
his tracks
owens served hut one term as
sheriff OF Apache county. hut II was 4
N ID that At the end Of his tenure Of /
office every OUTLAW In the county had
been driven out, killed or arrested.
For short while the sheriff |
acted as an express messenger hut
later ne entered business on his own
account and died peacefully In com
mercial harness.