The Coconino sun., 1923-11-23

oiO1l IHO1C CopCI1dlt. WOulu AlC
make an editor and not be in the
position he holds today-a desperado.
From general conversation CLEANED
from those who know him best, he is
a graduate of an eastern college.
Many readers of this journal will per-
haps wonder what is the cause of this
lengthy discussion and highly display
ed heading about this noted despera-
do. Well, to satisfy their curiosity
and to explain the reason we have
only to mention that r. w. McNail
was, and is suspected to be one of a
band Of robbers who held up the
train a few weeks ago at Canyon
Diablo and is supposed to be the man
who has cunningly committed depre-
dations that have baffled many of our
officers. Although suspected, none
could tell (that is those who wanted
him) where his headquarters were,
until a few weeks ago one of Wins
lows best detectives detected his
abode. Very secretly the detective re-
turned to Winslow after finding the
hiding place of this noted train, stage
and store robber and organized pos
Sc consisting of himself and two
others belonging to other towns sur
rounding; they at once returned to
the hiding place of r. w. McNail, but
before making their entrance to his
home, Clear Creek canyon had to be
crossed. If they party had continued
their expedition on that day they
would have to cross this stream at
night, to ford it would be dangerous
on account of the deepnesS and swift
ness of the stream. They camped a
few miles from the spot where the
fording had to be done which is about
three-quarters of a mile from the
headquarters of the desperate. About
two o'clock the following afternoon
the stream was reached, all was quiet,
the detectives dismounted from their
horses and led them into the canyon,
one ahead of the other, when report
of a gun was heard, and the close
whistling of a bullet, told all that
danger was near, then another shot
followed by many more. The detec-
tives at once espied from whence the
shots came, it being from behind a
rock on the opposite side of the stream
and their man, whom they wished to
interview was using his Winchester
in a manner that dazed all. The des-
perado had the best Of it, concealed
behind a rock while his followers were
exposed without shelter. The detec-
tives took up the position, and fired
many shots, shattering his hiding
place and making the rocks fly. Nc
Nail is a good shot, and in this Win
chester display, shot one of the horses
through the breast and put hole
through one. of the detectives hats.
Nothing remained for the detectives
but retreat, which they did. McNail
knows this country well and perhaps
could watch them as they departed
for miles. But being of watchful
nature, ne took in the situation at
glance, and knew they would not give
up the chase, and that their next
place of crossing would be about
twelve miles further up the river At
ter once crossing it only remained for
the detectives to play strategy and
capture him in his ewn fields. He
at once wrote a little poetry and a
letter which he left in his camp for
the officers to get We publish the
poetry and letter in entirety,
WHICH VIII SitOH LIC guilty VI
this ''habitant of the plains" When
taken into consideration that this
man did the writing after this fierce
battle when his life was endangered
knowing that it would only be short
time before they were on him again,
proves that he is hard man to fol-
low. The detectives after the bat
tie reached his hut at four o'clock the
next day. The bird had flown, but
the following poetry and note was
found:
l. I'm the prince of the Aztecs,
| am perfection at robbing a store,
have a stake left me by Wells
Fargo,
And before long l will have more.
2. On trains / have made good
haul,
Stages are things I hate,
My losses are always small,
Ny profits exceedingly great.
8. / will say a few words for my
friends,
You see | have quite few.
And although we are at dagger's
ends,
/ would like to say "How do you do 2"
A. There are McKinnie and Larson,
Who say that robbers have no honor.
/ think in a test of manhood
They would have to stand back in a
corner.
5. There are my friends the Schus-
ters,
For whom | carry so much lead.
In the future to kill this young
rooster
They will have to aim at his head.
6. Commodore Owens says he wants
to kill me,
To me that sounds like fun.
'Tis strange he would thus try to
fill me.
The red-headed son-of-a-gun.
r. He handles a six-shooter neat
And hits rabbit every pop,
But should him and | happen TO
meet,
Wen have an old fashioned Arkan-
saw pop.
8. NV friends I will have to leave