Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-01-22

EQlJOT ) LOIe. george bIdVlll, IllCl1-
toned in the story printed 16 years
ago. died about nine years ago. After
leaving here he located for timf
at Guaymas, where he was resident
for a period, but he later returned
to Tombstone and after his health
failed came to Douglas and his death
occurred in this city at the home Of
his daughter. Mrs. Joe Henderson
then residing in the 800 block or
Sixth street. Mrs. Hendersons hus-
band is in the Southern Pacifil
service and he has since been trans
ferred to Tombstone His rifle which
did service in those exciting times
is now owned by a Douglas man.
Douglas Dispatch, January "a, 1912
The visit of George Bravin, city
marshal of Tombstone, recalls
some of the famous deeds of out
lawry in southern Arizona, he
having been connected with many
or them on the side of the law,
during his 20 years service as
peSce officer. Bravin was Il
deputy sheriff Of Cochise county
in charge of the Tombstone ioil
on April I, 1900, when the no
torious Billy Stiles shot him ant!
emptied the bastile CT all TIL
prisoners inclined to leave throuqN
Jail delivery. 1t is the finality
of the so-called Stiles-Alccrd
gang that is recalled by Bravin's
visit, for all of them nave left
the country and most of them
are dead. The rest, SO far as
known, are now engaged in peace
full pursuits. There have been so
many stories of the fate OF this
one and that one that there
is news interest in checking up
on all of them and wiping the 4
slate.
The Stiles-Alvord gang was the
most notorious of any that has.
operated in Arizona in compara-
lively recent years. Though the
various members of it committed
numerous depredations of less
serious character, their chief
claim to history is based on the
events connected with two train
robberies, one at Cochise station
on the Southern Pacific railroad
in 1899, and the other on the
Benson -Nogales road at Fairbank
not long afterward. A feature of
the case is that nearly all the
members of the gang at one time
or another served as officers OF
the law, constables, deputy sher-
ifs, etc. Not all the same men
participated in the holdups. but
some Of them did and we're all
affiliated with the same outlaw
class
Matt Burts, Louis Owen and
Bob owen are, now supposed TO
be living in New Mexico, and so
far as definitely known are the
only men of the old crowd VINO
are alive and in the United States.
The Owen brothers served six
year sentences, less good time,
and left The country. 1t. is not
recalled how Burts got out of his
difficulties, but it is sufficient to
know that he did. Bravo Juan,
a half breed Mexican, whose real
name was Tom Yost, was a mem
ber of the gang and in the
Tombstone jail at the time of
the delivery. He went to Mexico
and has never been heard of
since.
1t is believed the train robbery
at Cochise station was planned
by Matt Burts and Billy Stiles,
who were constables or deputy
constables at the time, Alvord and
William Downing being stool
pigeons, and other accomplices no
doubt participating. In the Fair
bank robbery a few miles south
of Benson, the participants were
Bob Brown, Louis Brown, Bob
Owen, Bravo Juan, Louis and
Three Fingered Jack Dunlap.
Some years later after he had
gotten out of his train robbery
complications, William Downing
got into more trouble and was
killed at Wilcox by Billy Speed.
a member of the Arizona rangers.
Downing had formerly lived in
Texas and it is SAID his right
name was Billy Jackson, and that
he had been member OF the
sam Bass gang of outlaws IN
that state. It was George BraVln