The St. Johns Herald, 1899

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD February 4, 1899

Sheriff Beeler reports five new cases of small pox in Las Tuces, and a strict quarantine has been ordered against that place.

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD March 18, 1899
"RED" PIPKIN IN JAIL

Captured in Utah, Held in Nevada and Will Soon be at Los Lunas

An Associated Press telegram published in the Denver papers but which was not sent to the actual "battle-ground" of "Red" Pipkin, who with "Bronco Bill" and Bill Johnson, held up the Santa Fe Pacific train at Grant Station, N.M., March 29, 1898, and was captured at Moab Utah, last Tuesday by Sheriff Bott, was placed in jail at this place today along with the robbers who held up the Southern Pacific trail at Humbolt, Nev., on the 14th of last July. Pipkin admits his identity and signed a paper waving a requisition. He was the leader of another gang that made a second attempt to hold up a train at the same place, but was beaten off by the guards. July 29, 1898, a posse consisting of E.J.Thacker, J.D.Milton and George Scarborough met Pipkin, "Bronco Bill" and Bill Johnson at Black River Arizona. A fight took place resulting in the death of the latter two. Pipkin had his horse shot from under him, but escaped and has been at large ever since. Detective Thacker will take Pipkin to Los Lunas, N.M. for arraignment. The dispatch above states that "Bronco Bill" was killed, which is a mistake and the mistake is to be regretted for the reprobate ought to have been killed. He was wounded and his trail will result in considerable expense to the Territory. Johnson, however, was shot and killed, "Bronco Bill" receiving very bad shot wounds.--ALBUQUERQUE DAILY CITIZEN.

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD April 8, 1899

RED PIPKIN HELD

A Dispatch to the GLOBE-DEMOCRAT from Albuquerque says: "Dan Pipkin commonly known as "Red" Pipkin, who was arrested in Moab, Utah, on March 12, charged with being associated with Bill Johnson and "Bronco Bill" in holding up the Santa Fe train at Grants, N.M. March the 20, 1898, was brought to this city last Saturday night
and had his preliminary hearing before the United States Commissioners here this afternoon. Pipkin waived examination and was bound over to the United States Grand Jury of this district on the charge of obstructing the mails, he was places under $2,500 bond, which he failed to furnish. In an interview Pipkin absolutely denied that he had anything to do with the holdup, and stated that he is confident he can prove an alibi at his trial as he was in Graham County, Arizona at the time of the holdup occurred.

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD June 10, 1899

A preliminary court was held last Thursday--before which Clay Hunter and a Mr. Wilson appeared on a charge of horse stealing--but they waived an examination and were turned over to the Sheriff for safe keeping until court mets in October.

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD LOCAL NEWS OF THE WEEK June 10, 1899

Sheriff Beeler returned from Springerville Wednesday with a Mexican prisoner, charged with stealing a saddle and Windchester of J.T.Campbell. Mr. Beeler is a man suited for the position he holds and is doing some good work in hunting the outlaws down that have raided Apache County for several years past.

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD June 17, 1899

Stolen horses found in the possession of Frank Wilson and Clay Hunter:
One bay horse, branded Cross L on left thigh.
One brown mare, branded H Cross on right shoulder.
One Sorral horse, branded N with a bar through it on left thigh.
One Sorral horse, branded Diamond with a bar through it and a quarter circle above it, on the left thigh.
One gray horse, brand LU on left shoulder.
Out of the sixteen head that were found in the possession of above named parties all have been claimed with the exception of two that died and the five head mentioned above. Anyone who is the owner of the above described horses can get same by calling on Sheriff Beeler, who has the horses in his charge.

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD July 8, 1899

Tuesday: Sheriff Beeler returned from Springerville with a man implicated in cattle stealing. But another man whom Mr, Beeler had under guard, knocked the guards down and ran away. His name is Climax, and he took his departure so suddenly that he neglected his toilet considerably, in fact, he is said to been in almost primitive Adamic attire. But notwithstanding his light garb, he made good his escape.

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD July 29, 1899

Sheriff Beeler started to Graham County the early part of the week with a prisoner. J.D.Murray of Springerville accompanied him, and they expect to bring a distinguished boarder for Jailor Sharp, with them when they return.

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD August 12, 1899

SHERIFF BEELER

Raised in Apache County, The World Outside Seems Strange To Him.

Yesterday Sheriff Beeler of Apache County spent a greater portion of the day in the office of the sheriff of this county, he having come down from his inland mountain home to bring an insane man to the Territorial Asylum. He left again last night to appear at Solomonville as a witness in the case of the Territory against Climax Jim, charged with defacing the brand of the Chiracuaha Cattle Company.

Sheriff Beeler first arrested Climax Jim and then turned him over to the guards at Springerville, July 8. Jim seized an early opportunity of knocking down the guards and escaped, clothed only in stockings and drawers. Beeler was notified and he again took Jim's trail, capturing him at a place called the Butcher Shop, near Morenci, and then escorting him to Solomonville. He says that Jim's real name is not known, although he goes sometime by the name of James Thomas and sometimes Rufus Nephews. The name "Climax Jim" was fastened upon him because of his inordinate fondness for and use of Climax tobacco, all of which latter if known to the tobacco, manufactures would give Jim an advertisement on their boxes.

Jim is known to have come from the East about six years ago, and it is also known that he has spent the most of that time in jail. Sheriff Beeler is a very interesting man to listen to. He innocently confesses his ignorance of city or town ways of life and says that he is not at all partial to cars. "You can start in the cars," he remarked, "and let me get astride my horse and I'll beat you into Solomonville, and that's 330 miles." "It makes me mad to get to a station and have the cars stop and wait to take on and put off a lot of track, and at such times I say to myself that I will never waste time on the railroad again.' "Now," said the Sheriff, "when I come into town, even while I am here, as I swing along Street everybody looks at me as much as to say, there's a fellow from the mountains. But I don't care for that. We do the same thing when town fellows come up our way. I tell you we watch them close." It is no wonder that people look at Sheriff Beeler when he comes to town. He is worth looking at, and if a man actually hungered for a real live Forth of July scrape to last to a finish, he might select Beeler and feel certain that he would have no chance to tell about a disappointment afterwards--that is, if the ability remained to speak about it at all. It should not be misunderstood that Sheriff Beeler looks like a scrapping man. Just the contrary. He looks like a mild, easy-going individual and one who would live many years before seeking trouble. He is gentlemanly and intelligent, and altogether conveys the impression that he is a splendid good fellow to tie to either peace or war.--PHOENIX GAZETTE.

Messrs. Pete and Henry Thompson were brought in a few days ago by Sheriff Beeler and lodged in the County Cooler. The boys are charged with having altered certain ear marks of the Colorado and Arizona Sheep Company's sheep. Sheriff Beeler and Deputy Frank Ruiz are now absent subpoenaing witnesses for the defense. The examining trial is set for Monday. August 28th, at 10 o'clock, and Messrs. Conklin and Everhart and several other were present as witnesses for prosecution, but the case was postponed at the instance of the defense. Sheepmen all say there has been a leak in sheep somewhere for a long time and whether or not these parties are guilty, it is a fact that somebody has been making inroads on the sheep industry. This is a case in which the A.W.G.A. will have a chance to show their influence, and demonstrate some of the advantages of an association.

THE ST. JOHNS HERALD LOCAL NEWS OF THE WEEK September 2, 1899

The trial of the Thompson boys, on Monday at 10 o'clock elicited a great deal of interest. The Court-room was well filled by spectators when the Court entered. Mr. Barth was sworn as interpretor, after Mr. Robinson, the first witness had testified for the prosecution. Teofilo Fobina was the next on the stand. His evidence was emphatic and for the most part consistent. Francisco Ansures was next examined. He was firm and unmovable in his statements. The prosecution then turned the case over to the defendant, who introduced the following witnesses to prove an alibi; viz: James Thompson, W.C.Burvill, Peter Slaughter, James Daniels and L.H. Harris. After the examination of the witnesses, Prosecuting Attorney Ruiz briefly stated the Territory case and cited law to substantiate his case. Dr. Rudd then made a long and eloquent plea for the boys, after which Attorney Ruiz made a brief but pointed reply. Justice Christensen ordered that the boys be held to seek the action of the Grand Jury in a bond of $350 which they gave.

M. F. MacBride, the well known cattleman, of the Black River country came riding into Solomonville last Sunday evening late, in such a state of disorder his acquaintances failed to recognize him. When these acquaintances were made aware of his idenity, they were undecided as to whether he had been chewed up by a bear or mixed up with a Kansas cyclone. Some suggested that he had perhaps fell into a trashing machine. His eyes were bruised, his hands cut in many places, his "jumper" clung to his body in threads, in the left shoulder was a severe stab wound and a knife slash extended from his right shoulder blade to the hip, only cutting the skin, but cutting that the entire distance. Dr. A. F. Bonnis dressed MacBride's many wounds when it was learned what was the trouble. On Saturday last MacBride and Monte Slaughter met at a cow camp on the Double Circle range. Between these men had been some previous enmity and a quarrel and a fight was soon in progress. Mr. MacBride says Slaughter first tried to kill him with a six-shooter which he was wrenching from his hand when a bystander interfered and took the gun. Then Slaughter secured a rock which Mac was about to take from him when the bystander again interfered. Then Slaughter pulled a long-bladed pocket knife and went to work on Mac with that, but during the cutting the bystander failed to interfer. Warrants were sworn out by MacBride for Montie Slaughter, his brother and Allen Chitty. Deputy Sheriff Tom Bell left on Wednesday to serve the warrants. In addition to prosecuting Montie Slaughter vigorously for the assault on him, MacBride declares his intention to have several others placed under a peace bond.--Arizona Bulletin.

M. F. MacBride came into Solomonville last Sunday evening from Eagle Creek pretty badly cut up and swore out warrants against Arthur Slaughter, Allen Chitty and Monte Slaughter, charging them with attempted murder. This is supposed to have grown out of the arrest of Climax Jim.--Graham Guardian.