December 8, 1883

Contemporary Newspaper clippings from the Arizona Weekly Citizen 1883-84

The Bisbee Massacre

Initial Report of the Bisbee Massacre

Tonbstone Dec. 10.

     About 11:30 o’clock last night a couple of couriers reached Tombstone from Bisbee with news of an appalling and bloody tragedy enacted in that place a few hours previous. Tho names of the parties bringing the news are Wm. Wallace and
James Kregman. From the former was gathered the following details of the
crime which tor coolness and audacity, coupled with reckless and bloody disregard of human life has no parallel in Arizona.
     Shortly after seven o’clock a party of five men, mounted and armed, rode into
town, and when within, a hundred yards or so or the store ua. a. uosicnnua
dismounted, leaving their horses in charge of one of their number, boldly
walked up to the store mentioned. Two of the party entered the store and the
others remained on the outside. Going up to n clerk, one of the robbers demanded the money in the safe, accompanying the demand with the remark to
“Be damned quick about it” After getting the money he went into the rear
room, where Castaneda was lying sick, and jerking him roughly from the bod
said, “where is your money?”
     Castaneda replied that it was in the safe. The robber, who was evidently
posted, walked to the bed and turning down a pillow, took from under it a
sack containing about 1,000. The whole amount procured y the robbers
will not exceed $3,000. While two men were robbing the store, the balance of
the gang began shooting indiscriminately at every person in sight.
     One story is they first warned parties to get off the street before firing; this however is denied. The first intimation citizens had of what was going on was the sound of rifle shots; desultory at first, but rapidly resolving into a regular fusillade. Wonder-struck at the sound, they hastened to the scene, and saw the party of men
mentioned, mount their horses and deliberately rode off in the direction of
the way in which they came; -but a minute elapsed however, before it was
known from the reports of rifle heard, were not echoes of bravado, but the
death knell of human beings. The parties killed outright are J. C. Tappenierr, assayer at the Copper Queen mine, and D. T. Smith, a well-known rancher on the San Pedro (also a Cochise County Deputy Sheriff) who had also business interests in Bisbee. In addition to these are J. A. Nolly (or Knolly), better known by the sobriquet of “Tex.,” who is engaged in the lumber business, who was shot in the breast receiving a wound from which he cannot recover; Mrs. Robert Roberts, keeper of a boarding house, received a wound in the spine which will undoubtedly cause her death. Tappenier and Smith were both shot in the head and killed instantly; the former failing in the Bon Ton saloon, and Smith falling a short distance from hitf
     Mrs. Roberts, hearing the noise of firing, came to the door of her house, and
received her death wound while looking in the direction from which the shots
came. Nolly met his fate in about the same manner.’ All parties who were in
the immediate vicinity of Castaneda’s store were assassinated in a spirit of
pure demoniacal and fiendish murder.
     The entire transaction occurred in the space of five minutes. Reports of rifles
followed by the immediate departure of the bandits, and before the citizens could realize the danger that was upon them the band rode far out of the camp. A hurried consultation resolved, that messengers should be dispatched to the sheriff’s office and a posse organized to go in pursuit, as soon as light would permit the following of the trail.

     Immediately upon the reception of the news, Under Sheriff Wallace dispatched a Deputy Sheriff Bob Hatch to the scene, who will head the pursuing party. In addition, he organized a party under the leadership of Deputy S. Bryant and sent them also. The prevalent theory is the outrages mentioned were committed by a gang who recently robbed the Southern Pacific train at Gage Station.

Tombstone, Deo. 10.

     After leaving Bisbee the robbers rode down to a milk ranch eight miles where they watered their horses and were heard joking as to who should wear a couple of gold
watches taken at Castaneda’s store. The trail was struck here and followed to
near Soldiers’ Hole where it split. Deputy Sheriff S. Bryant and posse are now
out.

     The amount taken from Castaneda’s will not exceed $3,000, about half of
which was taken from under the head of Castaneda who was lying in bed sick
in the rear room. Mrs. Roberts died a few hours after being shot. Nolly was
alive at last accounts. The body of D.T. Smith was brought here and the
funeral is now in progress.
     Later. A messenger has just arrived
who states that Nolly has since died.

LINK: Arizona Weekly Ciotizen: Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, December 15, 1883, Image 1 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress (loc.gov)

Last of the Bisbee Murderers

STORY of the tragedy.
     A history of the tragedy at Bisbee
Some months ago, and none other to equal its cool and deliberate arrangements and final devilish consummation, can be found in the annals of the white citizens of Arizona, was finished today. It is an oft-repeated story, but
upon the death of the remaining five of the perpetrators, the narrative in concise
form is worth republishing.
     Along in last November, six men, John Heath, O. W. Sample, Wm. Delaney,
Dan. Dowd, John Kelly and Tex Howard were in and about Clifton. They
were men without regular occupation, and wore generally considered bad in example if not in deed. On the morning of the 27th of November, Heath, an old saloon keeper at Clifton, went to a saloon opposite n residence which ho said he had purchased, and handing the proprietor a key, asserted:
     ” That is my home across the street, and I expect my wife here in a few days.
I am going out with the boys, to be gone a short time. When I come back I will
have plenty of money, and don’t you forget it”

THE PLOT:
     Heath and Tex Howard left Clifton the same day together. According to Heath’s own evidence, he ran across Sample, Dowd and Kelly, out of Clifton, some ten or fifteen miles. They journeyed to Buckle’s ranch. There they met Wm. Delaney, who at that time was under the name of Johnson. They knew him to be escaping from Clifton for having killed three men in a saloon brawl, a few
months previous. Having become desperate, he was only too glad to join
the gang. While at Buckle’s they conspired to take in Bisbee. It was understood, after the preliminary arrangements wero made, that Tex and Heath should proceed to that town first and gather points. The other four men wero to remain at Buckle’s camp, or somewhere in the near vicinity. Heath guaranteed to pay all the expenses of the crowd.
     Heath and Tex then went to Bisbee, and put up at the same hotel, and fed
their horses at the same corral. Heath, upon arriving there, pretended to be
looking for a business opening. After some apparent investigation he entered
into partnership with a man by the name of Wade. They were to start a
dance ball. Heath made strenuous effort to open it by the 8th of December.
On that day the Copper Queen Mining Company paid the monthly wages of the
men they had employed. It was customary at that time and for a long time
previous, for the general merchandise and banking firm of Castaneda & Co., of
Bisbee, to cash the checks of the minors. These papers were drawn on San Francisco. and of course, the above firm demanded a discount for profit.
     Just before pay day Castaneda & Co. placed a sufficient sum in hard money
in their safe to meet these profitable demands. This Tex and Heath learned
and upon this information they acted. Tex was immediately dispatched to
Buckle’s ranch, 35 miles distant, to tell the others to be on hand on December
8th, and that they were expected to take in the store of Castanega & Co.
     Heath only opened the dance hall to draw the crowds of hard working miners
from the streets, so that his colleagues in crime, summoned by him from the
ranch, could accomplish their purpose without much molestation.
When Tex Howard was dispatched upon his errand to Buckle’s ranch, it was
his intention, pursuant to orders from Heath, to continue his journey to Clifton, where he was to remain until the theft and murders, if necessary, had
been accomplished, and then from that point to give succor, in the way of provisions and assistance to the other participants, when they escaped from Bisbee. It was agreed that Heath should remain in his temporary saloon, and the
day after to enter into presumably active search for the criminals. He believed that he had the cunning to lead the authorities from the right track of the fugitives and thereby allow the latter to get to a place of safety.
     However, Tex, before leaving Bisbee, heard that Deputy Sheriff Daniels had
said that he suspected Tex of being one of the Gage tram robbers. This made
Tex mad, and he swore he would return to the town with the gang and make
Daniels suffer by taking a hand in the Bisbee onslaught.
     They left the camp in a body, and stopped on the fatal morning of December 7th three miles from Bisbee. People passing at the time definitely identified
Kelly and Dowd, during their trial, as being in the camp.

ARRANGING THE BATTLE.
     Tex Howard, as agent for Heath, arranged the plans that were carried out
that night. At 7 o’clock of the evening of the 8tb, five of as bad characters as
wore ever known to border civilization rode along up the main street of Bis
bee.
     According to the programme Kelly, Tex Howard, and Sample entered Castaneda’s store, leaving Dowd and Delaney outside, it was understood that the latter two were to order every person passing in close proximity to the store to enter it. When they had taken their agreed positions, a scene occurred which
has few parallels in the history of frontier fatalities.
     Inside the store stood Tex Howard with a revolver in each hand, and compelling the few customers he found there to keep their hands above their
heads and utter not a word. Every man or woman were forced into the room by
Dowd and Delaney, and were obliged to acquiesce to Howard s demands or suffer death. In the meantime, Kelly had ordered the clerk of the store to open
the safe. He took all the cash therein found. Sample in the same few moments
was robbing Castaneda who, lying sick in a back room, was unable to do-
fond himself.

THE FOUR. KILLED.
     While the last mentioned three men were holding at bay a dozen persons in
the building and robbing the premises. The work oi death was proceeding without Delaney seemed bent upon killing somebody, and kept up a continual
shooting. The first fatal ball struck Deputy Sheriff I. D. Smith, who approaching the two men announced his office and ordered them to keep the peace. This ball it has been proven, was fired by Dowd. Johnny Tappenier and a man named Knolly were also shot dead for not wishing to enter the store, as directed. Mrs. Robert J, who was watching the terrible scene, from the doorway
across the street, was struck dead by a stray bullet. She was eight months
with child.
     The two men in the store accomplished their part of the business in a few minutes, and passing out, mounted horses, and with the rest oi the gang rapidly
left town, firing indiscriminately as they went.

SMILING HEATH.
Heath, the man who planned the murder and robbery, during the exciting
time stood smiling behind the bar of his dance hall, endeavoring by his generous
hospitality to keep all in who were there, and draw all he could from the streets.

THEIR CAPTURE.
     Leaving Bisbee with only about 3.000 anu some jewelry, the gang proceeded
eastward till they reached Soldier’s Hole. Here they divided their booty. Dowd
and Delaney going into Sonora, and Howard, Kelly, and Sample turning to
the north, bound for Clifton.
     A sheriff’s posse under Deputy Daniels followed their trail thus far, guided
by Heath and Frost The two latter here left the posse and came to Tombstone, where they were arrested on suspicion. Frost was discharged on examination.
Passing through the Chiricahua Mountains they were discovered in camp near
Galeyville about three days after the raid, and given chase by U. S. Deputy
Marshal Saunders, of Deming. In his posse were J. 31. Wilkins and A. Guzman, of this city, who happened to be in Galeyville on business at the time. The
three robbers escaped in a snow storm. Saunders mistook them for the train
robbers.
     Continuing their way north they left Kelly at the railroad, who stole a ride
to Deming on a freight train. Immediately on his arrival he was arrested on
the supposition of being a train robber, but was subsequently turned over to
Sheriff Ward on December 11th.
     Sample and Howard, on their arrival at Clifton, told their mistresses the
whole story of the Bisbee raid, and showed their spoils. They left Clifton,
and camped in a box canyon about forty miles above Clifton where they were
captured by a Sheriff’s posse on December 17th, under deputies Hovey and
Hill.
     When Dowd and Delaney left their three companions at Soldier’s Hole,
they turned into Sonora, and traveled together as far south as Bavispe. Here
Delaney left Dowd, and went to Magdalena where he was recognized. He pretended to be seeking work, and was directed to Minas Prietas, where so
many Total Wreck miners are at work. The Superintendent was instructed to
give him work, and thus detain him till his arrest could be made, which was effected about January 15th.
     Meanwhile Deputy Sheriff Daniels got on their track, and arrived at Bavispe
just ono hour after Dowd had left to cross the Sierra Madre for Janos. Daniels followed on alone through a perilous Indian country. Arriving at
Janos he found Dowd had just gone to Corralitos. He went there and by help
of the superintendent of the mines there arrested Dowd on New Year’s Day. He
was then driven to a station on the Mexican Central railroad called San Jose, a
distance of 110 miles from Corralitos. Here Dowd was locked in an express
car, and brought on to American soil without the formalities of red tape.

THE TRIAL.
     The prisoners were incarcerated in the Tombstone jail. On February 8th
they were indicted. All excepting Heath wero placed on trial, and on the
11th of the same month they wero convicted of murder in the first degree.
Their counsel applied for a new trial. This was denied by Judge Pinney, and
February 20th they were sentenced to death.
     Heath’s trial followed. Strangely the verdict in his case was in the second degree. He was sentenced to prison for life. This occurred on February 21. The
next morning (Washington’s birthday) he was taken from the jail by citizens
and hung to a telegraph pole.

Source: Arizona Weekly Citizen March 29, 1884

            Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, March 29, 1884, Image 2 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress (loc.gov)

JOHN HEATH
was hanged to this pole by the
CITIZENS or COCHISE COCNTY
for participation in the Bisbee Massacre as a ft oven accessory

     Tombstone, Feb. 22. Yesterday morning John Heath was sentenced to imprisonment for life for complicity in the Bisbee murders. About ten ‘minutes since his body was cut down from a telegraph pole at the edge of town, and is now at the morgue awaiting the coroner’s inquest. Shortly before 8 o’clock
about ono hundred men, principally miners from the Contention and Grand
Central mines, which had been shut down, went to the courthouse. Selecting seven of their number from Bisbee, they went to the door leading to the jail and rapped lor admittance, the remainder of the crowd staying outside. It was about the hour when breakfast is brought to the prisoners and the jailor, Billy Ward, thinking it was a man with food, opened the door without looking to see who his visitors were.

     Instantly he was covered with weapons, and a demand was made of him for the keys of the jail. Seeing resistance was useless he quietly gave them up and a party proceeded to enter Heath’s a cell, and unshackling him and brought him into the corridor of the jail. It was the first intention to hang him to the banister of the stairs leading to the second story, but this plan was abandoned and the crowd started
for the telegraph line at the lower edge of town. At the door of the court house
they were met by Sheriff Ward, who throwing up bis hands, exclaimed with
show of authority, “Stop this! You have got to stop this right here!” Before he
could realize what had happened he was picked up and thrown down the
steps, and the crowd proceeded with the prisoner down Toughnut Street until
reaching a certain place selected for the execution. The trip from jail to the
point mentioned was made on a run, Heath keeping in the lead.

     Arriving at the place Heath pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and sai,. “Boys, you are hanging on innocent man, and you will find it out before those other men
(referring to Dowd and pals sentenced to be hanged on the 28th of March) are
hung. Tie this handkerchief over my eyes. I am not afraid to die. l have ono favor to ask, that you will not mutilate my body by shooting into it after I am hung.” His eyes were bandaged as desired, and in a moment bis body was dangling on the end of a
rope from the cross bar on the telegraph pole. Heath throughout showed great
nerve, and had it not been for the absolute certainty of bis guilt his life
would probably have been spared. No attempt was made to molest the other
prisoners under sentence of death, the community waiting to see them legally
executed. If not disposed of in this way. they will follow the same road just
travelled by Heath.

 Heath’s Hanging
     The coroner’s jury found verdict
that Heath came to his death in Tombstone, on the 22d of February. 1884,from the effects of Emphysema of the lungs, which might have been and
probably was caused by strangulation, self-inflicted or otherwise, as in accordance with the medical evidence.
     A placard was posted on the telegraph pole where Heath was found suspended
and dead, bearing in following inscription:

JOHN HEATH

Was hanged to this pole by the

CITIZENS OF COCHISE COUNTY

For participation in the Bisbee Massacre

As a proved accessory

At 8:20 A.M. FEBRUARY 22, 1884

[Washington’s Birthday]

Source : Arizona Weekly Citizen  March 1, 1884

Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, March 01, 1884, Image 1 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress (loc.gov)

   Special to the Citizen. 

     TOMBSTONE, March 28.–At eighteen minutes past one to-day the Bisbee murderers paid the penalty of their crime by death. Fully two thousand witnessed the execution, one-half within the jail yard and the others on house-tops in the vicinity.

     The doomed men slept well last-night and arose this morning in apparently good spirit- They laughed and joked with those admitted to see though noticeably paler then u v. (sic). The morning was occupied in shaving and dressing them; then the baptism of Howard and Sample and with their spiritual advisors. Cashman was constantly with them.
     Though talkative they told no secrets. The death warrant was read within the
jail by Sheriff Ward by request of the prisoners.
     At one o’clock precisely they were led to the scaffold, neither shacked or handcuffed. Not one of them showed the slightest symptoms of fear, and when
asked what they had to say Sample spoke first. He asserted he was an innocent man; that he wanted a Christian burial, and further that Heath was innocent. Howard and Dowd merely approved his remarks. Delaney added that although in the last stage .of life if he had had a fair trial he would not have been hanged. Kelly expressed the wish to have Father Gallaher care for his remains.
     These remarks only occupied three minutes, after that the drop fell. All
but Dowd died without a struggle. The latter’s body was convulsed for a couple
of minutes. The physicians declared all dead at 1:26; the best of order prevailed
and immediately after he announcement of death the crowd quickly dispersed. Of the five men Delaney was the coolest; Dowd was very pale and said little, although, while the rope was being put around his neck turned to the deputy saying, “pull that tight,” but just as the cap was put over their faces all cried out: “Good bye.” Before leaving the jail, they told the reporter they forgave all and hoped everybody would forgive them.

View of the dDead Bodies.
Special to the Citizen.
     TOMBSTONE, March 28- By two o’clock the bodies had been cut down and
conveyed to the morgue where hundreds are now thronging to obtain a view of
the dead faces. The necks of all are broken but Dowd’s. He was strangled. There will be no inquest and tomorrow the remains will be turned over to the Catholic church for burial.
Link: Arizona Weekly Citizen: March 29, 1884

         Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, March 29, 1884, Image 2 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress (loc.gov)

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