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Show An 1870 drama Tike (Captor Of A Desperado Bv Margaret Van Xoy IWilt--t Writer The tall man wearily reigned li is team to a halt. Dirt swirled lip from the parched earth and settled on the horses' sweat stained legs as the man surveyed the oasis-lik- appearance of the tiny e hamlet still a few miles in the distance. From his pocket he drew a red wiping the dost from his face and lian-cliii- then withdrew from inside his coat a long document, tapping it thoughtfully against the palm of his other hand. Ilie man was deputy Sheriff Joseph F. Carrigan of the Nevada Territory. The document he held was a warrant for the arrest of one Alliert Haws. A letter accouiMnying the warrant directed him to the sheriff of the county into whose possession he was to give the warrant and the responsibility for capturing the desH'rado. lint Carrigan had decided against following these orders. There was the little niatter of a $1300 reward posted on the mans head, plus the minor that the people of this particular territory were none too friendly to outsiders and might liand together to protect the criminal. Besides, Haws was a coward," and Carrigan did not want any help to take him; he could take him himself. Why should he share the glory? Cun Smoke Sound like a scenario for Cun Smoke? It certainly could lie, for today's television and movies seem to lie in an ongoing competition as to who can write the most violent episodes with a new and novel chase scene for each adventure. Writers grind out episode after episode, wracking their brains to top last week's adventurous fare. Actually, the old axiom, Truth is stranger than fiction prevails, and if our writers would do a little research into history, they would find that real life plots far surpass many of their pale attempts at creativity. In truth. Deputy Sheriff Carrigan played his part in a true life adventure of the old west that took place right here in Grantsville in 1870. Reported in the Deseret News, and written up in John Alexander Bevan's An Early History of Tooele, it caused a stir in those days of hardy pioneer settlers but was lost and forgotten among the pages of history until it was dug up and resurrected by Alma A. Gardner in his Founding and Development of Crantsville City, in 1959. Writing in the newspaper style of the day, our reporter paints for his readers all the dramatics of the event (plus a bit p scenarmore). He gives us a io which keeps us breathlessly in the picture. Dastardly Deeds Almost as interesting as the incident step-by-ste- itself is that long-ag- o style, for news-write- rs of the day thought nothing of editorializing as they went along, with expressions such as dastardly deeds, treacherous fellow, poor little tykes body - which would never be allowed in todays news pages. Writing in those days was characterized by a strange mixture of dramatics and understatement, building up to the climax instead of giving the meat of the story in the first few paragraphs. It is thus that those early-da- y writers presented the story of the capture of the desperado Alliert H. Haws. Crantsville of L'.S. Deputy Marshal for of the county, Thomas Tanner, of the ocItah territory, William R. Storey, who currence and to raise a posse of men to was accompanied by Mr. Joseph T. Join in the search. I'ltsuccessful Search Carrigan. dcuty sheriff of Nevada. Hie lawmen had in their possession a Meanwhile, Mr. Carrigan and those warrant for the arrest of ADieit II. Ilawi with him prosecuted the search in the for a murder committed by him in Nedirection in which they started. . . Rut vada the previous fall. they were unsuccessful. The News account goes on to say. It appears that after flaws rode off from Grantsville armed with two revolvers of his own, the revolver he had snatched from Mr. Carrigan's hand, and the one he had taken from his murdered victim, Mr. Storey, he doubled on his own track and came Itack to Sooth Willow Creek, a distance of not more. . . than six or seven miles from Crantsville. He called at the home of a relative of his wife, and stopped the night there. Haws told the man, who was there alone with his wife and children, that he had killed a man, and expected they would be after him, adding that he would rather Ire shot than hung. He was determined to sell his life as dearly I'pon arriving they found him in the cow yard, and after mutual salutations, they informed him of their errand. Storey pulled from his pocket and commenced reading the warrant, while Carrigan drew a revolver, cocked it and leveled it at the Ixxly of Haws. The latter, perceiving the desperate nature of the situation, called to his wife to bring his pistols, which for the moment attracted the attention of Carrigan when Haws made a spring, grablied the pistol which the former has leveled at him. Carrigan fired, the liall grazing the alxlomen of the prisoner, but the latter succeeded in wrenching it from the grasp of Carrigan, and fired two shots at Storey - causing his death instantly; one lall lodging in his left breast, the other in his left arm. Shot Twice Carrigan ran, but was shot at twice by Haws, neither shot taking effect, though one of them it is said, passed under his arm and through his coat sleeve. Haws then made his escape, taking his own pistols and one each belonging to Storey and Carrigan. When alxnit a mile from the scene of the contest, he went into a house and borrowed a gun, stating that he wanted to go and shoot pose. a woman such as a man of his character might be expected His companion is to consort with. Wanted For Murder According to the same account, the incident began with the arrival in time he emerged from the creek. Captain Samuel W. Woolley and others came up. . . Captain Woolley told the men he would mil order any of them into the brush; but if they choosed sic to follow, they could do so. Brother Cooley entered the brush at one side of the creek, accompanied by Festus Sprague and a numlter of others following The killing of the cattle buyer up, and Brother Woolley started in on the other side, accoinwnied by Etnanual brought Haws total murders to four, inRaglry and others. cluding the man he had killed in Nevada, as far as the local lawmen of the day knew. Says Bevan, The I tody of Haws was sent to Salt Lake City and turned over to the to lie dissected. It was said by one of them that the Ixxly had the Ax-tor- s appearance of being one of the most nerve that they had ever handled. Thus ended the exciting story of the capture and killing of one Alltert Haws, who unlike Jesse James, the Younger Brothers, Butch Cassidy and Sundance never made the Outlaw Hall of Fame. Recounted the News: "Deputy Sheriff Carrigan's conduct in this dreadful transaction exposes him to severe ani Recounted the News ..in an understatement of the time, After receiving such a communication, it might Ire supposed that the sleep of an ordinary man under such circumstances, and with such murderer in a desperate and his domicile would not be very prowell-arme- d found. . . Before bedding down for the night Haws had met a herd Iroy and had given him a message to give his wife, telling her to meet him halfway Iretween the mill and Crantsville. Instead, the boy gave the message to Haw's stepson, who afterward told his brother that his mother was going to meet Haws up in the canyon. According to the News, the brother, unwilling to keep the murderer's secret, told what he had heard. The Constable immediately placed a posse of men on guard around Haws house, to and raised prevent all communication, another posse, on horseback, and sent them up the canyon. A Shrewd Contrivance When it was light enough to discern objects, they saw a horse tied at one comer of the house, and they felt sure the man they were after was inside. But they did not dare to make a demonstration against the house, as it contained a woman and several children, whose lives would be imperilled sic by an attack, and it was well understood that if Haws was captured, it would lie after a hard fight. rabbits. The following day the News added somewhat to the account of the attempted arrest of Haws: We stated yesterday that Mr. Storey was reading the writ to him when he was shot. We are informed that this was not the case. Mr. Carrigan and he both drew their pistols and presented them at Haws, who was in his shirt sleeves and unarmed. He was told to throw up his arms and did so. Mr. Storey drew the handcuffs, and was in the act of fastening them on one of his wrists, when Haws said: Gentlemen you have got me; let me get some things before you take me off, or words to that effect, shaking off the irons at the same time, before they had snapped, and then seizing Carrigan s pistol as described yesterday. Mr. Storey fired twice at him before he died. In his account, Bevan adds: Robert T. Brown was milking a cow near-b- y and Haws said to him If I had had Jim (meaning his horse) I would have got the other one. He then went into the house, got something to eat, saddled his horse, took his own and the Marshals pistols the west mounand rode away tains. According to Bevan, a man named Alfred Haws came to Grantsville about the year 1869, of whom it was said that he had killed a man out there through some trouble with Haws wife. The story goes that he was now living with another woman whom he later married. The dramatic May 3, 1870 account in the Deseret News describes the criminal Haws character was in these words: written in his face. He had the look of a desperado. Apparently a small man, he was powerfully built, and was as active as a cat, and his frame was a mass of lxine and muscle. In Grantsville, during the short time he has resided there, he was shunned by the citizens, who viewed him as a man capable of committing any deed, however desperate, that might suit his pur- ixrt find any. By the as possible. . . . rj'J , He happened to look out the window and saw the men in the distance, and uttered an exclamation that they were after him. Slipping out of the house, he succeeded in bringing his horse in front of the door, where he could sada shrewd dle it without danger contrivance, as he knew they would not shoot for fear of hitting some of the family. No sooner was he saddled than he struck spurs to his horse and rode off up the canyon followed by the men. In this case, Bevans account is just as dramatic: He went out to his horse, which was tied to the corner of the house, jumped into the saddle, and started his horse on the dead run, at the same time reaching under the horses belly and cinching the saddle. . . We continue with the News account of what happened next: They tried one e gun upon him; but the ball missed him. For nearly three miles the race continued. Two of the men, better mounted than the others, gained upon him, and he turned his horse with the intention of riding down the ridge, but finding it too steep, he abandoned his horse and undertook to run down. In doing so, he lost his balance and did not recover his footing until he reached the bottom. He then disappeared in the -- (Sprague) stood, he must have been drawing his gun to shoot from his left shoulder, and had his right side toward Haws. He fired his gun, but the muzzle dropping as he was hit, his bullet fell short of his mark. Cooley attempted to fire his gun, but it only snapped, and having nothing better at hand, comReturns Fire The next few moments were tense and exciting according to both Bevan and the News. When the men on the other side of the creek heard the pistol fire, they knew Haws had shot, for all the other men had guns. Almost simultaneously with Haws shots, Emanual Bagley, on the other side of the creek, caught sight of him and fired, hitting him in the side. Haws returned the fire - four shots but his last three were fired at random, for Bagleys bullet had spoiled his aim. In a few minutes he was riddled with bullets, reported the News, one fired by Ethan Barrus, breaking his neck. Not even a sound, nor even a groan, escaped him, continued the dramatic report. When they rushed in on him, they saw a revolver tied to his belt. William Averill seized this to jerk it off; and in doing so, the pistol went off, the ball passing through Averills hand,. . . coming out of his wrist, and striking a stranger from Montana, who was at Crantsville to buy cattle and had volunteered to help capture Haws, in the side a few inches above the hip. The ball remained in him and his bleeding was internal. Carrigan and Haws both found that the people of Crantsville were law abidis ing. Said the News. "Mr. Carrigan prothat time satisfied this capturing by bably desperadoes is not so easy a business as he thought it to be, and that the citizens of Utah are as willing to risk their lives in maintaining the supremacy of the laws as from Nevada. . . even a deputy-sherif- f And thus ends our television drama of the week. Jus Talkin . . . YOU FIND yourself yawning in the middle of an old Tyrone Power flick. . . . . . the Alka-seltzcommerer cials make you cry instead of laugh. a trap. . . with the expectation that. . . those who attempted to capture him. . . the first thing they would seize would be his pistol. It was cocked and suspended to the belt by a cord. Determined Villain Another string was fastened to the trigger which was tied to the belt further back, which was loose when the pistol hung, as it naturally would when un- not emerged. all his chances. . . Unlike those days when the children were home, and you didnt have time to dust the windowsills, now you cant See the . . . Well, it has finally happened. Another year has come and gone and with it another digit added to my sum of years: In other words, I just had a birthday. This one brought with it that magical, mythical, memorable status of J.S.C - Junior Senior Citizen. (I added the junior myself.) ITS SOMEWHAT like the windowsills. . . . . . YOU CLIMB into bed with your mate, and all you turn on is the electric blanket. . . . . . you felt encouraged when you saw Nancy in her inaugural gown - flabby arms are IN. . . . . . you suddenly realize that when you were just a chick, it felt good to have young fellows rush to open the doors, give you their seat, or hold your arm on the stairs. . . Now the young men are doing it again, but all it does is onset of puberty - you know that too young to - too old to, period in your life. Im sure I have all the symptoms recorded by the sages - some depress you. . . . . . YOU BUY a new dress because it looks warm and not for its color, cut and style. . . your daughter tells you to pull in your stomach, and you already have. . . some who tab anyone beyond 55 as over the hill, without really knowing whats on the other side. mands to know where who have gone through it, and One of them said that you Haws was true to his threat to sell Even in his life as dearly as possible. death, he was able to have the last word. The pistol had been fixed purposely as . . you find yourself with time to finish that book you started, but you cant remember where you put it. . . . . . know youre over the hill when you walk into another room to get something and by the time capture under the circumstances, a mesA comsenger was sent to Grantsville. pany of men fumed out, and proceeded up the canyon, they found those who had chased him still on guard. He had The men distributed themselves around the brush, which was extensive, and as there were too few to effect his man. . Bevan descrilies Haws reaction when he looked out the window of the saw mill . when he where he spent the night. looked out and saw Crantsville men on horses on the hills around him, he told Smith that he guessed that it was all off with him, as he did not think Crantsville men would try to capture him. . . 30 years older. menced firing rocks. touched. It will readily be perceived how dangerous this weapon would be to a person seizing it. The pistol, being cocked would go off, and, as in the case we describe, in the direction of the person clutching it. The villain was determined to kill as many as he could, and this deadfall proves that he was adept at the business and had thoroughly studied brush. boring territory, he should have done, we are morally certain that Haws could have lieen captured without loss of life. The warrant was drawn, we understand, directing the Territorial Marshal to serve it, but the Territorial Marshal never saw that document. Carrigan thought he could 'run the case himself." Added Bevan, "The White Pine sheriff was so badly frightened that he never took a hand in his capture, but went back to Nevada, a wiser if not a better Brother Cooley examined the trends as he went along, and he was coming out towards Brother Sprague, who was walking in a sort of cow path, when they came upon Haws. He mast have Ireen aware of their approach sometime before they saw him, and was prepared for them. As Sprague was drawing up his gun. Haws fired his pistol. The ball struck Sprague. . . From the position in which h'8"' -- long-rang- Back in Crantsville, confusion reigned. . . After the body of Storey had been cared for - Mr. Carrigan preferring to lay him out before starting in persuit sic of Haws - he, accompanied by Alma II. Hale, Riley Judd and others followed on his trail. Brother Hale afterwards separated from the others and rode to Tooele City to inform the Sheriff madversion and condemnation. Had he ofpersuedfsic the course, which as an ficer from Nevada coming into a neigh- Into The Brush Brother John W. Cooley proposed going into the brush and searching for him. This was a hazardous undertaking; he entered the creek and searched up and down its I tanks for tracks; but could you get there, youve forgotten what you came to get. MY CASE is a little different: I take off my coat in the kitchen and walk into the front hall to hang it in the closet. When I get to the closet I remember that I have come to hang up my coat, but Ive forgotten the coat. Anyway, in my short span of experience, I have my own list of You know youre over the hills. . You know you are over the hill when your husband gives you an electric blanket for your birthday. . . . . . YOU FINALLY decide to give up your ambition to become walker in the circus a tight-rop- e or a bellydancer at the Athenian. class . . . you go to a reunion and everybody else looks 30-ye- ar i ... . . . that same daughter youre dego- ing, what time youll be home and in addition suggests that your dress is too short. . . . . . you come home from the beauty shop sporting a fancy new hair-dand your husband says, Where have you been?. . . o, . . . you finally realize youre not going to make the jet set after all, and you settle for the Pykett set instead. . . ... you remember that there was once no time to read, paint, or travel because you were too busy doing dishes, dusting under furniture, and cleaning windows. Now theres no time to dust or clean; youre too busy reading and traveling. . . . . . after a lifetime of dieting, you think youve finally won the battle of the bulge only to find its only shifted. . . As a friend said upon retum-in- g from a motor trip: You know youre over the hill when the adults in the car have to go to the bathroom before the kids. |
