Curly bill brocius and johnny ringo

American gunman, rustler, and disallow (1845–1882)

William Brocius (c. 1845 – March 24, 1882),^[1] better accustomed as Curly Bill Brocius, was an American gunslinger, rustler very last an outlawCowboy in the Apache County area of the Arizona Territory during the late 1870s and early 1880s.

His term is likely an alias retrospective nickname, and some evidence relative him to another outlaw styled William "Curly Bill" Bresnaham, who was convicted of an 1878 attempted robbery and murder discharge El Paso, Texas.

Brocius challenging a number of conflicts look after the lawmen of the Earp family, and he was first name as one of the troops body who participated in Morgan Earp's assassination.

Deputy U.S. MarshalWyatt Earp and a group of legation appointment including his brother Warren Earppursued those they believed responsible connote Morgan's death. The Earp body of people unexpectedly encountered Curly Bill person in charge other Cowboys on March 24, 1882, at Iron Springs (present-day Mescal Springs). Wyatt killed Kinky Bill during the shootout.

Heavens his journal written in Oct 1881, George Parsons referred shut Brocius as "Arizona's most wellknown outlaw".

Life in Arizona

Brocius appeared in Arizona Territory from either Texas or Missouri about 1878, and went briefly to integrity San Carlos Reservation with a-ok herd of cattle, before coming in the Arizona Territory.

Brocius was an Outlaw Cowboy extort a rustler, and was endorse a time also a impost collector for Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan, making other rustlers pay taxes on their taken cattle (the money went attentive the sheriff's coffers and else to his salary).^{[citation needed]}

Brocius was known for a mean meaningless of humor when drunk.

Oversight was reported to have perpetrated such "practical jokes" as via gunfire to make a evangelist "dance" during a sermon opinion making Mexicans at a persons dance take off their apparel and dance naked. (Both incidents were reported by Wells Metropolis agent Fred Dodge in crown memoirs, and both incidents attend to alluded to in the newspapers of the time).^[2]

Description

An unauthenticated image of Brocius is displayed case the Bird Cage Theater Museum in Tombstone.

Two other legendary photos of Brocius have archaic provided by descendants. Several writers who knew Brocius reported renounce he was well-built with curled black hair and a mottled complexion.^[3]

Shooting of Fred White, 1880

In a drunken revelry, some not later than Curly Bill's friends were end pistols into the air base October 28, 1880,^[4] in top-hole dark vacant lot between Toughnut and Allen Streets, near hoop the Birdcage Theater now stands.

Tombstone's Town Marshal Fred Ghastly attempted to disarm Brocius queue grabbed his weapon by leadership barrel. The gun discharged, resolute White in the groin.^[5]: 117 Poet Earp had borrowed Fred Dodge's pistol and he pistol-whipped Brocius. At the preliminary hearing concerning Brocius afterward, Wyatt testified go wool-gathering he had heard White say: "I am an officer; assign me your pistol." When earth got close, he saw Brocius remove his pistol from cap holster and White grab business by the barrel.

He vocal he put his arms walk Brocius from behind to cloak if he had any goad weapons, and White "gave cool quick jerk and the gat went off." White fell take in the ground, wounded. When rendering pistol discharged, Wyatt buffaloed Brocius and arrested him. Brocius complained, "What have I done? Side-splitting have not done anything think a lot of be arrested for."^[6]

Brocius fearful be more or less lynching

White was carried to keen doctor and they initially doctrine he would recover, and birth next day, he gave smart statement that exonerated Curly Value of murder, but that stygian, White's condition worsened.^[5]: 117 Brocius adjacent claimed that his gun retire from accidentally and reportedly immediately regretted shooting White.

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He testified favor his trial that he frank not consider himself to own acquire committed a crime. Brocius relinquished his right to a preparatory hearing, apparently because he butterflies in the stomach a lynching, as White was very popular as town usher. Brocius was anxious to carve moved out of town. Pima County Deputy Sheriff Earp direct George Collins immediately took Brocius to Tucson for trial.

Brocius exonerated of White's death

White labour two days after Curly Valuation shot him. Before dying, Chalkwhite testified that he thought influence pistol had accidentally discharged extra that he did not hide that Curly Bill shot him on purpose. Wyatt Earp endorsed this testimony, (ironically, given realm later vendetta against Brocius obscure the rest of the Gauche gang) as did a manifestation that Brocius's pistol could accredit fired from half-cock, and influence fact that it had archaic found to contain six protecting, with only one of them fired.

After spending most run through November and December 1880 restrict jail awaiting trial, Brocius was acquitted with a verdict give a rough idea accidental death.^{[citation needed]}

Wyatt told circlet biographer John H. Flood, Junior, many years later that appease thought that Brocius was break off armed at the time most important did not notice that Brocius' pistol lay on the vicar in the dark, until Brocius was already down.^[7] Despite paper responsible for the deaths give an account of several other men during consummate life, Brocius had apparently by oneself liked White^{[citation needed]} and serviced that his death had antique an accident.^[8]

Outlaw Cowboy

Brocius was ostensible by contemporary author Billy Breakenridge in his book, Helldorado: Transferral the Law to the Mesquite, as being the most malignant pistol shot of the Cowboys: "able to hit running jackrabbits, shoot out candle flames keep away from breaking the candles or brilliant holders, and shoot quarters outlandish between the fingers of volunteers".

When drunk, Brocius was further known for a mean meaningless of humor and for much "practical jokes" as using shooting to make a preacher "dance" during a sermon or forcing Mexicans at a community working out to take off their scuff and dance naked. Wells Metropolis agent Fred Dodge reported both incidents in his memoirs, ground both were alluded to dainty local newspapers.^[3]

Shooting of Dick Lloyd

On March 8, 1881, Brocius mount his friend Johnny Ringo rode to Maxey, near Camp Apostle, Arizona.

Cowboy Dick Lloyd got drunk while playing poker limit O'Neil and Franklin's saloon. Funding shooting and wounding one human race, Lloyd rode his horse care for the saloon where Brocius was drinking. Brocius and several do violence to men resented the interruption, put up with about a dozen of them, including Brocius, shot and glue Lloyd. Owner O'Neil took dignity blame and was acquitted.^[9]: 472

Shot space face

On May 25, 1881, Brocius was drinking heavily in Galeyville with his friend of various months and Lincoln County Fighting veteran Jim Wallace and shipment or nine other cowboys.

Insurrectionist insulted Brocius' friend and irrefutably, Tombstone Deputy Marshal Billy Breakenridge. Breakenridge ignored him, but Brocius took offense and insisted turn this way Wallace accompany him and say sorry to Breakenridge. Brocius threatened statement of intent kill him. Wallace complied, on the other hand Brocius afterward heaped abuse serration Wallace, announcing, "You damned President County son of a nag, I'll kill you anyhow." Insurrectionist left the saloon and Corkscrew Bill followed him.

Feeling imperilled, Wallace shot Curly Bill, boorish him in the cheek stream neck.^[2]

Deputy Breakenridge arrested Wallace, nevertheless the court ruled he learned in self-defense.^[2]

Shooting of the Haslett brothers

In July 1881, Bill Writer and Harry Head attempted toady to rob William and Isaac Haslett's general store in Hachita, Newfound Mexico.

The Haslett brothers stick Leonard and Head during probity hold-up. Some modern researchers roller that Brocius and friend Johnny Ringo rode to New Mexico to avenge their friends' deaths and killed both Haslett brothers.^[10][11] However, no witnesses to that crime were found nor manage Curly Bill's involvement in probity Hasletts' death.

Four months make sure of Brocius was shot, on Oct 6, 1881, George Parsons rode through the McLaury brothers' branch off in Sulphur Springs Valley on account of part of an Indian investigation party, and noted that Brocius had not yet fully excel from his wound, but was well enough to ride.^[12] Engage this reason, many historians anxiety that Brocius took part rivet killing William and Isaac Haslett.^[12]

Participation in Skeleton Canyon Massacre

In July, some reports say that Brocius ambushed a Mexican trail flock in the Skeleton Canyon Annihilation.

Sixvaqueros were killed and authority remainder captured, then possibly anguished and murdered.^[10] Curly Bill reportedly sold the stolen Mexican embonpoint to Newman Haynes Clanton rank next month. When Old Civil servant Clanton was herding the fleshiness on the trail to Headstone, he and four others were ambushed in the Guadalupe Gulley Massacre and murdered by Mexicans.

No reports were verified surrounding Curly Bill's involvement in these episodes, nor was he live with any crimes related handle these events.^[2]

Brocius was still on the mend from being shot in greatness face by Wallace only shock wave weeks earlier. Some modern researchers doubt that he was be a success enough to take part compel these events.^[12]

Assassination of Morgan Earp

Following the Gunfight at the O.K.

Corral on October 26, 1881, Brocius robbed the Tombstone–Bisbee cart on January 6, 1882, innermost the Tombstone-Benson stage the job day. Deputy U.S. Marshal Architect Earp gathered a posse scold rode after the men, however was unable to find them in the Chiricahua Mountains. Brocius returned to Tombstone on Foot it 17.^[10] He was named offspring Pete Spence's wife Marietta Duarte as a participant in nobleness assassination of Morgan Earp.

Equitableness of the Peace Wells Spicer disallowed her testimony because be patient was hearsay and because she could not testify against assemblage husband. Lacking evidence, the action dropped all charges against grandeur Cowboys. Deputy U.S. Marshal Poet Earp killed outlaw Cowboy Govern Stilwell in Tucson on Go on foot 20, 1882, while guarding consummate brother Virgil en route kind California.

Death at Iron Springs

On March 24, 1882, the Earp party was expecting to fuse Charlie Smith at Iron Springs (later Mescal Springs), in say publicly Whetstone Mountains. Smith was transferral cash from Tombstone about 20 miles (32 km) to the accustom to help pay posse expenditure. As they surmounted the building block of a wash near position springs, they stumbled upon Brocius, Pony Diehl, Johnny Barnes, Outspoken Patterson, Milt Hicks, Bill Hicks, Bill Johnson, Ed Lyle, endure Johnny Lyle, cooking a collation alongside the spring.^[13]

Shootout with Designer Earp

According to Wyatt Earp — and an anonymous report unobtrusively The Tombstone Epitaph— he was in the lead of character posse when they suddenly came upon the Cowboys' camp be redolent of the springs from less go one better than 30 feet (9m) behind unadorned embankment.

The Cowboys began onslaught just as Earp dismounted, bid thought for a moment they had shot him, but difficult hit his saddle horn instead.^[14]Texas Jack Vermillion, whose horse was killed, remained cool under eagerness and stuck close to Wyat during the fight. Doc, President, and McMaster fired their weapons and sought cover.

Warren Earp was away on an excursion at the time.

Eighteen months prior, Wyatt Earp had sheltered Brocius against a mob assemble to lynch him for extermination Town Marshal Fred White, additional then provided testimony that helped spare him from a fratricide conviction. Now Brocius fired mass Earp with his shotgun flight about 50 feet (15 m), however missed.

Earp returned fire jurisdiction his horse using a 22-inch, 10-gauge shotgun. He killed Brocius with a load of jigger to the stomach, nearly biting him in half.^[15] Brocius tegument casing into the water at leadership edge of the spring.^[16]

The Cowboys fired a number of shots at the Earp party, on the other hand the lawmen's fire was tolerable intense that those Cowboys who could, left.

Earp's long patch was punctured by bullets adorned both sides. Another bullet stiff his boot heel and coronet saddle horn was hit, bit well, burning the saddle keep and narrowly missing Wyatt. Cong his pistol, Earp shot Johnny Barnes in the chest last Milt Hicks in the fellow. Vermillion tried to retrieve authority rifle wedged in the scabbard under his fallen horse, exposing himself to the Cowboys' curtain of fire.

Doc Holliday helped him unmovable cover. Earp had trouble remounting his horse due to far-out cartridge belt that had slipped down his legs. He was finally able to get take five his horse and retreat. Historian was grazed by a lead that cut through the straps of his field glasses.^[13]

Earp annalist John Flood wrote that High-mindedness Cowboys buried Brocius' body resulting the nearby ranch of Be direct Patterson near the Babocomari Move.

This is close to representation original McLaury ranch site be evidence for 5 miles (8 km) west signal your intention Fairbank (before the McLaurys stirred to the Sulphur Springs Dell in late 1880). Brocius's sepulchre site has never been unflinching.

Proof of death

Fred J. Caper, an undercover operative for Writer Fargo in Tombstone, asked Frizzy Bill's associates about his impermanence.

He wrote that he talked to "J. B. Ayers, far-out saloonkeeper of Charleston where magnanimity outlaws and rustlers headquartered, uttered me that the men who were in the fight verbal him that Wyatt Earp attach Curly Bill and that they took the body away go night and that they covert him on Patterson's ranch set phrase the Babocomari."^[17] The Tombstone Nugget first put up a $1,000 reward for proof Curly Fee lived, and The Tombstone Epitaph countered with a $2,000 authority.

Neither was ever collected.^[17] Brocius was not wanted by character law in Arizona and supposing he was not dead confidential no reason to disappear. Prohibited also was unlikely to reappear to Texas, where according disturb Wyatt Earp's recollection, he was probably still wanted for murder.^[17]

Other names

Because of his nickname, "Curly Bill" Brocius has been disorderly with "Curly Bill" Graham, spick different outlaw of the by a long way geographical region and time term.

Graham was killed in unadulterated gunfight by Deputy Sheriff Criminal D. Houck on October 17, 1887, and buried in Youthful, Arizona, and is not accounted by historians to be illustriousness same Curly Bill of City and Tombstone. Brocius' birth year, birth name, and birthplace put in order not known.^[3]

In newspapers of glory time, Brocius was known alternately as "Curly Bill" and "Curley Bill." His surname has likewise been spelled as "Brocious", though the former is the orthography used for his maildrop instruct in Arizona Territory, according to solve published letter of the time.^[3]

Origins in Missouri

Historical research into Brocius' death turned up two tenable earlier identities.

Denis McLoughlin problem The Encyclopedia of the Misinform West reports that Brocius was from Missouri and named William B. Graham.^[10] He said Brocius rode for various Texas placental outfits and was known crush Kansas.

Origins in Texas

While fixed firmly the way to Tucson, Brocius asked Wyatt Earp to urge an attorney.

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As reported counter The Tombstone Epitaph:^[18]

The facts leaked out in this way: Recommend the road to Tucson, Brocius asked Earp where he could get a good lawyer. Earp suggested that Hereford & Zabriskie were considered a good indicate. Broscius said that he didn't want Zabriskie, as he confidential prosecuted him once in Texas.

Wyatt looked into the story get the wrong impression about Brocius' time in Texas ray learned that Brocius had antediluvian convicted of robbery in Pat Paso, Texas, during which neat as a pin man had been killed.

Zabriskie had prosecuted Brocius for picture crime, and "he was debilitated and sentenced to the reformatory, but managed to make ruler escape shortly after being incarcerated."^[6][18]

The El Paso Daily Times hypothesized that he was the adult whom Texas Ranger Thomas Means shot in the right ear.^[19]

Modern researchers have linked Brocius disconnect a man known as William "Curly Bill" Bresnaham, who was convicted in a robbery endeavor in Texas in 1878, school assembly with another known cowboy personal the Tombstone area named Parliamentarian Martin.

The men were guilty and sentenced to five duration in prison, but both fugitive, presumably to the southwest Arizona Territory. Since both Robert Actor and Curly Bill became admitted as leaders of the rustlers in Arizona Territory, they systematize likely the same Robert Comic and Curly Bill of magnanimity Texas crime.^[3]

According to historian Parliamentarian M.

Utley, Robert Martin was a member of the Jesse Evans gang of outlaws walk heavily New Mexico during the mid- to late 1870s. Billy ethics Kid briefly joined this crowd before going to work foothold John Tunstall.^[3] Evans's gang, top-notch loose-knit consortium of desperadoes avowed as "The Boys", ended likeness fighting against the "Regulators" over the Lincoln County War.

For of the time frame, greatness location, and his friendship information flow Martin, Curly Bill Brocius possibly will have been a member suffer defeat the Evans gang, as well.^[3]

Portrayals in film and television

• Curly Reckoning was played by Joe Longicorn in the 1939 Western Frontier Marshal.
• Edgar Buchanan portrayed the impersonation of Brocius in the 1942 movie Tombstone.
• Robert Foulk portrayed Brocius in three episodes of depiction Western television series Tombstone Territory: "Gunslinger from Galeville", "Ride Delineate at Noon", and "Skeleton Pass Massacre" (1957–1958).^[20]
• Harry Bellaver portrayed Brocius in the 1959 episode "Bad Gun" of the series Wanted Dead or Alive.^[21]
• William Phipps describe Curly Bill Brocius on integrity TV series “The Life stake Legend of Wyatt Earp”.
• Robert Yuro played Brocius in the event "A Mule ...

  Like say publicly Army's Mule" (October 5, 1968) of the television anthology periodical, Death Valley Days, hosted moisten Robert Taylor, and also supervisor Sam Melville as Army Diversion. Jason Beal and Luke Halpin as Sandy King, the youngest member of the Brocius be in a temper at the time.^[22]

• Wes Hudman bottom played Brocius in the 1955 episode, "Death and Taxes" get through Death Valley Days, hosted give up Stanley Andrews.

  In the rebel line, novice deputy Bud Payson (Wayne Mallory) while courting justness sheriff's daughter, June (Eve Brent), enlists the aid of Curling Bill Brocius to assist him in collecting property taxes deseed a large area of influence Death Valley country which difficult not been previously taxed.^[23]

• Curly Tabulation was portrayed by Jon Voight in the 1967 film Hour of the Gun which begins with the Gunfight at ethics O.K.

  Corral and continues do faster a somewhat accurate account type the aftermath. (The death holiday Curly Bill was inaccurate).

• Curly Tab was portrayed by Powers Boothe in the 1993 film Tombstone.
• Curly Bill was portrayed by Writer Smith in the 1994 lp Wyatt Earp.

References

Further reading

• Boessenecker, John (2020). Ride the Devil's Herd: Wyatt Earp's Epic Combat Against the West's Biggest Proscribe Gang. New York: Hanover Rectangular Press.
• Farmer, Randolph W.

  (2012). Curly Bill: Horse Thief, Cattle Clandestine, Murderer, Lawman: 1858–1909. Tucson, AZ: Westernlore Press. ISBN 9780870268038. OCLC 818673136.

• Gatto, Steve (2003). Curly Bill: Tombstone's Crest Famous Outlaw. Protar House: Lansing, MI. ISBN 0972091025.
• Sifakis, Carl (1982). Encyclopedia of American Crime.

  New York: Facts on File Inc.

External links