John Ringo, King of the Cowboys: His Life and Times from the Hoo Doo War to Tombstone, Second Edition

Chapter 17. “a killer and professional cutthroat”

165 17 C H A P T E R “a killer and professional cutthroat” WITHIN DAYS OF LLOYD’S DEATH, a botched stage robbery proved pivotal in drawing John Ringo into what became the Earp-Clanton feud. On the evening of March 15, 1881, the Kinnear and Company stage left Drew’s Station for Contention. Driving the coach was Eli P. “Bud” Philpott (or Philpot), a native of Calistoga, California. Bob Paul, his contest for sheriff still unresolved, rode as shotgun guard. At a small incline two hundred yards from Drew’s, an armed man emerged on the east side of the road and shouted “Hold!” “At the same moment a number of men—believed to have been eight—made their appearance and a shot was fired from the same side of the road instantly followed by another. One of those shots struck ‘Budd’ [sic] Philpott, the driver, who fell heavily forward between the wheels carrying the reins with him. The horses immediately sprang into a dead run.”1 Paul opened up with his shotgun and the highwaymen returned fire. The horses ran nearly a mile before Bob Paul could bring them to a halt. Miner Peter Roerig, riding on top of the coach, was also killed. Word of the killings reached Tombstone around eleven o’clock. Morgan, Virgil, and Wyatt Earp quickly joined Sheriff John Behan’s 166 JOHN RINGO, KING OF THE COWBOYS posse and started for the scene along with Marshall Williams, the Wells Fargo agent.2 A. C. Cowan, the Wells Fargo agent at Contention , dispatched thirty men after the killers. Paul, who had driven on to Benson, also assembled a posse and set off in pursuit. George W. Parsons tells the story: A most terrible affair of last evening. First intimation I had of it was when Doc. Goodfellow burst into room and asked for rifle. Abbott finally let him have his upon Doc’s assurance he didn’t want to kill any one. I stopped our chess, got revolver and followed him up, not wishing him to get hurt if I could help it. Men and horses were flying about in different directions, and I soon ascertained the cause. A large posse started in pursuit—$26,000 specie reported on stage. Bob Paul went as shot gun messenger and emptied both barrels of his gun at the robbers, probably wounding one. “I hold for no one” he said and let drive. Some 20 shots fired—close call for Paul. Capt. Colby wished me to form one of another posse, to head the robbers off at San Simon if we could get necessary information upon arrival of stage, and we worked the thing up. Got rifles and horses, and I got Clum (Mayor) and Abbott to go with us. Probably six in all. Information didn’t come as we expected, so delayed, and several of us shadowed several desperate characters in town, one known as an ex stage robber. Couldn’t fix anything. Budd Philpott, the driver, was shot through the heart and the passenger, a miner, through the back. Doc showed me the bullet that killed him—an ugly 45 caliber. Some more tracking tonight. Our birds have flown.3 One bird had not flown fast or far enough. On March 19, Behan’s posse, which included Virgil,Wyatt, and Morgan Earp,William Breakenridge and others, apprehended Luther King at Len Redfield’s ranch. The story varies according to who tells it but all versions generally agree that King told the posse they were trailing Bill Leonard, Harry Head, and Jim Crane. People soon learned of Leonard’s involvement. Parsons notes in his journal: “Marshall Williams in from hunting stage robbers. Told me at ball that they would have them and who they were. Know “a killer and professional cutthroat” 167 one of them Leonard—very well by sight and have had business with him. Know him to be a hard case.”4 King’s accusation against Leonard, Head, and Crane is controversial . While some insist only four men were involved, the Epitaph initially claimed eight men participated in the bungled robbery. One of those suspected was Doc Holliday, a difficult point for Earp apologists who state that the shooters were “Billy Leonard, Jimmy Crane, and Harry Head.”5 Another adds that “accounts, rumors, and accusations complicated perceptions” concerning Holliday, “and Doc clearly knew that his friendship with...