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108 The McLaurys in Tombstone, Arizona Vengeful Schemes Earlier in the year, the Territorial legislature passed a “memorial,” a message to the United States government that Arizona Territory needed additional aid in dealing with the border bandits. The Fronteras murders helped spur United States Marshal Crawley P. Dake in Prescott into action. Sort of. First, he had to ask for the money from the federal government: The last Legislature of the Territory passed a memorial asking the Government to aid in breaking up these gangs of desperadoes and that the U.S. Marshal be instructed and authorized to institute measures to thisend. In view of these facts I would respectfullyrequest to be advised in regard to the matter, as to whether any action is to be taken by the Government through the Marshal’s office and if so, how much money I am authorized to expend in connection with the arrest and breaking up of the serious annoyance; the work will necessitate the employment of a large number of deputies as a posse and will be expensive as the cost of travel, horse [hire] and wages of men and all expenses connected with each service are very much in advance of rates charged in the other states and Territories, and much care and vigilance will have to be used to prevent blood shed as these parties are of the worse [sic] class and will hesitate at nothing in the way of crime to carry out their designs and defeat the ends of Justice. Therefore, I urge that I receive instructions relative thereto and the wishes of the Department in regard to this evil to enable me to act understandingly in case the Government should decide to lend the assistance asked for by the Legislature. I do not feel authorized to incur any expense in the matter without the sanction of the Government and through your instructions, and if it is the intention to put a stop to these depredations, I desire to be informed just how much is to be expended for the purpose, that I may go so far and no further and have no difficulty in the adjustments of Fifteen 109 An O.K. Corral Obituary my accounts with the Treasury.1 Crawley P. Dake had been the United States Marshal for the Territory of Arizona since the summer of 1878. His term of office was plagued by difficulties about money. On the one hand, the United States Attorney General’s office kept him on a tight leash, giving him no advance funds and only releasing money by request on an “as needed” basis. On the other hand, Dake had a habit of taking the warrants sent to him, cashing them and depositing the money in a personal account. He kept no records or account books (in clear violation of the law, but that was only discovered at the end of his tenure). In other words, the well-meaning government supervision had the effect of impeding the most important work the marshal was charged with, yet the marshal was not particularly trustworthy with money. The end result was not action, but inaction.2 Rumors persisted about the cowboys. They were said to have gathered at Willcox. Another time, they were going to ride out of San Simon. Or had they already gone? Rumors persisted for weeks, but the events didn’t take place. It may have been that the shooting of Curly Bill blunted the leadership for such an undertaking. It may have been that the confederate nature of the cowboys was not cohesive enough to organize so big a force. It may have been that word was telegraphed ahead to the Mexican authorities who immediately posted troops along the border to apprehend any invasive force of hostile Americans. The Mexican government was now officially cognizant of the danger to the citizens of Sonora from American banditti.3 In the unrelenting heat of late May and early June, Tombstone was less raucous. News that the Southern Pacific Railroad completed its track east to El Paso shared column space with news that a newly published translation of the New Testament was being circulated. The sale of the Bradshaw Mine (even though it was taking in water at 360 feet) made as much news as the Earp brothers and Bob Winders applying for a patent to their “North Extension of the Mountain Maid” mine. It was business-as-usual. The town was excited about a jury trial between Townsite partner...

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