...quoting Justice Spicer's opening statement, fifth paragraph, we are glad to see he is presuming he has the whole thing solved for us.
"...I find that on the morning of the 26th day of October, 1881, and up to noon of that day, Joseph I. Clanton or Isaac Clanton, the prosecuting witness in this case, was about the streets and in several saloons of Tombstone, armed with revolver and Winchester rifle, declaring publicly that the Earp brothers and Holliday had insulted him the night before when he was unarmed, and now he was armed and intended to shoot them or fight them on sight. These threats were communicated to defendants Virgil Earp and Wyatt Earp..."
Interestingly, Justice Spicer did not relate the corresponding statement by Virgil Earp, the marshal, heard by two witnesses; that "...he would not arrest them, but will kill them on sight!..."
Witnessed by Sheriff John Behan and Mr. Fellahy.
Ike Clanton did announce his intention of a confrontation coming, but did NOT threaten to "...shoot them on sight..."
And I am considered biased! But I am not a sitting Justice with grave responsibility for what comes out of my mouth!!!
Joyce, A few years back, I researched the 1881 Arizona Territorial law that governed hearings and other court proceedings. I did this because I just didn't want to accept the common statements from... more
...I get hung up on such things as well, but mostly because I don't understand what the heck they are talking about in the application of protocol. And it may differ from a Hearing to an actual court trial... more
A couple of Arizona lawyers for help on this question, but I suspect that because I am not offering a sizable sum of money they aren't willing to provide an answer. Butch
Uh, Joyce — Casey Tefertiller,Sat Nov 12 2022 6:01
Fellehy testified in the coroner’s inquest, not Spicer’s preliminary hearing. And Behan never claimed to have heard these words, even though they were supposedly spoken in a conversation with him. ... more
...that Spicer did not do his job and examine testimony from the Inquest? Was he not aware of every statement made behind closed doors as well as in every saloon in town? He knew what was said by Fellahy... more
Judge Spicer should not have reviewed the Coroner Inquest testimony as it would have to be presented to him as evidence in the Hearing he was presiding over. To do so would have predisposed him to rulings... more
So,Tom, while Mrs. King's testimony tends to lend credence to Fallehy's, why would Behan testify to a different statement from Virgil that, while still injudicious, was not an indication of murder wit... more
BOB Behaan says Virgil said "there were "a lot of sons of bitches in town looking for a fight.{Does sons of bitches indicate some malice?} "I said to him (Virgil) "You had better disarm the crowd."... more
...I think the answer to that is the difference in the two men. I often like to argue that you can read between the lines without altering the record and that is the way I tend to look at this situation.... more
Joyce, even if Spicer were allowed to consider the Inquest testimony, and I'm not sure that he was under Arizona law (Steve Gatto?), Behan, under oath, testified in the Spicer hearing as follows, "...saw... more
Bob, Spicer should have considered only the evidence introduced during the preliminary hearing through witness testimony or otherwise admitted into evidence during the hearing. There is no indication... more
Steve, Thank you for that. If Virgil did make the “on sight” comment, all of the following would have to be true: 1 Behan managed to forget the most volatile comment of the day. Either that,... more
Casey Let's take a look at one example of their work as an example of their "dream team" ability. Albert Billicke testifying about Tom acquiring a gun from a butcher rather than a gun store or the... more
Casey, You're trying to rationalize what was said in the conversation prior to the gunfight with what occurred (or did not occur) during the preliminary hearing to reach the position you favor - that... more
Steve, Thanks for those interesting thoughts. Yes, I guess that Fellehy could have been terrorized by the Earps, or he could have been running away from seagulls with Tippi Hedron. Anything is... more
...why you think the Nugget should have made a major issue out of the 'kill them on sight" comment. The Nugget missed making an issue over quite a few comments in testimony that were just as serious. They... more
Your first reflection about Behan is interesting, but I think there is more to it. I don't recognize Virgil's comment as more volatile than one or two of his others that day, but certainly it gives us... more
I seem to remember reading somewhere that Virgil had to be awakened multiple times that morning, including by one of his Deputy’s about Ike’s loud, public, heeled and aggressive behavior. Also remember... more
...I think loud, aggressive behaviour is a slight exaggeration, don't you? Ike was in a couple of Saloons, but so was every other man in town who was awake. There was no other place to go. Ike spoke... more
Well, I don't know if officer Bronk exaggerated Ike's behaviour or not, but according to Virgil, Bronk seemed a little pre-occupied before he informed Virgil that he was at death's door. This while Bronk... more
Well, BJ, as you may have noticed by now, I not only have a suspicious nature but am inclined to read every few lines with an "...wait a minute. something doesn't sound right here!..." attitude. It slows... more
Joyce, I’m trying to understand your train of thought so I appreciate your patience per my limited education level and cognitive deficits. I also remember reading that other citizens were very concerned... more
Bob as reported by Behan? "I said to Earp you had better disarm the crowd; He said he would not, he would give them a chance to make a fight." Isn't it fair to assume that Virgil would not give... more
Thse are very nice suppositions and questions, but they in no way address the question I've been raising and you and Joyce have been beating around several bushes not to answer. How do you explain Fallehy... more
Bob Unanswered suppositions and questions make points. Focus on Virgil He is going to give them a chance to fight which he believes will result in their death or he will shoot them on sight which... more
Tom, you are now making an entirely new argument to the question of why Fallehy and Behan testified to different statements by Virgil. You, apparently, now are saying that Virgil made both statements,... more
I know Fellehy was in the Inquest and not the hearing. What he said does not become irrelevant because of that. Behan testified to a couple other things which might have some application about what... more
Even if Spicer were allowed to consider Inquest testimony, he would have had to consider whether Fallehey or Behan were in the best position to understand what Virgil said to Behan. According to Behan's... more
Bless your heart, Bob. Almost no one ever asks for MY opinion! However, you did. Apparently, as Tom described, Fellahy was in a very good position to hear what Virgil said and his confident statement... more
describing someone as stupid is not name-calling any more than would be describing someone as thuggish. Calling someone a thug is name-calling. Adjective vs. noun. As a rule, the problem with name-calling,... more
...that you are talking to someone who never completed the fifth grade and so am considered a fourth grade idiot. What that amounts to is I haven't the faintest idea what the heck you are talking about,... more
what we have here is a failure to communicate? Tell you what. Let's make a deal. If I accept half the blame for not expressing myself clearly (or perhaps too clearly since clarity, like compression, so... more
Joyce Aros! — Sharon Cunningham,Mon Nov 14 2022 14:31
Olds, wordsmith that you are.... please know that you are 100% correct in that Joyce Aros is In wonderful company... and she can dang well hold her own with the lot of them!
...I have no trouble accepting responsibility. I'd just like Spicer and a few others to be held accountable if only in absentia. (spelling?) And I thank you for reassuring me that lack of sufficient... more
Faulkner was a high school dropout as well. Anyone see a pattern here? Thomas, not Tom, Wolfe, on the other hand, had a graduate degree from Harvard, which perhaps explains why he is virtually unreadable.... more
And like many if not most writers of his caliber, not that there are many, his work benefits from re-reading. Someone, a teacher probably, once counseled me that one of the criteria when appraising... more
and it's a good one--alchemy. Only the best work affords the reader that experience. (There's a reason it's called the PHILOSOPHER'S stone.) Evan Connell, he of the terrific "Son of the Morning Star,"... more
Bob with regard to Virgil and Johnny. "A stranger that was standing near me says "there goes the Sheriff" He was going towards the Marshal FOLLOWED HIM RIGHT AFTER. [C ORRECT AS IN THE ORIGINAL].... more
Why would you assume Fellahy was 'trying' to hear what was said? We don't know if he was very close or not, but he seemed pretty confident about what he heard. And as Virgil was irritated enough to make... more
I understand your point but I think I did not make mine clear. I am fully aware Spicer could not incorporate the Inquest testimony into the Hearing testimony. I was trying to focus on how biased Spicer... more
Ike would have fit in well today. I'm not entirely sure where. Maybe in an all night donut shop in San Francisco. His testimony turned the page for a lot folks. It is far more impressive than Wyatt's written... more
I think you are the first person I have talked with who saw Ike's testimony as interesting and even enlightening. I thought he handled himself quite well even though the Defense lawyer seemed so frustrated... more
I don't find it annoying. Or you. You put an amazing amount of time and energy into your defense. There is more to admire about you than not. Which is not say I agree with your conclusions. It's good that... more
...a little pat on the shoulder goes a long way. If you agreed with me on many of my viewpoints, this board would go quiet for short periods of time. I think it is a real treat for all of us!