...elusive that it constantly intrigues. It has to indicate that someone somewhere has some record of this whole thing with the Benson stage attack. There was amazingly little development of the story in the newspapers at the time and even later when Holliday was arrested by Behan, it seemed to be dropped rather easily. Poor reporting at the time but then, not likely many reporters went to journalism classes.
Frank Vaughn indicated that there was a Hearing, that there were three witnesses, and there were no names attached to his account, though some assumed the witnesses were the McLaury brothers and Ike Clanton as they had been at the Drew's station that night, apparently. It was also suggested that John Slaughter testified as well, but again; no record.
AS I have said before, I cannot see any reason to put much faith in the story that Behan got Kate drunk and therefore arrested Doc on her say-so, or that Behan ran into her on a drunken binge and used it to arrest Doc. There had to be an Affidavit and that would have to be filled out in front of a County Clerk for the Court, by hand, signed, and the person doing so would have to be sober! It doesn't sound applicable.
But the gossip about the ladies fighting amongst themselves doesn't sound too stable either, though it is plausible. So we are right back at the beginning but I still think there is something somewhere that might lend credence to the whole account.
In Ed Bartholomews book, Wyatt Earp, The Man and the Myth, he asserts that Behan made a formal report on Jun 2 of Doc's alleged involvement in the Benson stage attempt. It was claimed that Kate had confided... more
This whole account is so... — Joyce A. Aros,Wed Dec 28 2022 10:34
I have never heard of the McLaury brothers and Clanton near Drew's that night. We know that Billy Clanton was not in Charleston waiting for Doc to gamble? Accounts of when Doc returned to Tombstone in... more
It is the key to the whole thing and many have given up on solving it because they only accept the written word. Certainly that is the most important base to start with, but circumstantial evidence is... more
Many old timers have left oral histories with the Arizona Pioneers Historical Society in Tucson, including Mr. Vaughn. As I recall, Vaughn asserted that Holliday was involved in the stage robbery. But... more
It is very difficult to get historical records at the AHS in Tucson anymore. The society is under-funded and so there is not always someone there. Also, the ones there are not the old-rimers who knew what... more
ask BJ if he can locate one of my posts in the past six months or so on the subject of Frank Vaughn. I am sure I posted the whole statement from Vaughn word for word at some recent time. My files are pretty... more
So in the first case against Doc in which he shot Joyce in the hand, the records state none of the prosecution witnesses appeared. Doc paid a fine and it was dropped. In his other court case involving... more
Milt Joyce did not let the matter go. He had influence and he used it. He had his clash with Holliday referred to the Grand Jury and they found a case against Holliday. The County then had to follow up.... more
We know all the pro-Earp biographers (Lake, et al) had no biases (sarcasm). As far as I am concerned no writer's work should be taken at face value. Everything needs to be checked and there are no exclusions... more
You are so right. It is a lesson in humility. I read my own books randomly from time to time and still find things I wish I had worded better or actual errors. (not a lot, thank goodness!) I find such... more
Joyce. However, everyone (including me) has an agenda. The difficulty is to review our work to recognize those instances where our bias has overridden facts. Once we recognize those errors, we have... more
I think bias is often over-used just because someone has accepted support for a certain viewpoint if the evidence can be supported. Not to be a public bore; and I have used it over and over...Ike... more
...good question; but if it is a question, could you be a little more specific? Just what was the reason for any white man to be moving cattle along the border area in the 1880's? Was it always rustling?... more
So the matter didn't go to the grand jury? Behan made a report and referred charges. It than went to a local court hearing and 3 witnesses were called and testified. We do not have any records of this... more
But if it did not go to the grand jury, it was because Lyttleton Price didn't want it to. Price, according to some reports, would not prosecute any "bad man." Some folks just don't believe Price had... more
...No doubt you are correct, but I am chasing my tail not on the incident with Milt Joyce but on Holliday's connection with the Benson stage event. I felt the newspaper journalists did not do enough... more
in that era tended to be more sensational than they are today. One example I can cite is at least two accounts of the citizens (they are not specifically named in the Epitaph report except that they were... more
sensationalism and racism when they are reporting what John Behan said? HE gave a long testimony of his meeting with the Chinese concluded by saying that "John Chinaman would leave when he got good... more
For me, racism is rather easy to spot and this (story) shouts its racism and sensationalism rather loud. Yes, many Tombstonites of the late 1800s wanted the Chinese to leave the city. They wanted the... more
Race: An athletic event in which a number of human beings travel a specific distance using their legs to get from point A to point B in as little time as possible. The one who travels the fastest and... more
...concrete answers. One can only try to connect the dots, apply reason and logic. It is like a Detective on a dead murder case; constant alertness to any clue down the road and sometimes the truth begins... more
In Ed Bartholomews book, Wyatt Earp, The Man and the Myth, he asserts that Behan made a formal report on Jun 2 of Doc's alleged involvement in the Benson stage attempt. It was claimed that Kate had confided... more
Hi Bruce In his haste to sling mud at Holliday and Earp, I think Bartholomew made a mistake in regards to what he wrote on page 153 of his book. I think the Territory Vs. J. H. Holliday was a felony... more