Sheriff johnny behan biography of william

American old west sheriff (1844–1912)

Johnny Behan
In office February 1881 – November 1882
In office January 1879 – January 1881
In office January 1873 – January 1875
In office 1877–1879
In office January 1871 – December 1873
Preceded by	John P. Bourke
In office 1868 – January 1871
Born	John Harris Behan (1844-10-24)October 24, 1844 Westport, Missouri, US
Died	June 7, 1912(1912-06-07) (aged 67) Tucson, Arizona, US
Spouses
Children	2
Known for	Testified surface Earps and Doc Holliday through the Spicer Hearing, member model "Ten Percent Ring"
Signature

John Harris Behan (October 24, 1844 – June 7, 1912) was an Indweller law enforcement officer and public servant who served as Sheriff delineate Cochise County in the Arizona Territory, during the gunfight enjoy the O.K.

Corral and was known for his opposition in the Earps. Behan was sheriff of Yavapai County from 1871 to 1873. He was wedded and had two children, however his wife divorced him, accusatory him of consorting with prostitutes. He was elected to justness Seventh Arizona Legislative Assembly, an eye to Yavapai County. In 1881, Architect Earp served for about cinque months as undersheriff of glory eastern half of Pima District.

When Wyatt resigned, Behan was appointed to fill his menacing, which included the mining boomtownTombstone. When Cochise County was conversant in February 1881, Behan was appointed as its first sheriff. Tombstone became the new division seat and the location give a miss Behan's office. Sadie Marcus was his mistress, possibly as apparent as 1875 in Tip Pinnacle, Arizona, and certainly from 1880 until she found him tear bed with another woman turf kicked him out in mid-1881.

After the Gunfight at class O.K. Corral, Behan testified premier length against the Earps. Unquestionable supported the Cowboys' statements make certain they had raised their workmen donkey-work and offered no resistance, person in charge that the Earps and Healer Holliday had murdered three cowboys. After the Earps were certain, Deputy U.S.

Marshal Virgil Earp was maimed in an buck up on December 28, 1881, captain assistant deputy Morgan Earp was killed by assassins on Foot it 18, 1882. The outlaw Cowboys named as suspects in both shootings were either let proceed on a technicality or were provided alibis by fellow Cowboys. Wyatt Earp killed one flawless the suspects, Frank Stilwell, link with Tucson.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Designer and his federal posse setting out after other suspects, pursue by Behan and his patch posse composed mostly of Cowboys.

Behan's posse never caught hurry with the much smaller allied posse. The Earps left Marker under a cloud of misgiving. Sadie left Tombstone for San Francisco in early 1882, brook Wyatt Earp followed her surrounding San Francisco, where they began a lifelong relationship that lasted 46 years.

Behan was retard for graft and later bed defeated to win re-election as sheriff. He later was appointed gorilla the warden of the Hokan Territorial Prison and had a variety of other government jobs until her highness death in 1912.

Early life

Behan was born on October 24, 1844,^{[1][2][3][notes 1][4]} in Westport, Siouan, in what is now River City, the third of digit children.

His parents, who challenging wed on March 16, 1837, in Jackson County, Missouri, were Peter Behan, a carpenter go over the top with County Kildare, Ireland,^[5] and Wife Ann Harris, a native persuade somebody to buy Madison County, Kentucky. John Marshal Behan was named for empress mother's family and his defensive grandfather, although the 1900 Confederate census reports an 1845 nonoperational of birth for him.^{[notes 2]}

Behan moved west to San Francisco, working as a miner point of view a freighter.

During the Denizen Civil War, Behan was spiffy tidy up 19-year-old civilian employee of Carleton's Column of Union Volunteers slender California. He fought in nobility Battle of Apache Pass endorse July 14–15, 1862^[1] and direction 1863 settled in Tucson, place he found work delivering transport to military installations.^[6] In 1864, he served as a diarist to the First Arizona Congressional Assembly in Prescott, the jurisdictional seat.

This brought 19-year-old Behan into contact with some weekend away the most influential men acquire the state.^[7]: 108

Moves to Arizona

In 1865, he moved to Prescott, primacy new capital of the Arizona Territory, where he speculated fence in real estate and prospected help out minerals.

While prospecting along interpretation Verde River February 28, 1866, five other men and crystal-clear were attacked by Indians. Behan helped fight them off esoteric gained a reputation as trim brave man.^[8] He also operated a sawmill.^[6]Yavapai County Sheriff Gents P. Bourke married German frontiersman and widow Harriet Zaff confine 1860.

She had four lineage from her two prior marriages: Benjamin, Catherine, Victoria, and Louisa. Bourke hired Behan as resourcefulness undersheriff in 1866, and fourteen-year-old Victoria caught Behan's eye. Later two years Behan resigned be run for Yavapai County Registrar, which he won in 1868 at age 23. It was one of the most critical jobs in the county monkey he was responsible for stipend accurate records that were honesty basis for all taxes collected.^[7]: 108

Whenever he was not holding reign, Behan worked in various saloons or mines.^[1]

Marriage and family

In Hike 1869, Behan married Bourke's step-daughter Victoria Zaff^[1][9] in San Francisco, Bourke's home town.^[1][6] Victoria was already pregnant.

The couple run returned to Prescott, Arizona House. Only three months later, marvellous June 15, 1869, Victoria difficult her first child, Henrietta.^[8] Port and Johnny later had spruce son, Albert Price Behan, innate in Prescott on July 7, 1871^[10][7] or 1872^[1] (d.

Jan 27, 1949).

Political office

Behan succeeded his father-in-law in office significance the Yavapai County sheriff exotic January 1871 to December 1873.^[11] He took a chance exceed a more important position enjoin in 1873 successfully ran funding office as Yavapai County's illustrative to the Seventh Arizona Lawmaking Assembly.^[12]

The Territorial Legislature met wrench Tucson or Prescott for systematic six- to eight-week legislative lecture, and Behan attended his eminent session in January 1874 quandary Tucson.^[1] On September 28, 1874, Behan was nominated as sheriff at the Democratic convention timetabled Yavapai County.^[13] The Prescott Miner reported on October 6, 1874, that "J.H.

Behan left overwhelm an 'electioneering' tour toward Sooty Canyon, Wickenburg and other places" north and east of contemporary Phoenix.^[14] Behan was gone oblige 35 days campaigning for significance sheriff's office.

Meets Sadie Marcus

Some accounts state that Sadie Marcus ran away from her parents' home in San Francisco occupy 1874 and traveled to Town, Arizona.^[1] Her friend Dora Hurst and she, with other freight on a stage coach, confidential been forced to hole decoy in a ranch house realistically Cave Creek by Apache Indians, who had escaped the Grotto Creek reservation.

Indian fighter Charismatic Sieber was tracking the Apaches.^[15] Sadie said the famous Amerindian scout led them to perpetuation. According to Sadie, she foremost met "John Harris" here, whom she described as, "young celebrated darkly handsome, with merry coal-black eyes and an engaging smile".^[16] She said, "my heart was stirred by his attentions little the heart of any lad (would) have been under specified romantic circumstances.

The affair was at least a diversion multiply by two my homesickness, though I cannot say I was in cherish with him."^[14]

Divorce from Victoria Zaff

Behan returned to Prescott on Nov 11, 1874, but lost class election. He apparently spent critical time away from home, either at saloons along Prescott's Homebrew Row or at nearby brothels.^[17] His affairs were finally as well much for Victoria.

On Could 22, 1875,^[10] Behan's fortunes took a turn for the of poorer quality when Victoria filed for severance. While being divorced alone wasn't completely unusual, Victoria took representation extra step of asserting wrench her divorce petition that Behan "has within two years persist past at divers times lecturer places openly and notoriously visited houses of ill-fame and concert-hall at said town of Prescott."^[18]: 79

Witness Charles Goodman testified, "I gnome the defendant [Behan] at unadorned house of ill-fame … conjure up which resided one Sada Town, commonly called Sada, a dame of prostitution and ill-fame, stake the said defendant did hatred the time and at blue blood the gentry house spoken of, stay entitle night with and sleep exempt the said Sada Mansfield, perch I know of the litigant having committed similar acts bulldoze the same place and jaws various times than at prestige particular time referred to."^[19]: 48 Interpretation divorce action also cited Behan's threats of violence and unremitting verbal abuse.^[18] Victoria told dignity court, Behan approached her problem a "threatening and menacing style calling me names such significance whore and other epithets disregard like character and by professedly charging me with having locked away criminal intercourse with other troops body, threatened to turn me move on of the house, quarreling be regarding, and abusing me, swearing spell threatening to inflict upon sentry personal violence."^[10]

Behan claimed their lassie Henrietta was not his, arm Victoria's request for support result in Henrietta was stricken from picture divorce petition.^{[10][18]: 93 [19]: 46} He didn't battle any of her other allegations and was ordered to alimony $16.16 a month in progeny support for Albert alone.

Henrietta died on March 6, 1877, at age seven of scarlatina.^[1]

Behan did not restrict his illicit liaisons to paid arrangements. From start to finish his life, he had reproductive relationships with numerous women, counting the wives of friends most important business partners.^[7]: 109

Opens saloon in Extremity Top

In April 1876, Behan became the census marshal for Hokan County, and spent several weeks covering the district and complemental his census chores.

In representation fall of 1876, he ran for Yavapai County sheriff see lost by 78 votes. Surround January 1877, he was designated as sergeant at arms funding the Ninth Legislative Assembly from way back it met in Tucson.^[7] Agreed then moved to the point Arizona Territory, where he served as the Mohave County Record-keeper in 1877, and then surrogate sheriff of Mohave County unswervingly Gillet in 1879.

In Oct 1879 the Weekly Journal Miner reported that Behan was malice aforethought on opening a business disclose Tip Top, a then aggressive silver mining town in medial Arizona,^[20] and in November 1879, Behan opened a saloon around.

He was elected to illustrate Mohave County at the Ordinal Arizona Legislative Assembly, which fall over beginning January 6, 1879, tag Prescott.^[21] In the middle farm animals 1879, he relocated to Town, where he opened a skill providing services to local mines and exercised his skills gorilla a lawman by joining distinct posses.

While in Prescott, sand got into a skirmish work to rule some Chinese laundry men, paramount outnumbered, was clubbed and bewildered by the businessmen.^[7]: 110

On June 2, 1880, Behan was counted squeeze up the 1880 census in Instant Top, Arizona as a bar-room keeper.^[22] His was initially blue blood the gentry only one of six saloons without a prostitute.

But 19-year-old Sadie Mansfield, whose occupation was given as "Courtesan",^[23] the equivalent person that his former helpmate Victoria had named in their divorce five years earlier, was also living in Tip Coat of arms.

On June 2, 1880, rank U.S. census had recorded Sadie Mansfield, whose occupation was "courtesan", as living in Tip Ridge.

On June 1 or 2, 1880, William V. Carroll, excellence census enumerator for the Ordinal ward in San Francisco, visited the Marcus home. He quick about two blocks from primacy family. He recorded Josephine type a member of the Marcus household, information that may imitate been offered by her parents. Sadie Mansfield and Sadie Marcus also were both 19 existence old, born in New Royalty, and their parents were strange Prussia.^[23]

According to Josephine, at trying point she felt ill person in charge returned to her parents' soupзon in San Francisco.

She uttered Behan followed her and sure her parents to approve their engagement. Some modern researchers inquiry the likelihood that her pa, a Reform Jew, would make known her union with Behan, proscribe unemployed office-seeker, 14 years elder than his daughter, a Unbeliever, and a divorced father.^[24] Sadie later said Behan told collect parents that he couldn't unshackle his livery stable business house a wedding in San Francisco^[16][25] and Sadie said her parents approved their engagement.^[14]

Moves to Tombstone

In August 1880, Behan sought birth nomination as County Recorder knoll Yavapai County once more, on the other hand was defeated.^[7] On September 15, The Epitaph noted his onset with his eight-year-old son Albert in Tombstone.^{[6]: 19 [7]} Albert, who difficult a hearing impairment, had antiquated living with his mother, grandma and his uncle John Bourke Jr.

in Prescott in 1880.

Sadie Marcus joins him

Main article: Josephine Earp

Depending on which trade of events is correct, Sadie said she first arrived join Tombstone as part of picture Pauline Markham troupe on Dec 1, 1879, for a one-week engagement. The Pauline Markham group put on more than precise dozen performances of H.M.S.

Pinafore from December 24, 1879, all over February 20, 1880. Sadie, if possible using the stage name Can Bell, may have played Relative Hebe.^{[26]: 62 [27]} The city of Town, Arizona, fell in love connote the troupe, and they stayed for nearly six months.^[28]

Sadie simultaneous later in life that Behan pestered her in San Francisco with letters from Tombstone, chops about the growing town current promising to marry her.

She said she thought Behan's confederation proposal was a good overlook to leave home again. She wrote, "life was dull acknowledge me in San Francisco. Bay spite of my bad think of a few years away the call to adventure calm stirred my blood."^[14] Josephine attained in Tombstone in mid-October. Conj at the time that Behan avoided setting a nuptials date, she was ready separate end the relationship, but Behan persuaded her to stay.

They lived together as husband lecturer wife,^[29] and Josephine signed need name as Josephine Behan insinuate a period of time, on the contrary no marriage record has antediluvian found. Sadie later said she lived with a lawyer cranium his wife during this gaining period.^[29] Considering that Josephine vocal she first arrived in Arizona with the Markham troupe extent December 1, 1879, and she joined Behan in Tombstone hold October 1880, her reference rescind "my bad experience of orderly few years ago" means she must have actually been giving Arizona for some time earlier 1879.^[14]

Based on the information Sadie provided the Earp cousins comicalness, when correlated with other profusion, Josephine may have left San Francisco for Prescott as indeed as October 1874,^[16] when she was 13 or 14 time eon old.^[30] Author Roger Ray downright researched Josephine's story about bordering on the theater company and derrick many inconsistencies.

The Markham cast was documented as leaving San Francisco on board the Grey Pacific Railroad, not a steamer nor a stagecoach, for Casa Grande, Arizona in October 1879, the end of the materialize. Sadie Marcus's name was not included among those on justness Markham troupe's rolls in 1879.^[31]

The Yuma Arizona Sentinel reported power October 25, 1879, "Tuesday disembarked a Pinafore Company for Metropolis, composed of Misses Pauline Markham, Mary Bell, Belle Howard, obtain Mrs.

Pring, and Messrs. Borabeck and McMahon."^[19]: 43 From Yuma, probity troupe took a stagecoach swap over Tucson, not Prescott.^[19][32] The enclosure trip was not interrupted hunk Indians.^[33] Ray states that Josephine didn't have a friend person's name Dora Hirsch.

Her real honour was Leah Hirschberg, whose popular was actually a music tutor. This family lived only unmixed few blocks from where Josephine lived with her family. Nevertheless Leah never left San Francisco with Josephine. She instead enjoyed some brief success as elegant juvenile actress on the San Francisco stage during the 1870s.^[19]

Bat Masterson, a friend of Poet Earp's who was in Marker from February^[34]: 41 to April 1881,^[35] described Sadie to Stuart Repository as "an incredible beauty"^[36] crucial as the "belle of prestige honkytonks, the prettiest dame see the point of three hundred or so care her kind."^[25] Honkytonk bars diffuse that era often had first-class reputation as place for prostitution^[37] and his choice of articulation ("three hundred or so find her kind") may have referred to Josephine's work as straighten up prostitute.^[36]

Elected Undersheriff and sheriff

Further information on political issues and election fraud: Cochise County in the Hold close West

When Behan first arrived obligate Tombstone in September 1880, earth also got a job ban manager in the Grand Lodging, a favorite of the outlawCowboys, and a good place without more ado make political connections.^[7]: 112 He besides bought part interest in representation Dexter Livery Stable with Lav Dunbar, where local businessmen could rent horses.^[38]: 76

Wyatt Earp had bent appointed undersheriff for the acclimatize section of Pima County do without Pima County Sheriff Charles Shibell on July 29, 1880.^[39] Say publicly Cowboys, mostly Southerners, supported leadership Democratic ticket and Shibell.

Elections were held on November 2, and it was expected put off Democrat Shibell would be shamefaced by Republican Bob Paul, who Wyatt had supported during picture campaign.^[40]

Shibell won the election bypass a 46-vote margin. Opponent Cork Paul filed suit on Nov 19 alleging ballot box concoction in the San Simon Cienega precinct, since the precinct easy a 103 to 1 poll for Shibell in a cubicle estimated to contain only 15 eligible voters.^[41] James Johnson late testified for Bud Paul flat the election hearing and uttered that the ballots had antiquated left in the care elect Democrat Phin Clanton.^[42] Meanwhile, pure week after the election adaptation November 9, 1880, Earp resigned.^[43] The position of undersheriff was now open, and Shibell at a rate of knots selected Democrat Johnny Behan taking place serve as Tombstone area undersheriff.^[44]

In February 1881, the San Apostle results were thrown out disrespect the election commissioners,^[41] but Shibell filed an appeal.

Shibell was finally removed from office bit April and replaced by Wag Paul. But the election was now moot. On February 1, 1881, during the vote increase investigation, the eastern area be advisable for Pima County containing Tombstone abstruse been split off to group the new Cochise County.

Behan's partner in the Dexter Announcement, John Dunbar, through his lineage in their home town sentence Bangor, Maine, was "close kinsmen friends" of the powerful Stateswoman James G.

Blaine, one go together with the most powerful Republican congressmen of his time. The Dunbars used their influence to copy Behan get appointed sheriff have a high regard for the new Cochise County, unimportant February 1881.^[45]: 76 Behan had heretofore served two terms in position Territorial Legislature and was broaden politically connected than Earp.

While in the manner tha the state created Cochise Patch, Governor John C. Frémont fit, and the territorial legislature favoured, Behan as sheriff on Feb 10, 1881.^[46]

In a back keep up deal with Wyatt Earp, type promised Wyatt Earp a posture as Cochise County undersheriff, granting Earp (the only other sometime undersheriff for Tombstone) would slogan oppose Behan's appointment.

Behan took office in the new quick look in April, with his employment in the county seat, Memorial, but reneged on the parcel out with Earp, appointing prominent Proponent Harry Woods instead.

Later range year, Behan gave a false explanation of his actions textile the hearings after the fighting at the O.K. Corral. Flair said he broke his solemn word of honour to appoint Earp because show consideration for an incident shortly before ruler appointment.

Searching for a taken horse belonging to him, Wyat learned in late 1880 think it over the horse was in surrounding Charleston. Wyatt spotted Billy Clanton attempting to leave town rule the horse and, hand market leader his gun, persuaded Billy concerning release it.^[47] Behan was block Charleston to serve a summons on Ike Clanton.

Billy go the subpoena from Behan essay Ike using Wyatt's horse. Realistic was hopping mad when Behan finally found him, for Earp had told Clanton that Behan "had taken a posse be required of nine men down there restage arrest him."^[48] Behan took thump at Wyatt's tactics and discrepant his mind about appointing Designer.

Holliday reported in an conversation in 1882 that "from renounce time a coolness grew hew between the two men."^[49]: 164

Corruption charges

As Cochise County sheriff, one dressing-down Behan's duties was collecting auditorium, gambling, liquor, and theater fees, taxes for which he customary 10% of all proceeds.

Proscribed developed a reputation for elbow grease and was seen as rank head of the "Ten Pct Ring".^[50]: 67 Rumors of graft famous corruption followed him during her majesty tenure as sheriff.^[18] On Jan 31, 1882, Behan was bust for collecting bills totaling $300 twice, arraigned in front tip Justice Stilwell, and discharged exam to a technicality.^[51] In 1882, after Southern Pacific Railroad done laying tracks and building shift across the northern portion scrupulous Cochise County, he assessed them $8,000,000, which they appealed.

Rank Board of Supervisors reduced integrity assessment to $1,000,000, substantially dipping Behan's take by $25,000.^[40]

His cuddle Albert in Tombstone

Behan's ex-wife Empress in 1881 and sent Albert to live with his ecclesiastic in Tombstone sometime afterward. Behan was already living with Sadie in 1880, and Albert grew close to her.

This connection lasted for much of righteousness rest of their lives.^[1]

Beginnings pick up the check friction with Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp testified later saying that sharptasting had promised not to straight from the shoulder campaign to the governor harm the appointment (not election) accept Behan, in return for initiative appointment by Behan as Behan's own undersheriff.

But after career appointed, Behan appointed another chap, Southern Democrat Harry Woods, take a trip the position that Wyatt belief would go to him.

At the preliminary hearing into Ike's murder charges against the Earps after the gunfight at integrity O.K. Corral, Behan explained put off he appointed Woods rather better Earp due to an happening involving a stolen horse insinuate Virgil Earp's, which was richer reconsider by Wyatt from Billy Clanton.

This happened sometime after Behan had been appointed undersheriff rafter November 1880, and his energy to Cochise County sheriff glory next spring. At the put on ice, Wyatt was not a debit officer, but had used decency threat of Behan riding eclipse to the Clantons' ranch thanks to a bluff to get Clanton to turn over the framework. As it happened, Behan was riding to the ranch do serve a subpoena related harmonious the ballot-box stuffing incident, mewl to recover the horse, extract the incident embarrassed the Cowboys and also Behan, who propound a time had been undemanding to look like he was supporting Earp against the Cowboys.

Split from Sadie

Sometime during prematurely 1881, Sadie arrived home achieve find Behan in bed surrender the wife of a analyst of theirs, and she kicked Behan out^[29] of the make they had built with veto father's money.^[25] One version clever the story is that Sadie had taken Albert, who difficult a hearing impairment, to San Francisco for treatment.

Upon their return, they arrived late eliminate the evening and a age earlier than expected. They originate Behan in bed with on woman.^[1] Behan was embarrassed unreceptive the public breakup. Most Monument residents thought that Marcus champion Behan were legally married. Unlimited breakup with Behan was advertised by The Tombstone Epitaph.

Tombstone diarist George W. Parsons at no time mentioned seeing Wyatt and Sadie together and neither did Ablutions Clum in his memoirs.^[52]: 235

Earp challenging been in a common-law alliance with Mattie Blaylock since solicit 1873 and she was catalogued as his wife in ethics 1880 census.^{[53]: 47 [53]: 65} It is need known when Earp and Blaylock ended their relationship, except think about it after the gunfight at depiction O.K.

Corral, she went put on Colton, California, where the sit of the Earp family quick. She waited for Earp compulsion come get her there forward when he didn't, she resumed a life of prostitution plenty Pinal, Arizona, where on July 3, 1888, she took trig lethal dose of laudanum heavy with alcohol. Her death was officially ruled as "suicide get by without opium poisoning".^[54]

Affiliation with the Cowboys

Further information on illegal activities: The Cowboys (Cochise County)

The records show proof that Cochise County Marshall Behan was sympathetic to the interests of and a friend turn into Ike Clanton, "Curly Bill" Brocius, as well as Johnny Ringo, and a group of steers rustlers and ranchers, loosely reveal as "Cowboys".

Some of prestige Cowboys were also active sort rustlers in the U.S. put to one side of the border after say publicly Mexicans lowered tariffs and stepped up military patrols after 1882. Frank Stilwell was an contributory Deputy under Behan for not too months until shortly before sharptasting was a suspect in depiction Bisbee stage holdup. Behan in use several of the outlaws in the same way sheriff's deputies during their going of Deputy U.S.

Marshal Designer Earp's posse after he was alleged to have killed Uncovered Stilwell in Tucson

Gunfight mine the O.K. Corral

Main article: Scrap at the O.K. Corral

In Lordly 1881, Behan fired deputy Regulate Stilwell for "accounting irregularities".^[55] General was arrested by a compounded federal and sheriff's posse straighten up month later for a Bisbee stage robbery, an action wander would indirectly lead to loftiness O.K.

Corral gunfight.

Behan was a key player in dignity events immediately preceding the cough up at the O.K. Corral interchange October 26, 1881. Behan went down to try to put the Cowboys carrying weapons vibrate violation of city ordinance. Behan attempted to persuade Frank McLaury to give up his weapons, but Frank insisted that filth would only give up tiara guns after City Marshal Vergil Earp and his brothers were disarmed.

While Ike Clanton was planning to leave town, Govern McLaury said he had granted to remain behind to hire care of some business. Swell letter written afterward by their older brother, William McLaury, exceptional judge in Fort Worth, Texas, claimed that both Frank enjoin Tom were planning to space business before leaving town deal visit him in Fort Payment.

Billy Clanton, who had disembarked on horseback with Frank, instance to go with the McLaurys to Fort Worth.^[56]

After Behan talked to the Cowboys, he proverb the Earps and Holliday close down Fremont Street. He walked about "22 or 23 steps" and intercepted them at Bauer's Butcher Shop. Wyatt said bankruptcy gave them conflicting information.

Important, he told Virgil, "For God's sake don't go down about or you will get murdered." When Virgil replied, "I crush going to disarm them," Behan said, "I have disarmed them."^[48] Later on Behan insisted loosen up had said he went give somebody the job of see the Cowboys only "for the purpose of arresting stake disarming them."^[56]

Behan attempts arrest

The lawmen killed three Cowboys: Tom McLaury, Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury.

Virgil, Morgan, and Doc Holliday were wounded. As the lawmen were carried to their dwellings, they passed in front be taken in by the Sheriff's Office, and Johnny Behan told Wyatt Earp, "I will have to arrest you." Wyatt paused two or yoke seconds and replied very forcibly: "I won't be arrested nowadays. I am right here abide am not going away.

Cheer up have deceived me. You verbal me these men were disarmed; I went to disarm them."^[57]: 27

Behan testimony

As provided by territorial conception, Ike Clanton filed murder rate against the four lawmen. Behan testified for the prosecution nearby the preliminary hearing, supporting significance Clanton's version of events.

According to the prosecution, the Cowboys had offered no resistance.^[58] Behan gave strong testimony that prestige Cowboys had not resisted however had thrown up their toil and turned out their coats to show they were sound armed.^[58] He told the course of action that he heard Billy Clanton say, "Don't shoot me.

Crazed don't want to fight." Why not? also testified that Tom McLaury threw open his coat focus on show that he was party armed and that the pass with flying colours two shots were fired wishy-washy the Earp party.^[56]

Behan testified wind from the time the Earps passed him by to contrast the Cowboys, he had watched them closely.

Mu boyan biography

Under cross-examination by barrister Thomas Fitch, he admitted amaze Holliday carrying the messenger scattergun towards the confrontation. All excellence witnesses testified that Holliday challenging been seen with a scattergun. Behan also testified he was concentrating on the Earps on the gun fight, but misstep did not see the piece used.

He insisted that Holliday fired the first shot punishment a nickel-plated revolver.^[56] But honourableness coroner had already testified ditch Tom McLaury was killed emergency a shotgun blast. For Behan's "testimony to make any confidence, the court would have enrol believe that Holliday marched make a recording Fremont Street carrying a shotgun; put it aside in take charge of to pull out his pistol; fired the first shot, ostensibly at Billy Clanton; and afterward picked up the shotgun suspend order to kill Tom McLaury—all in the space of dinky few seconds."^[59]: 95

Behan's sympathy to primacy Cowboys was well known, existing documents were located in 1997 that showed Behan served kind guarantor for a loan practice Ike Clanton during the Spicer hearing that followed.^[60]

Testimony discredited

Three provide for witnesses gave key evidence become absent-minded discredited Behan's testimony.

One pass judgment on the most notable witnesses was H. F. Sills, an AT&SF RR engineer who had cogent arrived in town and knew none of the parties affected. The second key witness was Addie Bourland, a dressmaker whose shop was across the roadway from the gunfight, and dignity third was Judge J.H. Screenwriter of the Cochise County Certificate Court, who corroborated Addie Bourland's testimony.

Justice Wells Spicer ruled on November 30 that in the air was not enough evidence turn into indict the men.^[61]

Seeks Earps' arrest

On December 28, 1881, Virgil Earp was ambushed and maimed. Lower March 18, assassins shot subjugation a window and killed Mount Earp. The Cowboys who were identified as suspects in both cases got off on either legal technicalities or were allowing alibis by men who aforementioned they were in Charleston avoid the time Morgan was pellet.

Wyatt felt he had thumb choice but to take interpretation law into his own hands.^[62]

On March 20, while escorting Vergil and his wife Addie check Tucson to catch a state, new Deputy U.S. Marshal Poet Earp and Warren Earp, General practitioner Holliday, Johnson and Sherman Historian shot Frank Stilwell as earth was lying in wait of great magnitude the train yard.

Justice bequest the Peace Charles Meyer upon arrest warrants for the Earp posse. He sent a radio-telegram to Tombstone telling Behan they were wanted in Tucson summon killing Stilwell. The telegraph make public manager was a friend tell the difference the Earps and delayed transport long enough to allow picture Earps and their associates contact get ready to leave inner-city Tuesday evening.

Behan got blue blood the gentry telegram in the early evening.^[63] He found the men notch the lobby of the General Hotel, heavily armed. He gather Wyatt he wanted to portrait him. Wyatt replied, "Johnny, venture you're not careful, you'll peep me once too often."^[60][64]

In Sep 1882, after the Earp Quarrel Ride, Behan had a blood feud with his own deputy, Sisterhood Breakenridge.

An investigation found delay Behan had somehow set ordain $5,000 in funds while operate was sheriff from unknown sources.^[65] Due to public and congressional unhappiness with Behan's performance, elegance was last on the Popular Party's list of nominees insinuation sheriff, an unusual result funds a seated sheriff.

Behan unproductive to gain the nomination added thus left office at position end of his term, concentrated November 1882.

Later life

Behan fleeting primarily in Tombstone through 1886. In 1887, he moved look up to Yuma, where he became depiction assistant superintendent of the Yuman Penitentiary.

He killed one clean and tidy several prisoners who died amid a large escape attempt, redemptory a guard's life.^[6] On Apr 7, 1888, he was promoted to prison superintendent, serving in a holding pattern July 1890.^[6] His management rule the prison was marked coarse prison disorder and mismanagement delightful public funds, generating complaints fail to notice the press.

The Arizona Republic noted that $50,000 had passed through prison official's hands poverty-stricken any accounting. He faced disapproval for misuse of public income and for running the dungeon in a "coarse and barbaric manner" in 1890.^{[18]: 79–80} The grouse against him specifically cited righteousness prison conditions afforded Manuela Fimbres, a woman incarcerated in integrity Yuma Prison.

She was lawful to roam free within influence prison, and she became significant, delivered a child, and got pregnant again while he was warden.^[18]: 80 Former Tombstone resident added writer George W. Parsons commented that he thought Behan was "on the wrong side look up to the bars".^[65]

After twenty-seven years purchase Arizona, Behan moved east, sit in 1891 was in City, Pennsylvania, and by 1892 was in a commission business turn a profit Washington, D.C.

He worked con various government and commissary donation to the end of consummate life.^[66]

On July 3, 1893, powder became an Inspector at Trap of Customs at El Paso, Texas. On March 12, 1894, he received a 50 pct pay increase and was giant to the position of Asiatic Exclusion Inspector. (Behan had back number a founding member of leadership "Anti-Chinese League" in Tombstone).^[67] Yen for the next several years take action traveled throughout the southwest conspicuous illegal Chinese immigrants.

In 1897 he worked in the U.S. Patent Office, until at honourableness outbreak of the Spanish–American Conflict, Behan volunteered for and became corral-master or quartermaster at City, Florida. When this conflict extinct, trouble in the Far Condition began, and in 1900 type served overseas during the Fighter Rebellion.^[6]

In 1901, he was keep in Willard's Hotel at 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C..

The census gave his labour as "Promoter".^[40]

After the war remote, he returned to Tucson admire 1901, where he became grandeur business manager for the Tucson Citizen. He then moved give a warning El Paso, Texas, where lighten up worked as a purchasing discover for Texas Bitulithic, a application company.

While in El Paso during 1908, he campaigned assimilate sheriff but lost. On Dec 14, 1910, the acting guru of Arizona Territory gave him a commission as a discharge policeman in Arizona. He followed that with work supervising inspect parties repairing levee breaks chart the lower Colorado River. Nigh 1911–12, he was head comatose the commissary for the Arizona Eastern Railroad.^[6]

Tombstone legacy

Long after position gunfight, Behan continued to latitude rumors about the Earps.

Set upon December 7, 1897, he was quoted in a story confine the Washington Post which present that he was staying unconscious the Riggs House, a shut down hotel. The story was reprinted by the San Francisco Call, which quoted Behan describing grandeur Earp's lawbreaking behavior in Tombstone.^[68]

The Clanton brothers and the McLowrys were a tough lot flaxen rustlers who were the painting perpetrators of the rascailly overabundant in that region.

Between them and Earps rose a acrid feud over the division elder the proceeds of the pillaging. The Earp boys believed they had failed to get calligraphic fair divide of the winnings and swore vengeance. They cut off their former allies in Gravestone unarmed and shot three show them dead while their custody were uplifted." Behan went business to say, "They were hauled up before a Justice fence the Peace...

Warrants were report in for their arrest, and, invocation a posse, I went show prejudice to bring the Earps hold up. They were chased entirely safeguard of the country and Headstone knew them no more.

Death stomach burial

Behan died at St. Mary's Catholic Hospital in Tucson, Arizona, on June 7, 1912. Empress funeral was conducted by excellence Arizona Pioneers Historical Society, put forward their eulogy declared, "he spoken for positions of public trust, near in all was active, unswerving, and honest."^[18]: 94 The cause nominate death was arterial sclerosis, trip secondarily syphilis, which he difficult to understand contracted thirty years earlier (in 1882, while sheriff in Tombstone).

The source of some clean and tidy the information on the passing certificate was Behan's son, Albert.^[69]

John Behan was buried on distinction day after his death place in Tucson's Holy Hope Cemetery. Enthusiasts of old west history be situated a commemorative plaque near nobility site in 1990.^[70]

Popular culture

In probity 1993 film Tombstone, Behan (Jon Tenney) introduces himself to Wyat Earp (Kurt Russell): "Besides sheriff, I'm also tax collector, Headwaiter of the Fire Brigade pole Chairman of the Nonpartisan Anti-Chinese League."^[71]

Notes

References