Tombstone is the very picture of the "wild west." Throw in Deputy Sheriff Wyatt Earp and this story begs to be told around a campfire and embellished a little more each time.
In this case, one Earp brother sent a telegram to another about a murder in Tombstone. Wyatt Earp went after the murderer and captured him.
From the Arizona Star, Aug. 27, 1880:
The Latest Tombstone Tragedy
A telegram received from Deputy Sheriff Wyatt Earp, of Tombstone,
by his brother, informs him that a man named Malcolm was killed
night before last at the springs near Tombstone.
Earp started at once in pursuit of the murderer, who was finally captured yesterday on the San Pedro. Details of the affair, received yesterday afternoon, are to the following effect:
Mr. Malcolm kept a bar near Mineral Springs, and about 600 yards from him another man named Mason also had a bar and a mineral well. An Italian, whose name is unknown, had left a pistol some time ago with Mason, and day before yesterday he went to claim it.
It is said that Mason was intoxicated and refused to return the weapon, whereupon the Italian knocked him down and beat him unmercifully. Malcolm hearing the cries for help from his neighbor, snatched up an old unloaded shot-gun and started for Mason's whom he found on the floor, and the Italian still striking him with might and main.
After attempting to pull the Italian off and failing, Malcolm struck him with the gun, which being old, broke off near the stock. The Italian then got up and inquired what business Malcolm had to interfere, to which he received the reply that he would not see his friend ill-used.
The Italian then said he was being unjustly deprived of his pistol, and Malcolm advised Mason to return it. This was done, and they all took a drink.
The Italian then suddenly turned upon Malcolm and told him to drop the stock of his gun, which he still held, and gave him a minute to do it. Almost immediately after he shot, putting four bullets through Malcolm's body. He also fired twice at Mason missing him, and fled to the bushes where he was soon lost. Malcolm only lived a few minutes after the cowardly shooting.
As soon as deputy Sheriff Earp obtained the particulars of the shooting he started in pursuit, and after a hard chase, having found the murderer near the San Pedro, brought him back to Tombstone and lodged him in jail.
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Readers will note that this did not occur in Tucson, but even in those days, Tombstone was near enough to Tucson for people to be interested and for the local newspaper to report Tombstone happenings.
