Burt Mossman, the first leader of the Arizona Rangers, was legendary for his storytelling.
He was a Republican, as was the governor, Nathan Oakes Murphy, who appointed him in 1901.
As Mossman told the story years later, Murphy called him in one day and said he'd received complaints from Republican committees throughout the state that all 13 of Mossman's rangers were Democrats. Murphy suggested he do something about it.
"As it is now," Mossman said he told the governor, "every time one of my men gets killed, he's a Democrat, and there are too many of them in the territory already. So all I have to do is keep appointing Democrats and there soon won't be any left to worry the Republicans."
In remembering the incident in 1947, Mossman said he'd never asked his men their political affiliation. And the truth is that only one ranger was killed during Mossman's year in charge.
People are also reading…
Another favorite Mossman story involved a $2.70 bill he received for two shovels one of his rangers purchased from a Douglas hardware store.
"I asked Sergeant Graham what the shovels were for. He said, 'You didn't expect us to leave those four rustlers from across the border just lying there, did you?' I paid the bill and didn't ask any more questions."