Fred White
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Fred White (b-1849, d-October 30th, 1880) was a young lawman and the first town Marshal of the then boomtown, Tombstone, Arizona. White had been elected on January 6th, 1880.
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[edit] Policing Tombstone
Over the next months leading up to his death, White formed an alliance and friendship with Wyatt Earp and Virgil Earp, while often finding himself at odds with the county Sheriff, Johnny Behan. Behan was a close ally and friend to a loosely organized group that called itself the "Cow-boys", which dabbled in cattle rustling and other small crimes in the territory. Fred White had established himself as a likable and professional lawman, and contrary to later depictions in film, was well respected by the "Cow-boy" faction. He often arrested members of the "Cow-boys", but rarely had any problems in doing so. On the rare occasion that one did resist arrest, he used force as need-be, and seemingly had the support of other "Cow-boys" in doing so. He got along particularly well with "Curly" Bill Brocious, and Brocious often joked with him.
Of all those involved in the intricate political, business and personal conflicts of Tombstone, White is generally viewed as the only true unbiased individual. The Earps liked and respected him, the "Cow-boys" and Clantons liked and respected him, he had no interest in any business dealings, and by all reports he treated everyone fairly. He did not like Sheriff Behan, nor did Behan like him, but Behan was not viewed by the Earp faction as a threat, nor was he viewed by the "Cow-boy" faction as a strong ally. He was, rather, an ally of convenience, given his position as county Sheriff. White, on the other hand, was viewed as the only real law enforcement for Tombstone, and thus he rarely had conflicts to which all parties did not agree with or at least accept his decision to arrest or not arrest any given individual.
[edit] Accidental shooting
On the night of October 28th, 1880, several "Cow-boys" entered town and began drinking, with several of them firing their pistols in the air at different locations. Marshal White proceeded to confront each of them, disarming them. All of those confronted by him gave up their weapons voluntarily, without incident. Late that night, White encountered "Curly" William B. Brocious in a vacant lot where the Birdcage Theater now stands. Brocious was intoxicated and was firing his pistol in the air. White instructed Brocious to surrender his pistol, which Brocious did, handing it barrel first to White. Although no one is completely certain, apparently the pistol's hammer was cocked back, and when White grabbed the barrel and pulled, the weapon discharged, shooting White in the groin. Brocious was arrested by Wyatt Earp and his brother Morgan, who were working as deputies at the time. Wyatt pistol whipped Brocious during the arrest. [1]
Brocious was alleged to have regretted the incident, and acted as if he felt terrible over shooting White, whom Brocious apparently liked, and maintained that it was an accident. Fred White lingered for a couple of days, dying on October 30th, 1880. However, prior to his death, he gave testimony that ultimately would lead to Brocious being freed of any wrong doing. White stated that the pistol fired accidentally, and that Brocious, intoxicated, evidently did not realize the pistol was cocked. It was due to White's testimony prior to his death that Judge Neugass in Tucson, Arizona dismissed the charge against Brocious. [2]
Despite his regret over the shooting death of Fred White, Brocious did not accept being pistol whipped by Wyatt Earp during his arrest, which would lead to increasing tensions between the Earp and Clanton/"Cow-boy" factions. White was buried in Boot Hill cemetery, in Tombstone. [3]
[edit] Trivia
- Fred White is usually portrayed, as in the film Tombstone, as an elderly or older man, when in fact he was either 31 or 32 years of age at the time of his death. [4]
