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 months leading up to his death, White formed an alliance and friendship with Wyatt Earp (then deputy undersheriff for the Southern portion of Pima County, which included Tombstone). 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 an 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.
[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 Pima County sheriff's deputies at the time. Wyatt pistol whipped Brocious during the arrest. [1]
Brocious was alleged to have terribly regretted the shooting of White, whom Brocious apparently liked, and maintained that it was an accident. 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, as well as a demonstration for the court that Brocious' pistol could be fired from the half-cock position, 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]
