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After two months of covering old crimes in Arivaca, perhaps it is time to turn to the law.
One of the streets in Arivaca, over on the west side, is named Paul Street. Chances are, this is named after a well-known Sheriff of Pima County, Robert H. Paul. Or at least you would think that. However, the owner of an Arivaca homestead, just west of town on the Refuge property, was Robert J. Paul, the son of the Sheriff. So perhaps it would take some serious investigation to find out just which one the street is named for. Robert H. Paul, a native of Massachusetts, came to Arizona in 1877 as an employee of Wells Fargo, and decided to stay. Having had several years of experience as a sheriff in California, Paul decided to contend for the Pima County Sheriff position. It took some doing, as ballot box-stuffing was a common practice. After it was all over (a story worth reading) Paul had won, a position he held from 1881-1886. As Sheriff he was fearless and tenacious in his pursuit of the lawless, which included Doc Holliday and the Earps. At 6 foot 6” he was larger than life. In 1881 Cochise County split off from Pima County, relieving him of a large and difficult territory. In 1890 he became U. S. Marshall for the Territory, and held that post until 1893, after which he served as Justice of the Peace in Tucson. He passed away in 1901.
Around the turn of the 20th century, there being so much smuggling along the border and lawlessness in general, the Territorial Legislature decided to create a company of Rangers, along the same line as those in Texas. This took effect March 21, 1901. According to Joseph Miller, “Arizona towns scattered along the border were the daily scenes of murders and fierce personal encounters, and the smugglers and cattle rustlers were grown so bold as to ply their business openly…so well organized were these men that the few civil officers and scattered troops of the U. S. Cavalry were powerless against them. ”* The Arizona Rangers were chosen from (mostly) cowboys who knew the border range and were good shots. They were to patrol the territory, especially the border, catch those fleeing from the law and break up the smuggling rings. Burton Mossman was chosen to be the first captain. It was he who chose the first 14 Rangers. Later that number was increased but never to a large number. Mossman held his position for a year, and was replaced by Thomas Rynning. The only known local person who became an Arizona Ranger was Charles Eperson of Oro Blanco, a relative by marriage of Alonzo Noon. The Rangers’ duty was to uncover smuggling and other illegal operations, catch and transport the alleged criminals to the nearest law enforcement officer. At this they were very successful, and reports showed that several hundred errants were arrested each year. This was during the unsettled years before the Mexican Revolution when Emilio Kosterlitzky’s rurales patrolled the other side of the line. In 1905, Rynning reported: “The most cordial relations exist with the Mexican authorities who have at all times assisted and cooperated with us in the pursuit of criminals and the recovery of stolen property taken into Mexico. We have always followed fugitives into Mexico and the International line is no longer a protection for criminals from Arizona. ” Times have changed.
J. T. “Rye” Miles was Sheriff of Pima County from 1917-20. He had come to Arizona from Texas as a cowboy and joined the Arizona Rangers. After they shut down in 1909, he worked as a livestock inspector. (One of his relatives lived in Arivaca about that same time—J. T. Chambers worked at the Arivaca Ranch for several years.) Rye is mentioned (with a photo) in California Cowboys when he was working a big Arivaca roundup in his capacity as livestock inspector. Rye Miles was elected Sheriff of Pima County in 1916 and held the post until 1920. He passed away in Casa Grande where he served as Town Marshall and Constable.
The following references are available from the Library: *The Arizona Rangers, edited by Joseph Miller, California Cowboys by Dane Coolidge, Arizona Sheriffs: badges and bad men by Jane Eppinga, and Robert Havlin Paul: Frontier lawman: the Arizona years by Roy B. Young. Also visit the Arizona Rangers room in the 1904 Courthouse in Nogales.
After two months of covering old crimes in Arivaca, perhaps it is time to turn to the law.
One of the streets in Arivaca, over on the west side, is named Paul Street. Chances are, this is named after a well-known Sheriff of Pima County, Robert H. Paul. Or at least you would think that. However, the owner of an Arivaca homestead, just west of town on the Refuge property, was Robert J. Paul, the son of the Sheriff. So perhaps it would take some serious investigation to find out just which one the street is named for. Robert H. Paul, a native of Massachusetts, came to Arizona in 1877 as an employee of Wells Fargo, and decided to stay. Having had several years of experience as a sheriff in California, Paul decided to contend for the Pima County Sheriff position. It took some doing, as ballot box-stuffing was a common practice. After it was all over (a story worth reading) Paul had won, a position he held from 1881-1886. As Sheriff he was fearless and tenacious in his pursuit of the lawless, which included Doc Holliday and the Earps. At 6 foot 6” he was larger than life. In 1881 Cochise County split off from Pima County, relieving him of a large and difficult territory. In 1890 he became U. S. Marshall for the Territory, and held that post until 1893, after which he served as Justice of the Peace in Tucson. He passed away in 1901.
Around the turn of the 20th century, there being so much smuggling along the border and lawlessness in general, the Territorial Legislature decided to create a company of Rangers, along the same line as those in Texas. This took effect March 21, 1901. According to Joseph Miller, “Arizona towns scattered along the border were the daily scenes of murders and fierce personal encounters, and the smugglers and cattle rustlers were grown so bold as to ply their business openly…so well organized were these men that the few civil officers and scattered troops of the U. S. Cavalry were powerless against them. ”* The Arizona Rangers were chosen from (mostly) cowboys who knew the border range and were good shots. They were to patrol the territory, especially the border, catch those fleeing from the law and break up the smuggling rings. Burton Mossman was chosen to be the first captain. It was he who chose the first 14 Rangers. Later that number was increased but never to a large number. Mossman held his position for a year, and was replaced by Thomas Rynning. The only known local person who became an Arizona Ranger was Charles Eperson of Oro Blanco, a relative by marriage of Alonzo Noon. The Rangers’ duty was to uncover smuggling and other illegal operations, catch and transport the alleged criminals to the nearest law enforcement officer. At this they were very successful, and reports showed that several hundred errants were arrested each year. This was during the unsettled years before the Mexican Revolution when Emilio Kosterlitzky’s rurales patrolled the other side of the line. In 1905, Rynning reported: “The most cordial relations exist with the Mexican authorities who have at all times assisted and cooperated with us in the pursuit of criminals and the recovery of stolen property taken into Mexico. We have always followed fugitives into Mexico and the International line is no longer a protection for criminals from Arizona. ” Times have changed.
J. T. “Rye” Miles was Sheriff of Pima County from 1917-20. He had come to Arizona from Texas as a cowboy and joined the Arizona Rangers. After they shut down in 1909, he worked as a livestock inspector. (One of his relatives lived in Arivaca about that same time—J. T. Chambers worked at the Arivaca Ranch for several years.) Rye is mentioned (with a photo) in California Cowboys when he was working a big Arivaca roundup in his capacity as livestock inspector. Rye Miles was elected Sheriff of Pima County in 1916 and held the post until 1920. He passed away in Casa Grande where he served as Town Marshall and Constable.
The following references are available from the Library: *The Arizona Rangers, edited by Joseph Miller, California Cowboys by Dane Coolidge, Arizona Sheriffs: badges and bad men by Jane Eppinga, and Robert Havlin Paul: Frontier lawman: the Arizona years by Roy B. Young. Also visit the Arizona Rangers room in the 1904 Courthouse in Nogales.
In the last year we have suffered through the murder of Brisenia Flores and her father, Raul. These murders tend to stand out in the history of a small place where everyone knows everyone else. However, the memory of those deeds eventually tends to get lost, and over the decades a story that seemed horrific at the time can just disappear. In times past two other murders shocked our town.
There may still be folks around who remember very clearly the murder of Santiago Padilla. It happened not so very long ago, on Christmas Day in 1931. It seems that Santiago was estranged from his wife, Francisca (Pancha), who had gone home to live with her mother, Dona Placida Aros. Frank Cortez, a relative of Mrs. Aros’, had come back to Arivaca after an absence of twelve years, and was staying with her, too. Santiago took offence at the interest Cortez apparently showed in Francisca. According to the Citizen: “Padilla, the evidence showed, resented the presence of Cortez at his wife’s home. He protested and is said to have threatened to kill his wife. He was asked to leave. On Sunday before Christmas, Francisca Padilla, her mother and Frank Cortez went to Ruby to see the officers there and register a protest against Padilla’s threats. Upon their return to Arivaca, Padilla stood in the road with a loaded rifle and without warning began shooting at the three. Cortez, to protect the women, leaped from the car and returned fire. Nine shots were exchanged with no damage but several dents in the body of the car. Padilla disappeared and the following day the trio came to Tucson and obtained a warrant for Padilla, charging him with assault with a deadly weapon. The warrant was never served.” Sheriff Bailey had apparently talked to Santiago and had reason to know that there are always two sides to every story. “Trouble over a woman” didn’t seem to him to merit an immediate arrest.
On Christmas Day the two men met and began to talk together as they walked towards Arivaca creek. Frank Cortez apparently took out his gun and shot Santiago Padilla once in the back, then again in the mouth. There were witnesses who would later testify at the trial that Padilla did not have a gun or knife, which contradicted Cortez’ testimony that it was “either him or me.”
Cortez ran away across the cienaga and hid in a shack south of town. By and by, he decided to give himself up to Frank Edgells, the local border patrol officer, mostly because he was afraid the friends and brothers of Padilla might find him first. Some say he was persuaded to give himself up. Cortez freely admitted he shot Padilla, but with reason. Assisting in the search for Cortez were George Smith and Fred Pyatt, customs officers stationed at Ruby. (Yes, there was local law enforcement in those days.)
The coroner’s inquest was held in Arivaca. The Star reported: “The little school house was packed with the neighborhood of Arivaca, for the most part friends of the slain man and enemies of Cortez.” According to the Citizen, “The jury sat in the small and uncomfortable school seats while the judge and county attorney used kitchen chairs hurriedly brought from a nearby ranch house.” As the inquest began, one could hear in the distance, the hammering together of a coffin and “the clink of the pick and shovel of the friends of the dead cowboy who were preparing his last resting place in the cemetery adjacent to the school. The digging of the grave kept up monotonously and as the sun was slowly sinking behind the purple hills, a brother of the dead man asked the judge to excuse him in order that he might drive 60 miles across the desert and hills to secure a priest to officiate at the last rites.” The Star patronizingly considered this a “primitive setting,” to which the Coroner and Sheriff brought law and order. Frank Cortez pleaded not guilty.
The wheels of justice moved more swiftly in those days, and in February, 1932, the trial was held, lasting only a few days. Although charged with murder, the jury found Cortez guilty of manslaughter, and recommended the full punishment of 9-10 years in the State prison. Apparently Cortez served at least eight years. They say he came back to Arivaca at some point, but of course, he didn’t stay.
Vaquero friends composed and sang a corrido in memory of Santiago Padilla and the day on which he was killed.
The second murder recounted here took place some thirty years prior, in 1893. Frank Oury, the victim, was an exceptional, good looking young man whose parents, William S. Oury and Inez Garcia Oury were well-known Tucson pioneers. Frank was born in Tucson in 1864. He grew up there and later graduated from Berkeley. His parents had passed away some years before and he had returned to stay in Tucson. In 1893 he was just beginning the profession of mining engineer, and was in Arivaca to meet with General R. H. Manning who had mining interests here.
On September 19, the two men were in the hotel (the white house across the street from the Merc), along with Pedro Miranda, the owner, and Ignacio Ortiz. According to the Citizen: Three masked men entered the place and demanded money. Frank chose to grapple with the knife-wielding bandit nearest to him and seemed to be getting the better of the struggle when one of the others ran over to Frank, placed a gun against his ribs, and pulled the trigger. Frank continued to fight, following the bandit out the door, whereupon he was shot again, and this time the wound was mortal. A number of other shots were fired, but no one else was hurt. The bandits made their escape.
One of the outlaws apparently had ties to someone in Arivaca. The search for them extended into Mexico. Eventually, four men were implicated in the murder.
Tucson mourned the passing of its golden boy with an extensive funeral and daily articles in the newspapers, lamenting the loss of such a fine young man. Arivaca’s image slipped: it became known as the place where Frank Oury was killed.
References: Pima County public records; The Arizona Daily Star; Tucson Daily Citizen; William Sanders Oury: History-maker of the Southwest by Cornelius C. Smith, Jr. In regards to the Padilla murder, thanks also to the excellent memories of several former Arivacans who were there at the time of the shooting.
This is a tale of two murders that happened near Old Oro Blanco, down near the border south of Ruby. In those days there was local law enforcement: Justice of the Peace McClenahan presided. There were Arizona Rangers, Deputy Sheriffs and line riders. But in neither crime was the perpetrator caught. Here’s what happened: Jasper Scrivner was a miner of the old school who had lived in The Lower Country for a number of years. He was best known for his unusual methods of gold extraction. In a certain spot on his mine the gold was bound up in some hard clay deposits. Scrivner would break up the clay by beating it till it became a fine powder, then pan it. A.H. Noon reported that this was the first time he’d ever seen gold thrashed out with a stick.
On the meeting room wall of the Arivaca Branch Library hangs the Arivaca Quilt, done by many women in town in the late 1990s. A cooperative effort by the Arivaca Homemakers Club with Ellen Dursema of Parks and Rec and Tucson Pima Arts Council, it was a project that took several years. Each of the blocks was done by one person and of course originality reigned and each one is a different size! Putting them together seemed to be an overwhelming task and it sat in storage for a few years. Master quilter Comfort Cover found a way to piece together the varying sizes, using a green background. Katie Lusby and Marty Moss quilted a design into the purple material bordering the green. For a time the quilt stayed at the Library while people quilted around each block. The names of the quilt block makers and the quilters is on a special quilt block. Once it was finished, the quilt made the rounds of public spaces–hanging for a time in the Pima County Board of Supervisors offices. Now it has come home to stay in air conditioned comfort in the meeting room of the Library, alongside quilt blocks representing children’s stories, done by Wendy Dresang, Lory MacFarland, Esther Horton, Lorraine Armour and Katie Lusby.
No account of the history of Arivaca’s artists would be complete without the story of the Arivaca Arts Council, an organization whose impact on the community’s life cannot be overemphasized. Perhaps no other organization changed and improved more lives than it has. It started back in the mid 1980’s, when the educationally minded mothers of the town’s preschoolers got together to provide enrichment and learning opportunities. Those mothers included Kathy Sheldon, Wendy Dresang, and Glo Williams, all of whom now teach at Sopori Elementary School. At one of the Arivaca Days Celebrations the mothers had an arts and crafts booth for the kids. Along came Leonard Starkey, who was looking for groups to be potential recipients of Rural Arts grants, then newly available through the Tucson-Pima Arts Council. The preschoolers caught his eye, and from then it was all uphill. Kathy and the other interested parents, including Patti Lopez and Stacy Hoff, went to meetings in Tucson and decided to incorporate. They formed the Arivaca Arts Council, a non-profit whose first organizational meeting was held in 1985. Kathy was the first president, along with Stacy, Christina Swift and Sally Massey (Rucker). Their intent was to bring the arts to the community of Arivaca. Two of the first programs they sponsored were Carlos Nakai and the Arco Iris Flamenco Dancers. `
There is no muse of art! Attributing the unceasing need to create to that inborn but still outside-of-oneself source is an often used excuse by those starving artists who sometimes feel that their talents aren’t appreciated by the rest of society. Dating to the Classical Greek era, Muses are “spirits who inspire the creation of literature and the arts.” Nine Muses (in female form) exist for the various manifestations of poetry, history, music, tragedy, comedy, dance, and astrology, but surprisingly, not visual or fine art. However, in Ancient Rome, this spirit did exist for any creative venture and was identified as a “genius.” Not that you were a genius, but that you had a helpful spirit called a “genius” who provided you with the creative mystery of your art. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, discusses this very subject online on her website, in a very worthwhile talk: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html
Dolly DeVilleneuve was always fascinated by the splendor of the desert skies at sunset, rising from the multi-layered, many-hued mountain ranges, and the light-dark contrast of Mesquite trunks. She often visited her family in Arivaca and sketched, using colored pencils, returning to her home in San Diego to paint her canvases. Oil paints were her medium, and she mixed her own colors. “I love colors, ” she liked to tell people. “I’m really an illustrator; I like to stylize, and paint in my own way. ”
If it were not for the artists in Arivaca, we would not be the place we are. Underlying the surface of this town is the community of artists who open our eyes to what is real, the seen and the unseen.
Just look around, and you will see more artists than you ever knew were here in Arivaca.
Artists seem to come in all forms in Arivaca and talent spills over from one medium to the next, from art to music, dance and crafts. The encouraging atmosphere in this town brings out the latent talent in many who never expected to become artists, besides those whose life was only art from day one.
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