Retribution on the Frontier

OCTOBER, 1934. ARIZONA HIGHWAYS 11 Retribution on the Frontier The Story of the Ainsworths and the Haldermans, a Chapter of Early Day Justice at Tombstone

By J. F. WEADOCK LIFE IS CHEAP on the frontier! So goes the tale. But it is also on the frontier that men hold to the rule of "an eye for an eye." It is on the stern ap-plication of this rule that the story of the Ainsworths and the Halder-mans is based. It happened in an ear-lier Arizona but there are still those who recall it as of yesterday. It is a tale of frontier justice and retribution.

The Ainsworths were three in num-ber, sons of Michigan, who had turned their faces west to seek a newer, stronger land. It was in the hills and valleys of Arizona territory that they made their home, Chauncey F., the horseman, Charles F., the lawyer and Chet, the officer. And it was in these three roles that they made their mark in the land of their adoption.

The Haldermans, Tom and Will, were of the Texas country. The first with his flaming red thatch and fiery temper and the second, dark of hair and of brow, soon became known among the cattlemen of the Huachuca and Chirica-hua ranges. Tombstone was their stamping ground when they were "in town" and the broad valleys and grass filled canyons of the mountains their home and place of employment.

The members of the two clans make up the full cast of characters for the drama which was played years later in the courtroom of Cochise county with its climax in the jail yard of the court-house.

Charles F. Ainsworth, who in later years became one of Arizona's noted judges, had at the time of the story worked up the rugged stairs of his profession to the office of attorney general of the territory. Chauncey F. Ainsworth, cunning reinsman, served his fel-low westerners with driving and saddle stock, at that time the sole means of transportation in the Arizona country, while Chet Ainsworth, the officer, held the combined office of deputy sheriff and constable in the cattle and mining town of Pearce, a sturdy camp in the valley of the San Pedro, in Cochise county.

Each had prospered in his own way and all were known far and wide as good men in their jobs.

It was Chet Ainsworth in his role of officer, who walked first onto the stage of the desert drama. Cattle had been stolen from several of the ranches near Pearce. The deputy had spent some time tracing elusive signs along the trails and finally his search bore fruit. Evidence piled up to point to the guilt of the two Halderman brothers, the fiery haired Tom and the black browed Will. Ainsworth, his warrant for their arrest in his pocket, mounted his horse and started for the mountain home of the Haldermans in the Huachuca hills.

The reputation of the Texans for hon-esty was under an official cloud, but their reputation for courage was gilt edged. No one thought of cowardice when speaking of the Haldermans. They were known throughout the coun-try as daring riders and hard fighters. Texas even in her "bad 'uns," bred them that way.

Deputy Ainsworth was wise in men and their ways. He was brave, but also cautious. So, as he rode past the home of Ted Horne, a rancher, he deputized Horne and despite his reluctance, talked him into going along to round up the Halderman twain. Horne, after at first objecting to the role imposed upon him, agreed and added his weight on the side of the law to even the odds.

The Haldermans were at home. In fact they were entertaining guests. Two women, inhabitants of the "line" from near Fort Huachuca, were also occupants of the cabin. The four did not hear the officers arrive and their first knowledge of the proximity of the law was when Ainsworth rapped on the door and called the Haldermans outside. When they appeared the officer read the warrants to them and told the brothers they were under arrest and would have to accompany him back to Pearce.

fact they were entertaining guests. Two women, inhabitants of the "line" from near Fort Huachuca, were also oс-cupants of the cabin. The four did not hear the officers arrive and their first knowledge of the proximity of the law was when Ainsworth rapped on the door and called the Haldermans outside. When they appeared the officer read the warrants to them and told the bro-thers they were under arrest and would have to accompany him back to Pearce.

Unarmed and facing the two officers the Haldermans agreed and then, as they were ready to go for their horses, Tom Halderman asked permission to re-enter the house to get their coats. The mountain air was chill and the deputy granted the request. It was then that he made the one error which is all that is permitted an officer in the border desert.

Within the cabin the two women, nursing instinctive hatred of the law, scoffed at their escorts for permitting the arrest.

"You sure ain't going to let Ainsworth take you back to Pearce are ya?" asked one.

"You're fools if you let them jail you," said the other.

The scorn of the women and the tequila the brothers had been drinking had their effect. The red haired Halderman cursed softly and reached to a wall