Volume 17 , Issue 12

1900, March 31 - Citizens' Posse Attack Outlaws

Back in March, 1900, there was a story in The Coconino Cun, out of Flagstaff, Arizona, dated 31 March 1900, page 12, concerning "Citizens' Posse Attack Outlaws." Two men pursued the outlaws and were killed at their camp.

A report from Navajo Springs said: "The details of a terrible fight from ST. Johns, fifty miles south of this point, had been received. The battle occurred near Pine Springs between seven well mounted desperadoes, armed with Mausers, and a posse of St. Johns citizens, the result being the capture of two of the outlaws and the death of two of the posse, Gus Gibbons and Frank Leseur, both young and prominent citizens of St. Johns.

After pursuing the outlaws from Springerville, a distance of twenty-eight miles, the St. Johns citizens took up the trail and pressed them so hard that two of the bandits were captured and bound, while a horse was shot from under a third. The remaining five effected their escape. All but two of the posse returned with the prisoners, but Leseur and Gibbons, after pursuing the outlaws for twenty-five miles through scrub cedars and deep canyons, suddenly coming upon their camp. At the sight of the officers the bandits opened fire, killing both the pursuing parties. Then they stripped the bodies of valuables, leaving the pockets turned inside out, and taking the officers' horses, saddles and firearms.

The victims of the battle were members of prominent families, Fran being the son of J. Leseur of the mercantile firm of that name, and Gus, recently from England, being the son of W. H. Gibbons. The gang had been stealing cattle in various parts of the country.
  |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---