Fred White

Fred White (1849 – October 30 1880) was a young lawman and the first town Marshal of the then boomtown, Tombstone, Arizona. White had been elected on January 6 1880.

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.

Accidental shooting

On the night of October 28 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 he (or his companions) were firing pistols into 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 "half-cocked" back over a live round (it contained six live rounds), 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. [This may have been done due to his courageousness [http://www.tombstonevigilantes.com/curly.html Wyatt vs. Curly ] ]

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 30 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. [ [http://www.tombstonevigilantes.com/curly.html Wyatt vs. Curly ] ]

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. [ [http://forums.ghosttowns.com/archive/index.php?t-1740.html broken link to a ghostpage on ghosttowns.com] ]

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. [ [http://www.moviemistakes.com/film1307 Tombstone mistakes, goofs and bloopers ] ]

*Ghost enthusiasts claim that the "Ghost of Fred White" still haunts the street where he was shot. [ [http://clantongang.com/oldwest/ghost_marshalwhite.html Ghosts of Tombstone - Ghost Photos - Paranormal ] ]

Notes

References

External links

* [http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=14071 Fred White]
*http://www.tombstonevigilantes.com/curly.html
*http://forums.ghosttowns.com/archive/index.php?t-1740.html
*http://www.gv.net/~syd/WyattSEarp/history3.html
*http://members.tripod.com/%7ETombstonehistory/cbindex.html
*http://clantongang.com/oldwest/ghost_marshalwhite.html

Persondata
NAME = White, Fred
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = American Marshal, killed in the line of duty
DATE OF BIRTH = 1849
PLACE OF BIRTH =
DATE OF DEATH = October 30 1880
PLACE OF DEATH = Tombstone, Arizona, USA