Featured in this lot are Antique Tombstone Jail Leg Irons, Arizona Territory; used in a jail break circa 1900 by Burt Alvord and Juan Yoas. Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. Alvord had been a lawman in the 1880s and 1890s, but decided on a life of crime committing train robberies along with partner William Larkin Stiles, better known as Billy Stiles; Yoas was part of the gang. After a bungled train robbery, both Alvord and Yoas were captured and imprisoned in the Tombstone jail. On April 8, 1900 Stiles helped Alvord and Yoas escape from the Tombstone jail. One of them was wearing these leg irons and they sawed off the irons at a local ranch and continued on their escape. The irons were later found and kept by the rancher. Both Alvord and Yoas were eventually captured. John J Tower’s handcuff design was an advancement on two existing patented handcuff designs: Adam’s ratchet handcuffs and Phelps’s development upon Adam’s design. Tower began producing his handcuffs in 1865 under licence of these patents, but upon the death of the previous patent owners, he was able to purchase the patent in 1877. He designed many adaptations in attempts to counteract the ability to escape due to their adjustable nature. Tower’s designs were popular in America - arguably dominating the handcuff business as an industry standard until 1912. The Tombstone Western Heritage Museum label is marked, "on April 8, 1900 BURT ALVORD & JUAN YOAS escaped the Tombstone Jail and ran. Onew of them was wearing these leg irons. They sawed them off at a nearby ranch and continued running. These irons were found later and kept by the rancher. Burt Alvord was a lawman in the 1880's before turning to crime." The condition of this pair of handcuffs is well preserved with the obvious signs of damage to the handcuffs from the prisoner sawing free, wear consistent with age but otherwise shows a well preserved condition. Measurements for each cuff are 4.5"W x 6.5"L combined weight is 2lb, 12oz.