For your consideration is this page from The Tombstone Epitaph, from the October 31st, 1880 printing detailing the death of Marshal Fred White. Frederick G. White is best remembered for becoming Tombstone, Arizona's first town marshal and the towns first lawman to be killed. Born in 1848, most likely in New England, he went to Arizona in the early 1870s, eventually settling in Tombstone as it blossomed into a thriving mining community. As town marshal, White worked to keep order in a hazardous frontier setting populated with cowboys, bandits, and drunken gunfighters. Despite escalating tensions between law enforcement and criminal elements, he was seen as a fair and capable officer who was well-liked in the community. The article "The Dead Marshal" discusses the death of Frederick White, the Marshal of Tombstone, who was shot in the line of duty. The essay explains how White's physician warned him that he was nearing death, causing him to say goodbye to his friends and transfer his father's care to them. Despite being in tremendous discomfort, he died gently. The story goes, as White was patrolling town, drunk cowboys were firing their pistols into the air. He started to confront them and confiscate their firearms one by one, with little hesitation, many of the men complied with White. One man he encountered was "Curly Bill" Brocius, at the east end of town, hanging out on a dark street in a vacant lot where the Birdcage Theater now stands. Brocius was inebriated, and he (or his accomplices) were shooting pistols into the air. White ordered Brocius to relinquish his weapon. Brocius did this this by taking the pistol from his pocket and handing it barrel-first to White. Unknown to White or the drunk Brocius, the hammer was half-cocked when he handed over his weapon. As White began to pull the pistol from his hand, the trigger was pulled and White was shot in his lower stomach. Watching the interaction from a distance was Wyatt Earp, a Sheriff Deputy at the time. From Earp's perspective, the shooting looked intentional so he ran up to Brocius, pistol whipped him knocking him unconscious and arrested him. Brocius was said to have deeply regretted shooting White, whom he evidently liked, and claimed that it was an accident. White survived for two days before dying on October 30, 1880. However, prior to his death, he testified, which resulted in Brocius being absolved of all charges. White indicated that the pistol was shot by mistake, and that Brocius, who was inebriated, clearly did not understand the pistol was cocked. White's testimony, as well as a demonstration for the court that Brocius' weapon could be shot from the half-cock position, prompted Judge Neugass in Tucson to drop the indictment against him. Despite his guilt for White's death and Earp's assistance in getting him out of town (Earp eventually testified on his behalf), Brocius resented being pistol-whipped by Earp during his detention. This was one aspect contributing to rising tensions between the Earps and the Cowboys. According to the article, White was a 32-year-old New England native who had lived in Arizona for around nine years. His death put a shadow over the community, prompting the Town Council and the Hose Company, of which he was a member, to adopt resolutions commemorating his service. An autopsy confirmed that he died as a result of a gunshot wound to the intestines. His funeral was set to take place that day at Gird's Hall, with Reverend McIntyre of the Methodist Church officiating. Businesses were asked to close for the funeral as a show of respect. The article includes official resolutions from the Town Council and Hose Company, grieving the loss of an effective officer, valued community member and devoted friend. Also included in the newspaper are various advertisements and other news articles. The piece shows good condition overall with little wear present and no signs of major damage noted. It is set in a glass frame. The visible newspaper measures 21 3/4" L x 14 7/8" W, while the entire piece measures 31 1/2" L x 23 5/8" W x 3/8" D. It weighs 12 pounds and 14 ounces. Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona