The Murder of Fred White: first Marshall of Tombstone

Early in the year 1880, Fred White and friends celebrated his election as the first town marshal of Tombstone, Arizona. Before the year was over, though, White would be buried on Boot Hill, victim of an accidental shooting by one of the Cowboys, Curly Bill Brocius. At Brocius’ trial, both White and Wyatt Earp testified on his behalf – White from beyond the grave.

Fred White was born in New York in 1849, belying the movie image of him as a white haired older man. White never got that chance, dying at 31. He began his law enforcement career in 1875, and was highly respected enough that he was elected to be town marshal at the beginning of 1880. White not only formed a law enforcement alliance with Pima County undersheriff Wyatt Earp as well as the Cowboys. Respected by all sides, White was an effective marshal. On October 28, 1880, the Cowboys did what they do: get drunk and start shooting up the town. At the sound of the shots, White headed to the main drag where he confronted five members of the Cowboys. He disarmed all five without incident. However, a bit later, on the site of what would become the Birdcage Theater, when White tried to disarm Brocius, he was shot in the groin. Wyatt Earp, Johnny on the spot as always, saw the whole thing and pistol whipped Brocius unconscious and arresting him. White lingered for two days before dying on October 30.

He was buried in Row 6 of Boot Hill Cemetery. Before he died, White testified that Brocius had his pistol at half cock and that the pistol fired by itself; this was demonstrated to be possible and Brocius was cleared of all charges. At some point after his burial, it's said that Fred White began to haunt the area in front of the Birdcage Theater. Apparently White was not quite ready for his tour to end, however. His presence has been felt ever since. His spirit can be seen in the orbs on the upper left of this 2004 photograph from TombstoneArizona.com.

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