Ike Bites Dust
Ike Clanton vs J.V. Brighton
By: Bob Boze Bell 01/01/2009
JUNE 1, 1887
Detective J.V. Brighton (who also holds a deputy sheriff’s commission) and two law officers have been on the trail of Ike Clanton and his cohorts for the better part of two weeks. After a ride from Springerville to Solomonville, Arizona, and environs, the lawmen have gone back into the mountains for another pass at the Clanton Gang.
Arriving at Jim Wilson’s ranch on Eagle Creek last night, the lawmen join Wilson for breakfast in the morning. While eating, Ike rides straight up to the door. Recognizing his prey, Detective Brighton gets up from the table, while Jim Wilson walks to the door and exchanges greetings with Clanton.
When Deputy Miller steps to the door, Ike recognizes the local lawman and wheels his horse, spurring him toward the thick cover growing close to Wilson’s home. At the same time, Ike pulls his Winchester from its scabbard.
Brighton and Miller order Ike to halt. Instead of doing so, Ike, about 20 yards distant where the trail takes a turn to the left, throws his rifle over his left arm, attempting to fire.
Detective Brighton fires, the ball entering under Ike’s left arm and passing directly through his heart and out under his right arm.
As Ike reels in his saddle, Brighton’s second shot passes through the cantle of Ike’s saddle and grazes Ike’s right leg. Ike falls on the right side of his horse, as his rifle falls on the left.
Brighton and Miller warily approach the spot where Clanton lays. When they get close, they realize Ike is dead.
Wilson, at whose ranch their tragedy has occurred, notifies the nearest neighbors. Four men come over and identify the deceased. They then give him as decent a burial as circumstances allow.
Comments (2)
WHY DO ALL THE HISTORY BOOKS THAT I'VE READ SAY IKE CLANTON WAS KILLED IN MEXICO.( realizing of course that I have not read all history books )
GREM822
This is not the only controversy in which Brighton was involved. In an 1892 California train robbery case, Brighton was the star witness for the prosecution. The jury acquitted the defendants in the case based largely on the fact that Brighton lied during his testimony - a la the case against Ike and Phin. That's a disturbing pattern, is it not?
Details on the train robbery testimony can be found on this link: http://books.google.com/books?id=s99i...
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