JAMES C. BURNETT
July 8, 1897
Arizona Republican Newspaper

Last Thursday in Tombstone William C. Greene of the San Pedro, 
shot and killed James C. Burnett.  Mr. Greene claims that he 
ascertained beyond the shadow of a doubt that Burnett had 
occasioned the blowing up of his (Green's) dam on the San 
Pedro, thereby causing a rush of water which overwhelmed and 
drowned his little girl and her companion Edna Cochran. Mr. 
Green also claims that Burnett had at different times 
threatened his life. It is known that there had been ill 
feeling between the two men, who own neighboring ranches 
below Fairbank.  The Tucson Star states that Burnett bore a 
bad reputation and is said to have killed several men. 
However that may be, Burnett was a man who was much given 
to threatening and whose name came before a good many 
grand juries.  If Mr. .Green is able to show good reason 
for believing that Burnett was responsible for the blowing 
out of his dam and the consequent death of his child and 
can also show as he claims that Burnett had threatened his 
life but a few minutes before the shooting there will be a 
strong tide of popular sentiment in favor of the defendant. 
His preliminary trial was set for Saturday but on account 
of the illness of District Attorney English was postponed 
till today.


July 2, 1897

Marshal Meade received a dispatch from Tombstone which said, 
"Bill Greene killed Jim Burnett here today".  There were no 
further particulars but it is believed at the Marshal's ofice 
that another death had led to the tragedy of today.  About a 
week ago a dam on the San Pedro owned by Mr. Greene was blown 
out. It so happened that a little daughter of Mr. Greene's was 
playing in the river below with a companion from Bisbee and 
in the rush of the water which followed the blowing up of the 
dam, both children were drowned.  Greene offered a reward of 
$1000 for information that would lead to the discovery of the 
party who had blown up his dam and thus brough death in his 
family and it is believed to be the sequel of today's 
killing.

July 4, 197

Green's statement taken from the Tombstone Prospector's report 
of the inquest:

"The most important witness' sworn was John Montgomery who 
testified that when Mr. Greene came into town with Mr. Scott 
White, he came to his stable and asked that his team be put 
up and lalso left a pistol with him.  I locked it up and later, 
just before the shooting, probalby two hours later, he asked 
me if there was anyone working in Hart's old shop.  He sat in 
a chair until I went and got the pistol.  He apparently started, 
as I supposed for the shop but he did not put the gun in his 
pocket as far as I saw.  He turned around by the corner of the 
office and accused Jim Burnett of having his dam blown up.  
Burnett made a denial in words and then there were three shots 
fired and Burnett fell.

Both men are well known throughout the county having been pioneers 
before the creation of Cochise County.  Burnett at the time of his 
death was Justice of the PEace at Pearce and owned a ranch on the 
San Pedro near the ranch of W.C. Greene.

July 6, 1897

The funeral of James c. Burnett who was the victim of the tragedy 
of yesterday at th hands of W.C. Greene took place this afternoon 
from the undertkaing parlors of C.B. Tarbell and was lately 
attended by a concourse of relatives and firends.  The deceased 
was 67 years of age and at the date of his unfortunate end was 
the Justice of the Peace at Pearce. His family and immediate 
realtives consisting of Mrs. Burnett and two daughters, Mrs. 
Marks nad Mrs. Frankie Bauer, also George Hand and Wife, the 
latter a granddaughter of the deceased arrived early this 
morning and were presnet to consign the last mortal remains 
in their resting place.  The sympathy of the community is 
extended to the family in its bereavement.



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