38 Facts About Bill Downing

William F Downing was a notorious outlaw during the Wild West era in Arizona.

Bill Downing was so unpopular that even members of his gang couldn't stand him.

Bill Downing was in trouble with the law when he came to Arizona Territory, with a Texas Rangers posse in pursuit.

Once he settled down, he sent for his wife, Linda Bill Downing who was a native of Texas.

Bill Downing never spoke about his relationship with the Bass gang.

Bill Downing was hired to work in the Esperanza Ranch, which was known for hiring rustlers, outlaws and renegade Apaches.

Traynor, who went by the name of "Bill Downing Traynor", was a native of Tennessee who at onetime had been an outlaw, mine guard and a veteran Rough Rider campaigning in Cuba during the Spanish-American War under the command of Theodore Roosevelt.

Bill Downing was hired by Edwin Russell Hooker, a cattle inspector, to look after his father, Henry Hooker, Sierra Bonita range interests.

Bill Downing suspected Downing of stealing cattle and re-branding them.

Some witnesses say that Bill Downing came in after Traynor, while others claim that Bill Downing was already in the saloon.

Witnesses to the events that followed stated that when Bill Downing walked in, Traynor dropped his right hand as if going for his gun.

Bill Downing continued to state that he found the pistol loaded with five cartridges and one empty chamber.

The coroner's jury found that Bill Downing was acting in self-defense and was justified.

Bill Downing sent the posses in all directions except the right one.

Bill Downing fired his gun and shot Jack Dunlap despite the fact that he himself was wounded with a bullet on his left arm between the shoulder and elbow which shattered the bone and left his arm useless.

Bill Downing shot Deputy Marshal George Bravin in the foot, and freed the gang members who were in the jail, with the exception of Downing.

Smith announced before Judge George Russell Davis that even though the jurors believed that Bill Downing was guilty of train robbery, they refused to return a guilty verdict.

Bill Downing was assigned a number, inmate number 1733, just like any other prisoner.

Bill Downing's leg became infected and swollen while he was in prison.

The doctor suggested that the leg be amputated, but Bill Downing refused to accept the request.

Mrs Bill Downing was an attractive lady who was in poor health.

Mrs Bill Downing eventually found herself alone and in need of money.

Bill Downing served a total of seven years in prison and was finally released for good behavior.

Bill Downing returned to Willcox upon his release from prison and opened a saloon which he named the Free and Easy Saloon on the corner of Maley Street.

Bill Downing was known as one to defy the law and he hired prostitutes who were highly skilled pickpockets.

Constable Bud Snow and Ranger Speed arrested Bill Downing for serving women at the Free and Easy.

Wheeler received word that Bill Downing had threaten to kill any officer who interfered with him.

Bill Downing had some problems with Cuco Leal, a prostitute who lived in his saloon.

Bill Downing went to the office of Constable Snow to complain and to ask that she be removed from his saloon.

Bill Downing stated that he will kill Speed when the time is right.

Bill Downing jumped to the conclusion that it was Cuco Leal.

Bill Downing then ran into the Ranchman's Corral Saloon, whose owner was George McKittrick, a rival of Downing.

Bill Downing decided that he would show up in Judge Page's office to discuss the Leal situation.

Bill Downing got up to go and at the same time left his gun behind.

Bill Downing did not notice that Ranger Speed was accompanying the constable.

Bill Downing thought that the constable would come in through the front door and decided to leave the saloon through the back exit.

The Ranger ordered him to surrender but, Bill Downing made a gesture as if he was reaching for his gun, forgetting that he had left his weapon in the saloon.

Bill Downing died immediately of the wounds which he received.