Another week. Life was beginning to sound like a Country Western Song. Bobby was sick and cranky, truck broke down, and some one stole all my money. And me with out a beer in the house! Oh well.


Saturday July 5th had some good stuff going on. First was my regularly schedualed "Old West El Paso Gunfight Tour". Unfortunatly, no ne showed up again. I really need to find the resources to advertise out of town....

Henri Flores and his crowd had there Concordia Ghost tour as well. Being without the truck, I couldn't slip by and see what sort of turn out he had.

Trying to contact City Rep Castro, and the Police Chief today. Thursday sees a city anniversary we really out to recognize. See if Ms Castro's secratary ships me off to the Guitar Player's secratary yet again.

And what's so special about Thurday you might ask? It Marks the 125th anniversary of the first El paso Police Officer killed in the line of duty.

Tom Mode was a former Texas Ranger, serving under Lt. James A. Tays in 1878. He also ran a small ranch outside of town. By 1883 Mode was an assistant under City Marshal Frank Comstock. By all accounts he was a hard working capable officer.

Howard Doughty operated the Hart Brothers' Willo Spring Ranch, just outside of SIlver City,New Mexico. He and a couple of friends had sold a herd of cattle in Chiuhuahua, and were celebrating the sale. Doughty was drunk and quarrelsome, raising Cain at the National Theatre on Ekl Paso Street. He even went so far as to hurl empty whiskey tumblers at the performers on stage. Adding two more friends to the group (including Nic Biddle, a reporter for the Lone Star) the quintet made their way to Utah street and the Mansard Roof, a bordello operated by Miss Cora Bell. Doughty was just as troublesome there as at the National, demanding the the house fighting men take him on. Tiring of the Mansard Roof's wares, Doughty led his group across the street to Alice Abbott's Bordello. Doughty doing his best to woo Miss Dora Scott.

Mode and city jailer W.H. Wheat had answered the drunk and disorderly call at the National Theatre. Mode trekked to the Mansard Roof, and found his quarry at Abbott's. Wheat brought Biddle out to the porch, where Mode questioned him about the real culprit in the trouble. Doughty watched this questioning through the window, slipping his .45 behind the couch.

When Tom Mode entered the parlor and informed Doughty he was under arrest, the rancher whipped out his pistol and began firing wildly. Mode attempted to drew his own six-gun, but caught the muzzle in the hem of his coat. Before he could get it clear, Doughty had hit him in the chest. Tom Mode Staggered outside and collapsed in the muddy street. Doughty, his companions and jailer Wheat all scedattled out of the area. In his defense, Wheat claimed it was to fetch a doctor and the marshal. it was two weeks before Capt Murray of the Rangers arrested Doughty in Colorado City. With the legal manuvering and such, it wasn't until April of 1885 that Doughty stood trial. he was acquited on grounds of self defense

To mark the occasion, I invited the Chief of Police, NE CIty Representaive Castro, to join me in the parking lot on South Mesa Street, between Overland and Piasano Thursday evenng at 7:00. Be interesting to see if anyone shows up.