HENRY GARFIAS
May 9, 1896
Henry Garfias is dead and from Arizona has gone one of the men
who held its peace in days gone by when the pistol was the mode
of argument.
He died yesterday morning about 2 o'clock at his home on Adams
and Eighth Avenue. The cause was mainly injuries received in
being thrown from a horse several weeks ago, though Garfias for
several years has been far from well. He was a widower and leaves
two children, one a girl 12 years old and the other a boy about 9.
Both have been lately living with him.
Garfias was appreciated by Arizonians as one of the bravest men
who ever was known in this region of brave men. He came here in
1874 from Anaheim, California, and was a native of the golden
state. For a while he freighted between Phoenix and Wickenburg.
In 1876 he was elected Constable of Phoenix precinct and since
that time has continued till his death to be a peace officer
in some capacity.
He was Deputy under Sheriff Thomas and during the early terms of
Sheriff Orme and for seven or eight years was City Marhsall of
the city of Phoenix being finally retired by the election to the
position of Frank P. Trott. Since then he as been in the same
business continuously as a deputy sheriff or constable.
In the apprehension of criminals, there was never locally known
his superior and his close acquaintance with the Mexican
population and his familiarity with the Spanish tongue made
him wonderfully successful in his dealings with that class of
the population.
One of the famous episodes of Phoenix hisotry was participated
in by Garfias. A Mexican who had ascended in history as "The Saber
Slasher" rode amuck down the main street one Sunday, slashing
with a great cavalary saber every American he could find. One
man died of his wounds and others were seriously wounded. The
man being well mounted escaped but was trailed by Garfias, far
down into Sonora and was found in a den of cut-throats. Garfias
marched boldly in, captured his man, brought him back across the
border and deposited him in the Phoenix jail where he was later
killed by Hi McDonald and a lawyer named Stephenson in an
attempt to escape.
Later a desperado named Ovieda was to be arrested. As he and
Garfias were personal enemies, the latter was unwilling to
undertake the arrest, but finally on the refusal of the rest
of the police force to do the work went on to do his duty. Oviedo
was a carpenter at work at the school house with a loaded shotgun
on his workbench. He had threatened to kill Garfias on sight,
but the officer walked up toward him, his hands open. Oviedo,
however snatched up his gun and fired pointblank at his enemy.
Garfias was one of the quickest of men with a revolver and
probalby beat the record on this occasion for when the load of
buckshot whistled over his head he had put two bullets into
the body of the carpenter and the latter died.
Several years later while Garfias was City Marshall, several
Texas cowboys fresh from their native hearth mistook the character
of Phoenix and started to shoot it up. They were plainly not
acquainted with the reputation of the Marshall. As the joyful
yell came to his ears and the sounds of pistol shots opened ,
Henry was on his horse. The four cowboys were gayly cavorting
down Washington Street. They opened fire on the Marshall. He
was unharmed, despite the very hail of lead and in his response
was fortunate enought to wing two of the cow punchers, one of
them fatally. Then he rounded up the others and put them in
jail.
Another time he started to trail a horse thief across the
plain between Mesa nad Florence. He came up with his man as
the latter was taking a noonday rest. The thief recognized the
approaching officer and starting fire with a rifle at long
range. He was a good shot. One bullet grazed the side of the
head of Garfias' horse and another was embedded in the animal's
neck. But the deputy sheriff dashed toward the man with revolver
firing and the thief lay dead.
May 10, 1896
The funeral of the late Henry Garfias will take place this
afternon at 2 o'clock from the Catholic Church on East Monroe
Street. The pall bearers are requested to meet at an earlier
time at the undertaking house of Randal and Davis, Jefferson
Street.
1896 Obits
Arizona Republican Newspaper
