The Valenzuela Gang of Arizona

By James Harvey McClintock in 1913.

The rugged landscape of late 19th-century Arizona Territory served as both a haven and a hunting ground for those who dared to operate outside the bounds of law and order. Among the many tales of outlaws and desperados that echo through the canyons and mesas, the story of The Valenzuela Gang of Arizona stands out, a dark chapter etched in the annals of the Old West. This narrative, drawn from the accounts of the time, paints a vivid picture of a ruthless group that terrorized the region, leaving a trail of robbery, violence, and death in its wake.

The year 1887 marked a particularly brutal episode linked to the The Valenzuela Gang of Arizona. Josiah Gribble, the superintendent of the Vulture Mine, a lucrative operation nestled a few miles from the settlement of Vulture, found himself entrusted with a significant shipment: a bar of gold bullion valued at $7,000, representing the hard-won yield of the Vulture Mill. Accompanied by two guards, Johnson and Littlefield, Gribble prepared to transport the precious cargo to Phoenix. He dismissed warnings from T.E. Farish, who cautioned him about the inherent dangers of the journey. Gribble, a seasoned veteran who had faced robbers in Australia and South Africa, was confident in his ability to handle any potential threats.

Unbeknownst to Gribble, danger lurked on the horizon. Inocente and Francisco Valenzuela, along with a younger Mexican accomplice, had observed the preparations from a distance. As Gribble and his guards commenced their journey, the The Valenzuela Gang of Arizona ambushed them. The attack was swift and decisive. The three men were cut down in a hail of gunfire. With their grim task completed, the murderers seized the gold bullion and fled southward, aiming to cross the border into Mexico.

The escape route led them to the banks of the Gila River, a vital waterway that snaked through the arid terrain. Here, the trio decided to split up, hoping to evade capture by dispersing their trail. The gold, however, proved to be a cumbersome burden. The gang attempted to break the bar into smaller, more manageable pieces using an ax, but their efforts were in vain. Frustrated and pressed for time, they decided to bury the bullion in a cache near Powers’ camp, intending to retrieve it later.

The murders ignited a furious response from law enforcement. Sheriff Bud Gray, along with Hi McDonald, Henry Garfias, and Jim Murphy, formed a formidable posse, driven by a relentless determination to bring the perpetrators to justice. These men were seasoned trackers and skilled riders, well-suited to the challenges of the harsh desert environment. They followed the trail of The Valenzuela Gang of Arizona across the scorching landscape, pushing themselves and their horses to the limit.

The pursuit was relentless, and the Mexicans narrowly avoided capture on several occasions. Francisco managed to reach Mexico safely, evading extradition and eventually dying of old age in Altar. Inocente, driven by greed, later attempted to retrieve the buried gold. His absence from Phoenix was quickly noticed, and a posse descended upon him. Encumbered by the weight of the bullion, Inocente’s escape was slow and labored. When confronted, he chose to fight, but he was ultimately killed in the ensuing gun battle, and the gold was recovered. The third member of the gang claimed that he had been forced to participate in the robbery and murder, and his testimony was accepted, leading to his cooperation with the authorities.

The Gribble murder was not an isolated incident. For years, The Valenzuela Gang of Arizona had been a scourge on the region along the Hassayampa River, preying on placer miners and resorting to violence whenever they encountered resistance. They were also implicated in another horrific crime, the murder of Barney Martin and his family in 1886.

Barney Martin was a well-liked figure in the Antelope Hill section of Southern Yavapai County. He operated a small store and served as a stage agent in Stanton. Unfortunately, his business dealings had made him the target of local criminals. After selling his property, Martin, accompanied by his wife and children, loaded his belongings into a covered wagon and set off for Phoenix. His departure was met with sadness by many, and his journey was filled with well-wishes and expressions of goodwill.

News of the Martin family’s impending arrival reached Captain M.H. Calderwood at Coldwater Station on the Agua Fria River. Calderwood prepared a grand reception for the family, eager to welcome them to the community. However, as days passed without any sign of Martin’s arrival, Calderwood grew increasingly concerned. The wagon tracks leading into the hills near Hot Springs Junction were eventually discovered. The tracks led to the gruesome remains of a burned wagon, and within the ashes, the charred bodies of Barney Martin and his family. The murders had been committed on the highway, and the wagon had been moved off the road in an attempt to conceal the crime. The bodies were recovered and taken back to the Brill Ranch, where they were buried, the headstone serving as a grim reminder of the dangers of pioneer life.

The investigation into the Martin family massacre led to whispers of a secret leader behind The Valenzuela Gang of Arizona: a man named S.P. Stanton. Stanton Long was a resident among the Mexican population, ostensibly a storekeeper who supplied goods to local vendors. He was suspected of complicity in the Barney Martin murder. However, no concrete evidence could be found to link him directly to the crime. Some believed that Stanton had once been a Catholic priest, a claim that was later refuted.

The story of The Valenzuela Gang of Arizona is a chilling reminder of the lawlessness that plagued the American Southwest in the late 19th century. It is a tale of greed, violence, and the relentless pursuit of justice in a land where the lines between right and wrong were often blurred. The names of Inocente and Francisco Valenzuela, along with their accomplices, are forever etched in the history of Arizona as symbols of the dark side of the Wild West.

By James Harvey McClintock in 1913, compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated March 2025.

Also See:

• Arizona – The Grand Canyon State
• Outlaws Across America
• Outlaw Gangs
• Outlaws & Scoundrels Photo Gallery

About the Author: James Harvey McClintock was born in Sacramento in 1864 and moved to Arizona at 15, working for his brother at the Salt River Herald (later known as the Arizona Republic). When McClintock was 22, he attended the Territorial Normal School in Tempe, earning a teaching certificate. Later, he served as Theodore Roosevelt’s right-hand man in the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War and became an Arizona State Representative. Between 1913 and 1916, McClintock published a three-volume history of Arizona called Arizona: The Youngest State (now in the public domain) in which this article appeared. McClintock continued to live in Arizona until his poor health forced him to return to California, where he died on May 10, 1934, at the age of 70. Note: The article is not verbatim, as spelling errors and minor grammatical changes have been made.