Pete Spence – Escaping the Wrath of the Earps
The American West, a vast and untamed landscape during the 19th century, bred individuals as complex and multifaceted as the terrain itself. Among the figures who etched their names into the annals of this era was Pete Spence, a man whose life was a tapestry woven with threads of lawlessness, suspicion, and survival. Known also as Peter Spencer and Elliot Larkin Ferguson, Spence occupied a shadowy space between outlaw and lawman, a "cowboy" associated with the infamous Clanton gang, and a suspect in the murder of Morgan Earp. His story is a compelling glimpse into the turbulent times of Tombstone, Arizona, and the relentless pursuit that defined the Earp Vendetta Ride.
Born around 1852, likely in either Louisiana or Texas, under the name Elliot Larkin Ferguson, the early life of Pete Spence remains shrouded in some mystery. The first clear record of his adult life places him in Texas, where he enlisted in the Frontier Company of the Texas Rangers on June 29, 1874. This marked a period of relative legitimacy, during which he rose to the rank of second lieutenant. The Texas Rangers, a formidable force in the Lone Star State, were tasked with maintaining order on the frontier, a duty that often involved confronting bandits, Native American tribes, and various other threats to the burgeoning settlements. What led Ferguson to leave the Rangers and embark on a different path remains unknown.
By 1878, Ferguson, now operating under the alias Peter M. Spencer, was a wanted man in Texas, accused of robbery in Goliad. Fleeing the consequences of his alleged actions, he sought refuge in the burgeoning territory of southern Arizona. It was here, adopting the moniker Pete Spence, that he began to weave himself into the fabric of Tombstone society, a town already notorious for its lawlessness and simmering tensions.
Tombstone, a boomtown fueled by the promise of silver, attracted a diverse and often dangerous population. Miners, gamblers, saloon keepers, and outlaws flocked to its dusty streets, creating a volatile atmosphere where fortunes were made and lives were lost. Pete Spence quickly found himself drawn to the Clanton family, a group of ranchers and cowboys known for their disregard for the law and their ongoing feud with the Earp brothers.
Like many of his associates, Pete Spence straddled the line between legitimate enterprise and criminal activity. He partnered with Frank Stillwell in mining ventures, including the Franklin Mine, and briefly managed Vogan’s Saloon, a popular watering hole in Tombstone. He also acquired a ranch and woodcutting camp in the Dragoon Mountains’ South Pass, further entrenching himself in the local economy. Ironically, Spence’s residence in Tombstone was located directly across the street from the Earp family, a geographical proximity that only served to heighten the tensions between the two factions.
The year 1880 marked the beginning of Spence’s entanglement with the law in Arizona. In October, he was charged with grand larceny for allegedly possessing stolen Mexican mules. Although he was not convicted, this incident brought him to the attention of law enforcement and solidified his reputation as a figure of questionable character.
The robbery of the "Sandy Bob Line" stagecoach near Bisbee on September 8, 1881, further implicated Pete Spence in criminal activity. Both he and Frank Stillwell were identified as suspects, based on their distinctive voices and Stillwell’s unique boot prints, which were traced back to a Bisbee cobbler. The pair were arrested by a sheriff’s posse, which included Wyatt Earp, but were eventually released due to insufficient evidence.
The arrest of Spence and Stillwell ignited the ire of their allies within the Cowboy faction, who viewed it as another example of the Earps’ heavy-handed tactics and perceived persecution. This event further fueled the animosity between the two groups, pushing them closer to the inevitable confrontation that would define Tombstone’s history.
On October 8, 1881, another stage robbery occurred near Contention City, and once again, Spence and Stillwell found themselves under suspicion. While newspapers reported their arrest in connection with the robbery, they were actually detained on federal charges of interfering with a mail shipment related to the earlier Bisbee incident. The Cowboy faction, particularly the McLaurys, vocally expressed their outrage over the arrests. However, neither Spence nor Stillwell were convicted of the federal charges and were subsequently released.
The infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, dramatically escalated the conflict between the Earps and the Clantons. The gunfight resulted in the deaths of Tom and Frank McLaury, as well as Billy Clanton, and left both sides thirsting for revenge. The simmering feud boiled over into open warfare, with both factions resorting to violence and intimidation.
On March 18, 1882, Morgan Earp was ambushed and killed while playing billiards in Tombstone. Pete Spence and Frank Stillwell were formally named as suspects in the murder. Spence’s wife, Marietta Duarte, provided damning testimony at the coroner’s inquest, detailing the suspicious activities of Spence and his associates on the night of the shooting. However, the attempted indictment of Spence was ultimately dropped, likely due to the legal principle that spouses could not testify against each other.
Despite the legal technicality that prevented Spence’s indictment, the Earps remained convinced of his involvement in Morgan’s murder. On March 20, 1882, Wyatt Earp and his posse, including his brother Warren and Doc Holliday, ambushed and killed Frank Stillwell in Tucson, as Stillwell waited at the train station, presumably to meet Ike Clanton. This act of revenge marked the beginning of the Earp Vendetta Ride, a relentless pursuit of those they believed responsible for the death of Morgan Earp and the earlier attempted assassination of Virgil Earp.
Knowing that he was a target of the Earps’ wrath, Pete Spence turned himself in to the authorities, seeking protection within the confines of the law. Unaware of Spence’s incarceration, the Earp posse rode to his ranch on March 22, 1882, in search of him. Instead, they encountered Florentino "Indian Charlie" Cruz, who, according to Wyatt Earp’s later account, confessed to acting as a lookout during Morgan Earp’s murder. Wyatt Earp then shot and killed him.
The Earp Vendetta Ride continued, with the Earps allegedly killing Curly Bill Brocius, Johnny Ringo, and Johnny Barnes, as well as driving Ike Clanton, Pony Deal, Hank Swilling, and others out of the territory. The Earp "posse" finally left Arizona, leaving behind a trail of violence and a legacy of controversy.
After the Earp Vendetta Ride subsided, Pete Spence sought a fresh start in New Mexico. By June 1893, he was working as a deputy sheriff and constable in Georgetown. However, his past transgressions continued to haunt him. While in office, he fatally pistol-whipped a man named Rodney O’Hara and was subsequently charged with manslaughter. He was sentenced to a five-year term in the Yuma, Arizona Territorial Penitentiary, beginning his sentence on June 10, 1893. After serving approximately 18 months, he was granted a pardon by the territorial governor.
Following his release from prison, Spence returned to Arizona, settling in Globe. He partnered with his old friend Phin Clanton, operating a goat ranch south of town in the Galiuro Mountains. He also supervised burro trains that transported supplies into the Globe area. After Phin Clanton’s death in 1906, Spence remained close to his widow. On April 2, 1910, using his birth name Elliot Larkin Ferguson, Pete Spence married Phin Clanton’s widow, finally embracing his original identity.
Pete Spence died in 1914 and was buried in the Globe, Arizona cemetery, in the plot next to Phin Clanton. His life, a complex mix of lawlessness, survival, and reinvention, serves as a captivating reminder of the tumultuous era of the Old West. From his early days as a Texas Ranger to his involvement with the Clanton gang and his eventual pursuit by the Earps, Pete Spence navigated a world of shifting allegiances and constant danger. His story offers a unique perspective on the events that shaped Tombstone, Arizona, and the enduring legends of the American West.