Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima, Arizona
The annals of the American West are replete with tales of daring robberies, unsolved mysteries, and elusive fortunes. Among these, the story of the Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima, Arizona stands out, not just for the audacious nature of the crime, but also for the enduring questions it left unanswered. On May 11, 1889, a U.S. Army payroll, consisting of approximately $28,000 in gold and silver coins, vanished into the dusty landscape near the small Arizona town of Pima. This incident, now known as the Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima, Arizona, remains a compelling narrative of the Old West, a story woven with threads of courage, suspicion, and the ever-present allure of hidden treasure.
The setting for this drama was the rugged territory of Arizona, a land of stark beauty and unforgiving terrain. In the late 19th century, the U.S. Army maintained a network of forts across the territory, tasked with keeping the peace and protecting settlers from various threats. Fort Grant, located in southeastern Arizona, was one such outpost. It was from here that U.S. Army Paymaster Major Joseph Washington Wham began his ill-fated journey to Fort Thomas.
The purpose of Wham’s journey was straightforward: to deliver the soldiers’ salaries to Fort Thomas, Camp San Carlos, and Fort Apache. Having already disbursed the funds at Fort Grant, Wham was transporting the remaining payroll, a substantial sum for the time, securely locked in an oak strongbox within a canopied ambulance. Accompanying Wham were his clerk, William Gibbon, Private Caldwell, who served as his servant and mule tender, and Private Hamilton Lewis, a Buffalo Soldier who drove the ambulance.
The Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima, Arizona involved more than just the immediate party surrounding Major Wham. Recognizing the value of the payload, Wham was provided with a military escort. This detail consisted of nine Buffalo Soldiers of the 24th Infantry on horseback, a testament to the crucial role played by African American soldiers in the West. Further bolstering the escort was a wagon carrying two privates of the 10th Cavalry, another distinguished African American regiment, driven by a civilian employee of the Quartermaster Department. This armed contingent was intended to deter any potential bandits. At the last minute, a black female gambler named Frankie Campbell joined the group, seeking passage to Fort Thomas in anticipation of the soldiers receiving their pay.
The journey commenced in the early morning hours, with the caravan heading west towards Fort Thomas, a distance of approximately 46 miles. The route traversed the Gila River Valley, a landscape characterized by its arid climate and sparse vegetation. Around midday, about 15 miles west of Pima, the caravan encountered an unexpected obstacle: a large boulder blocking the road. As the soldiers prepared to dislodge the rock, a sudden and violent ambush shattered the peace.
From a ledge approximately 60 feet above, on an adjacent hill, a group of armed men unleashed a barrage of gunfire upon the unsuspecting soldiers. The attackers, their faces reportedly uncovered, directed a coarse and racially charged taunt at the Buffalo Soldiers before opening fire. The initial volley proved devastating. Three of the twelve mules pulling the wagons were killed, causing chaos and disrupting the formation. The remaining animals panicked, pulling both vehicles off the road and further compounding the soldiers’ predicament.
Despite the surprise and the ferocity of the attack, the Buffalo Soldiers responded with remarkable courage and discipline. Sergeant Benjamin Brown, though wounded early in the exchange, continued to return fire. Private James Young, braving intense gunfire, carried the injured Sergeant Brown to safety, a distance of over 100 yards. Corporal Isaiah Mays assumed command, ordering a strategic retreat to a creek bed approximately 300 yards away, a decision made despite Major Wham’s initial objections. The ensuing battle raged for approximately half an hour, with the soldiers valiantly attempting to protect the payroll. However, the odds were stacked against them. Eight of the eleven-man escort sustained severe wounds, rendering their defense increasingly difficult. Frankie Campbell, who had been riding ahead, was thrown from her horse and forced to take cover.
With the soldiers pinned down and incapacitated, five of the bandits descended from their position and made their way to the ambulance wagon. Using an ax, they breached the oak strongbox and seized the U.S. Treasury sacks containing the gold and silver coins. As the outlaws made their escape, the soldiers counted twelve assailants in total. Exhausted and wounded, the soldiers eventually regrouped and, with the remaining mules and spliced harnesses, managed to reach Fort Thomas around 5:30 p.m. Frankie Campbell was tasked with tending to the wounded, including the severely injured Sergeant Benjamin Brown, who would arrive later. Miraculously, all of the soldiers survived their wounds.
Following the Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima, Arizona, an investigation was launched. Due to the bandits’ lack of disguise, several were quickly identified. U.S. Deputy Marshal William Kidder Meade, in conjunction with the Graham County Sheriff, apprehended eleven men, primarily residents of Pima, Arizona. Seven of these men were subsequently brought to trial. Among them was Gilbert Webb, the Mayor of Pima at the time, who was suspected of being the ringleader of the gang. His son, Wilfred, was also implicated. The other accused included brothers Lyman and Warren Follett, David Rogers, Thomas Lamb, and Mark Cunningham, all of whom were employed as cowboys by Gilbert Webb. Notably, while the men were charged with robbery, none were charged with the shootings that took place during the Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima, Arizona.
The trial, held in Tucson, became a sensational event, lasting 33 days and attracting considerable attention throughout the Southwest. The proceedings were marred by political maneuvering and internal conflicts, including the removal of the original judge. A total of 165 witnesses testified, including five Buffalo Soldiers who identified three of the accused. One witness claimed to have seen men hiding the loot in a haystack and burning the U.S. Treasury sacks. Others testified to having observed members of the accused in the area prior to the robbery, presumably preparing their ambush positions. Interestingly, Frankie Campbell, who had claimed to recognize several of the bandits, including Gilbert Webb, was never called to testify. Despite the evidence presented, all of the accused were acquitted, defended by the renowned lawyer Marcus Aurelius Smith.
The acquittal sparked widespread controversy, with many believing that political pressure from the acting governor had influenced the outcome. The case became entangled in issues of religion, racism, and politics. Pima, Arizona, was founded as a Mormon colony, and Gilbert Webb, as mayor, was a prominent and influential figure within the community, known for his generosity and support of his neighbors. While not all of the accused were Mormon, they all resided within the Mormon colony and had close ties to the church through friends and relatives.
The Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima, Arizona was a source of embarrassment for many residents of the area, who viewed it as a disgrace to the town and its people. Consequently, the incident was not as widely publicized as other large robberies of the era. However, within the community, the robbers were sometimes referred to as "Latter-Day Robin Hoods."
It is believed that Gilbert Webb used the stolen funds to pay off debts, forgive the debts of other colony members, and cover the legal expenses for himself and the other accused men. The year following the trial, he was elected as a delegate to the Territorial Democratic Convention. However, he was later indicted for defrauding the Pima school district of $160 and subsequently left the area, eventually settling in Mexico.
As the commanding officer, Major Joseph Washington Wham was initially held accountable for the loss of the money, but he was later exonerated of any wrongdoing. Two of the Buffalo Soldiers, Sergeant Benjamin Brown and Corporal Isaiah Mays, were awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the gun battle. Sergeant Brown, despite being wounded in the abdomen and both arms, continued to fight. Corporal Mays, though shot in the legs, walked and crawled two miles to Cottonwood Ranch to raise the alarm. Other Buffalo Soldiers, including Hamilton Lewis, Squire Williams, George Arrington, James Wheeler, Benjamin Burge, Thomas Hams, James Young, and Julius Harrison, received the Certificate of Merit for their courageous actions.
U.S. Deputy Marshal Meade, who led the effort to apprehend the bandits, praised the soldiers, stating, "I am satisfied a braver or better defense could not have been made under like circumstances." The questions surrounding the guilt or innocence of the accused, as well as the ultimate fate of the stolen loot from the Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima, Arizona, remain unanswered to this day. Over the years, the robbery has spawned numerous treasure tales, suggesting that some of the coins may still be hidden in the area. However, given the acquittal of all suspects, this seems unlikely. The story of the Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima, Arizona continues to captivate, a testament to the enduring allure of the Old West and the mysteries that linger in its dusty trails.