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Jeff Kidder

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Jeff Kidder(November 15, 1875 – April 5, 1908) was an Americanlawmanin the closing days of theAmerican Old West.He was most noted for his service with theArizona Rangers.[1]

Early life

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Jefferson David Kidder was born inVermillion,Dakota Territory.His father, Silas W. Kidder (1847–1920), who was from a prominentVermontfamily, had settled in South Dakota during 1868. His grandfather,Jefferson P. Kidder,had served as theLieutenant Governor of Vermontand later served on theSouth Dakota Supreme Courtand in theU.S. House of Representatives.His uncle, Lyman S. Kidder (1842–1867), became an officer in the2nd Cavalry Regiment (United States)and served underGeorge Custer.He and his detachment were killed in July 1867, in an event that became known as theKidder Massacre.[2]

Life in the west

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Jeff Kidder attended theUniversity of South Dakotawhere he studiedalgebra,language and composition. In 1901, Jeff Kidder's family moved toCalifornia.That same year, theArizona Rangerswere formed, and Kidder ventured southwest to join them. He took several jobs in between, including working as acowboy,miner,and lawman inNogales, Arizonauntil he was hired by the Rangers in 1903. Kidder quickly became known within the Rangers as a marksman, second only toCaptainHarry C. Wheeler.Arizona Ranger CaptainTom Rynningwould later claim that he never saw any man faster with a gun on a quick draw.

In June 1903, Kidder and other Rangers went toMorencito quell the mine strikes and riots. Kidder later began working to controlcattle rustlingalong the United States/Mexicoborder near Nogales, He often worked alone, but sometimes was joined by Rangers Fred Rankin, Billy Old, and Bill Sparks. Kidder, Rankin, Sparks and Old had all received commissions from Mexican General Luis Emeterio Torres (1844–1935), Governor ofSonora,authorizing them to enter into Mexico if need be in pursuit of outlaws.[3]

In early 1904, Kidder and Rankin intercepted gunrunners near the border, which resulted in a gun battle. Kidder shot and killed one of theoutlaws,with Rankin shooting the horse out from under another. The Rangers confiscated several weapons and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. Kidder had numerous other clashes with gunrunners on the border, leading to intelligence reports that he was to be targeted by outlaws in the gunrunning business. In the fall of 1907, Kidder and aBenson, ArizonaConstablefought and captured one bandit and dispersed several others who were smuggling arms andgunpowder.By this time, Kidder had a sizable reputation on the border and was promoted tosergeantin early 1908.[4]

Gunfight and death

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On April 3, 1908, Kidder pursued gunrunners intoNaco, Sonoraand located suspects in a cantina. A gunfight erupted with Delores Quias and Tomas Amador, both of whom were local policemen, resulting in Kidder being wounded together with both Mexican policemen. The shooting brought two other policemen who fired at Kidder, hitting him through the stomach. Kidder was badly wounded, the bullet having passed through his intestines and exiting his back. Kidder, alone and outnumbered, returned fire on the two officers.[5][6]

He next attempted unsuccessfully to make it back across the border. Kidder walked into the night attempting to reach the border several hundred yards away. Several Mexican policemen and civilians stood between him and the border at this point and began firing. Kidder continued to return fire until his ammunition was expended, at which point he surrendered. Naco Police Chief Victoriano Amador, who had been wounded by Kidder, jumped on him together with several of his policemen. Reportedly the police beat Kidder as they dragged him about fifty yards toward the local jail where he was hit on the head with a pistol, resulting in a skull fracture. Kidder was held in jail that night without medical attention.[7]

The following day, American officials led by Ranger Captain Wheeler persuaded local officials to release Kidder into a private residence for medical care. Dr. Francis Eppes Shine arrived fromBisbee, Arizonato attend him. However, by that point there was little hope that Kidder could survive although he was able to speak and to relay his own version of the events.Deputy US MarshalJohn Foster entered into Naco and visited Kidder during this time, along with several others having authority to do so. Kidder died on April 5, 1908. At first, local authorities refused to allow Kidder's body to be removed to American soil. To prevent an international incident, General Torres intervened and ordered Kidder's body returned to the Americans. His body was sent to his mother inLos Angeles,California,where he was buried.[8][9][10]

References

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  1. ^"Ranger Jeff Kidder".Official Site of The Arizona Rangers.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.
  2. ^"Kidder family of Vermont".The Political Graveyard.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^"De don Luis Emeterio Torres".Organización Editorial Mexicana S.A. January 15, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon September 28, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 7,2015.
  4. ^John Hernandez (March 25, 2015)."Workers Struggle in a Mining town".Copper Area News Publishers.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.
  5. ^"Jeff Kidder's Last Fight".Arizona Trails. Archived fromthe originalon September 16, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.
  6. ^Bob Boze Bell (October 12, 2009)."Naco Debacle Jeff Kidder vs. Naco Policia".True West Magazine. Archived fromthe originalon September 28, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.
  7. ^"Sergeant Jeff Kidder shot in a Dance hall".Bisbee Daily Review. April 5, 1908. Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.
  8. ^"Shine, Francis Eppes".Arizona Health Sciences Library – Tucson. June 25, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.
  9. ^"John Foster, Field Deputy, 6 October 1906".US Marshals, Arizona Territory, 1864–1912.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.
  10. ^Paul L. Allen (April 3, 1998)."Arizona ranger killed in cantina – 90 years ago".Tucson Citizen.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.
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