William Brazelton
William "Brazen Bill" Brazelton was an outlaw and stage robber of the Wild West.
Alleged early life
After his death, an 1878 account claimed that Brazelton had come from San Francisco, California; had been orphaned and lived in an old boiler; had killed a man at the age of 15, and then killed a seven-man posse near Silver City, New Mexico. In 1902 John Clum repeated these claims of Brazelton's early life; however Clum did not furnish any references for his claims.Brazelton's name does not appear on either the 1860 or 1870 US Census records. Historian Erik J. Wright has published widely on the life and crimes of William Brazelton, yet has concluded that his life remains shrouded in mystery.
Coming to Arizona
About 1876 Brazelton came to the courthouse in Prescott, Arizona, and claimed that in a show he would eat a wagon wheel. After collecting money he left by explaining he would rustle up the rest of the troupe; of course he never returned.In 1877 Brazelton resided in Tucson, Arizona, where he hauled products such as hay and grains.
Career
Brazelton's mode of robbery was to wear a mask over his face and carry a pistol and rifle in one hand while ordering the driver and passengers to hand over any valuables.He is alleged to have committed nine stage robberies in Arizona and New Mexico: three near Silver City New Mexico; two in northern Arizona and four near Tucson.
Suspected/known robberies
- April 28, 1877, the stage going North between "Socoro and Las Lunas" on the Rio Grande was robbed of three bars and a one box silver.