“Uncle Jim” Roberts Had Sand

Arizona lawman “Uncle Jim” Roberts upheld the law around Jerome well into the 20th century. State historian Marshall Trimble shares one 1890s incident:

One night three men holed up on the outskirts of Jerome after killing another in a card game. They sent a defiant message to Roberts and his young deputy to “come and take ‘em.” “You take the one in the middle and I’ll get the other two,” Roberts said quietly as the two moved towards the desperados. Suddenly the young assistant’s hands began to tremble. Roberts looked at him and said in a kind but firm tone, “Get out of the way, sonny, and I’ll take ’em all.” Moments later all three killers were down.