LOST ANTIQUE PHOTOGRAPHS - ROUNTREE, FINNEY, HOPE, The sad tale of Pegleg FINNEY

12/20/2022 06:00:00 AM

I seek to digitally preserve historical photos for others that might be looking for them. When possible I reunite the original copies with descendants, free of charge. Here are more photos in my ever growing collection. 

If any of these are your ancestors please contact me.

These are photos of the FINNEY family, including their sibling Arthur, who unfortunately took to a life of crime and met an early death at the age of 22. Scroll to the bottom to read his story.



Oscar HOPE and Kate HOPE, 1927. 
Taken by Lippe Studio in Del Rio Texas
This is Katherine Gambol FINNEY HOPE and her son Oscar.


Taken by Delfraisse of San Antonio Texas


Taken by Ankenman of Victoria Texas


Gracie Irene ROUNTREE, Flora Finney's daughter.
Taken by Callaway of San Antonio, Texas


Gracie Irene ROUNTREE, Flora Finney's daughter.
Taken by A. D. BACKSTROM of Burnet, Texas


Edward Carmen ROUNTREE, age 2 years 8 months. Flora Finney's son.
Taken by Stuart of El Paso Texas



Taken by Ankenman P. Butler of Del Rio Texas


Taken by H. Moehring of Texas




Taken by Dowe in either Arizona or California. 

Christopher Arthur Finney was was known as Arthur during his short life and in his last few years, as "Pegleg" Finney. How he lost a limb is not currently known. His life of crime began as early as 1894 when he is mentioned in the El Paso Times (11 May 1894, Pg. 6) as being charged for assault and battery. He had several more run ins with the law, his final one being 19 September 1898. Newspapers in several western states reported the showdown between Arthur and Ex-Deputy Sherriff John Slaughter.

The events leading up to this showdown included Finney's theft of a pair of horses, a buggy, a double harness and the murder of two men. I found mention of at least one of the men Finney had killed: Guillermo Romero (1897 in Tombstone AZ). Finney decided to cut through the wrong ranch while he fled. I believe the Tombstone Weekly Epitaph describes the final scene best:

"In Justice Williams court Sept. 18, Robt. H. Engle filed complaint charging Arthur Finney with having stolen or embezzled a pair of horses, buggy and double harness. The justice instructed officer W.C. Smith to station himself at the home of said Finney on Chihuahua hill, Bisbee, and to remain there and arrest Finney if he showed up before break of day, 19th. Smith reported failure to find Finney.

At 9 a.m. on 19th. Justice Williams received the telephone message of John H. Slaughter, from his San Bernardino ranch, stating that a one legged man had just passed his ranch and that he had the appearance of a fugitive from justice, as the man had told Jose Rioz, of the ranch, that he wanted to buy a saddle horse and that Rioz should not tell Slaughter or any other white man of his presence. he also told Rioz that he had stolen a pair of horses, buggy and harness, and killed two men. Rioz at once told Slaughter the story. Justice Williams answered Slaughter that the man was wanted for committing a felony, to arrest and hold him, and to be prepared to fight as Finney was heavily armed and would fight. Slaughter was to enforce arrest under any circumstances. Slaughter thereupon took Jimmy Howell, Rioz, Lloyd Gilman and W.J. Chillis, and a mile east of the ranch they saw Finney lying under a tree apparently asleep, his face in direction of the approaching posse who dismounted 30 yards away. Slaughter told his men to fire on the man if he made resistance, and then went up to Finney, first taking away a Winchester which lie near the man and threw it ten feet off. With his gun poised Slaughter drew near Finney and said "young man you are under arrest." Finney, who laid on his left arm, the right resting underneath his body, raised slightly and with a quick movement threw up the right arm pointing a cocked six-shooter in the face of Slaughter; at the same moment Slaughter sent a shot from 45-85 Marlin into Finney's right breast passing through his body, the ball taking off three fingers of Finney's right hand and the handle of his fun in its progress. Gilman and Rioz fired immediately following Slaughter's fire, the shots taking effect in Finney's forehead and right thigh. Either the shot in the head or Slaughter's shot did the business for Finney was a dead man thereafter.

Slaughter said Finney's gun looked double its size as he stared into its muzzle for a moment. It was the closest call he ever had. Slaughter advised Justice Williams, who summoned a coroners jury of six men, leaving Bisbee at noon Monday. Statements in line with the above facts were taken at the ranch where Finney's body had been removed after the killing. The jury returned a verdict of justifiable homicide, said John H. Slaughter being legally deputized to enforce such arrest.

Finney's remains were buried near the scene of the killing. It is understood that he had relatives at Junction City, Texas. The reputation of Finney was bad and no regret is felt at his taking off. Justice Williams and the jury returned to Bisbee late Tuesday evening." (Tombstone Weekly Epitaph, 25 Sep. 1898, Sun, Pg. 2)
 

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