b'MAD KILLER CLAY ALLISON NO HERO he wanted to put the poor man out of his misery.Trail of Fear and IntimidationAllison then had the body taken down. He tied theIt was just a few days before Christmas of 1876 that end of the lynch rope to his saddle and chargedClay Allison, his brother John and some other cowboys down the towns main street, riding on out intofrom his trail gang hit Los Anoitas, a small Colorado the desert, over rocks, and through the brush untilcow town. They had just sold a herd of cattle and as was the face of his victim was unrecognizable. Allisontheir way at the end of the trail, they went to town to unknotted the rope from his saddle horn and leftget drunk and terrorize the local citizens. Vegas battered body in the desert to rot.The Allison brothers chose the Olympic Dance Hall Boss Attempts Justice for Cruz Vega for their entertainment. Inside, they commenced to One man who did not fear Allisons bloodthirsty,get drunk and started grabbing the ladies, many of crazed reputation was Francisco Pancho Griego, athem the wives of local businessmen, to dance with, rancher and a gunman feared by most in the region.whether the ladies wanted to or not. Just to show the Cruz Vega worked at Griegos ranch. On hearing ofladies they meant business, they stepped on the toes the lynching, Griego got Cruzs 18-year-old son, Luis,of their partners with their heavy boots.and his partner, Florencio Donahue, and rode into Cimarron to confront Allison. John Faber, town marshal, and deputy sheriff was making the rounds when citizens complained about Allison was in the St. James Hotel, one of his favoritethe behavior of the Allison brothers in the Olympic. hangouts. He went outside to confront Griego andFaber quietly walked into the dance hall and asked asked the three in for a drink and to talk matters over.Clay and John Allison to check their guns. They The men talked amiably over a few drinks, and thenignored him. Faber just as quietly walked outside Griego took Allison away from the others to a cornerand deputized two men. He went to his office, got a of the bar. They continued talking. It was Novembershotgun, and returned to the dance hall with his1, 1875, and a cold day in the northern New Mexiconew deputies.169 E Wickenburg Waytown of Cimarron. Allison thought of how cold it was when he noticed Griego take off his large sombreroAs Faber entered the dance hall, he heard someoneWickenburg, AZ 85390and begin to fan himself with it. As Griego fanned,shout look out! John Allison, on the dance floor928-684-6123the large hat slipped lower and lower, toward his gunwith a cringing local lady, spun around to face Faber belt. When Griegos sombrero suddenly stopped atand went for his gun. Faber let loose with one barrelOpens at 11:00am DAILYthe ranchers gun belt a shot rang out. The lights inof the shotgun, peppering Johns chest and arm with the St. James went out at the same time, thanks to abuckshot. John was still standing when Clay turned friend of Allison. When the lights came back on thefrom the bar, both pistols in hand, and fired shots at sombrero waving Griego was found lying on the floorFaber. Three missed. One tore into the deputys chest, in the corner, a single bullet in his heart. Clay Allisonkilling him. As Faber fell to the dance hall floor, the had disappeared into the darkness. It seemed Clay hadother barrel of the shotgun fired and hit John Allison palmed a pistol and was ready for trouble all throughin the leg, bringing him down.his talk with Griego.In 1870, Allison saw his chance to go on his own. He drove a large herd of cattle into New Mexico and was paid 300 head for his effort. He started his ranch near Cimarron, New Mexico with that small herd.Lethal NeighborMore than a few citizens of Colfax County felt theyClay Allison then chased Fabers two deputies outside, were being terrorized by this lethal madman in theirbut they saw what was coming and had a head start midst. They enlisted the editor of the Cameron Newsinto the night. Both disappeared before Clay could and Press to get behind a campaign to drive Claychase them down. Clay went back to the dance hall. Allison out of town and they had some inside helpHis brother was still alive. He called for a doctor, then in their campaign. Allisons brother in law, Lewiswalked over to Fabers body and pulled the dead and Coleman, had become fed up and fearful of his sistersbloodied deputy over next to his fallen brother. See, husband Clay and provided the editor with some solidJohn, the crazed Clay yelled at his brother, This information to bolster the campaign. man is dead. Not to worry, John, vengeance is ours! Not to worry. John Allison survived his wounds. Clay didnt like criticism. It infuriated him, like mostBoth escaped punishment by Colorado authorities by other things. He rode into Cimarron and wreckedclaiming self-defense.the offices and equipment of the News and Press. The damage was so thorough it put the little frontierWord of the Colorado shootout did increase the fear newspaper out of business. By now Clay Allison hadof Clay Allison throughout the southwest. Back home, established himself as the terrorist of northern Newin Colfax County, New Mexico, folks were well aware Mexico, one few dared to stand up to. of the madman nature of this killer even before the continued on page 22ArizonaRealCountry.com December 2020 21'