Archive:William Brocius

William B. "Curly Bill" Brocius (1857-1882) was a western outlaw and member of the Clanton Gang.

Following the death of "Old Man" Newton Clanton after the Guadeloupe Canyon Massacre in July 1881, Brocius became leader of the Clanton Gang. Later he was arrested for the death of Tombstone Marshal Fred White following an incident where Brocius's gun discharged, whether purposely or accidentally, while surrendering it to White and deputy Virgil Earp. Although charged for murder by Earp, Brocius was later acquitted by a jury as an accidental death.

In July 1881 Brocius and Johnny Ringo rode into Hauchita, New Mexico and killed William and Isaac Haslett in revenge for the deaths of Clanton members Bill Leonard and Harry Head who had attempted to rob the Haslett brothers general store weeks earlier. Later that month Brocius led an ambush attacking a Mexican trail herd in the San Luis Pass. Killing six vaqueros and torturing the remaining eight men.

Returning to Tombstone following the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Brocius attempted to kill Virgil Earp and later killed Morgan Earp. After several stagecoach robberies Brocius was issued a warrant for Wyatt Earp by Sheriff John Behan and sent to bring back Earp who was hiding in the Whetstone Mountains outside town. Earp, who was also looking for Brocius in revenge for the death of his brothers, encountered Brocius at Iron Springs. Intending to bring Brocius in, Earp was informed by Brocius of a the arrest warrant and killed Brocius with a shotgun blast.