Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Fallen Officer

 
Sheriff James Dana

Sheriff James T. Dana

Term Dates
January 6, 1869 - August 31, 1869 (Appointed)
September 1, 1869 - December 31, 1870 (Elected)
January 1, 1871 - September 20, 1871
(Elected/Killed in the line of duty)

End of Watch: Wednesday, September 20, 1871
Tour of Duty:  2 years, 8 months, 15 days

 
 

On September 20, 1871, Sheriff James T. Dana, along with Sheriff James T. Danaa posse, visited a rancheria close to town to arrest an Indian named Big Charlie for killing a woman in Arizona City (Yuma). According to an article in the San Diego Daily Union dated September 26, 1871, while searching one of the huts, a squaw struck Sheriff Dana on the shoulder with an axe, making a large gash. Sheriff Dana drew his pistol and shot at the squaw. An Indian standing nearby, later identified as Big Charlie’s cousin Que-cha-co, shot Sheriff Dana in the left side with a glass tipped arrow, killing him almost instantly. The Indian escaped into the brush and a party of men started in pursuit.

Sheriff Dana’s killer, Que-cha-co, was eventually captured and on November 6, 1871, he was indicted for murder by the grand jury in the District Court of Yuma. On November 9, 1871, having been tried and found guilty of murdering Sheriff Dana, he was sentenced to hang on December 29, 1871. After the sentencing, a petition was presented to Governor Anson P. K. Safford to order a stay of execution in the case against Que-cha-co citing that the Territorial Court had no jurisdiction. The Governor declined to intervene; however, on December 27, 1871, a stay of execution was ordered and the case was appealed to the Supreme Court of Arizona Territory.

The case of Territory v. Doe (Que-cha-co) was heard in the Supreme Court of Arizona Territory in January 1872. The appeal stated that the indictment was against “John Doe, a Yuma Mohave Indian, whose true name is to the jury unknown.” However, the verdict of the jury, as well as the judgment and sentence of the court, was against Que Cha Ca (Co). The place where the murder was committed, as written in the indictment, was uncertain (Arizona City vs. California), and so the jurisdiction of the District Court of Yuma was questioned. The judgment was reversed by Chief Justice John Titus, and cause remanded for proceedings upon a sufficient indictment.

On February 13, 1872, Que-cha-co and two other prisoners awaiting trial for murder, escaped from the Yuma County jail. According to an article in The Arizona Sentinel, on the evening of December 21, 1872, Que-cha-co was recaptured when he was in town and he was pointed out to District Attorney Clarence Gray who then attempted to arrest him. When he ran, Mr. Gray drew his pistol and fired on him, striking his arm, hand and thigh.

The case of Territory vs. Que-cha-co was heard before Judge DeForest Porter in the District Court on March 20, 1873, where he was convicted of murder in the second degree. On March 28, 1873, he was sentenced to 25 years and 3 months in the Territorial prison (Yuma County jail).

On Sunday, October 26, 1873, Que-cha-co, along with five other prisoners, escaped from the county jail by digging a hole through the wall. He was never recaptured.

 

Sheriff James T. Dana was born in Kentucky circa 1830. He was appointed by the Yuma County Board of Supervisors to the office of Sheriff on January 6, 1869 to replace David King upon his resignation. His office was located in La Paz, the county seat at that time.

Having been appointed, Dana ran for the office of Sheriff unopposed in the June 2, 1869 election. Dana, running unopposed once again, was re-elected as Sheriff in the November 8, 1870 election.

Sheriff Dana was known as a good, capable and honest sheriff who could not be bought and he was well liked by the people of Yuma County. Sheriff Dana was also known as a dead shot and several men fell under his ready pistol during his tenure. One of those men was William “Bronco Bill” Harbon, who was shot by Sheriff Dana on November 3, 1869 in Arizona City.

Sheriff Dana, 41 years of age, was survived by his wife, Porferia, and 1 year old son, William.

Resources
Following are newspaper articles found on the internet and research information used to put together the brief biography for Sheriff James T. Dana:

RESEARCHER’S NOTES: 
In the process of researching the murder of Sheriff James T. Dana, I found conflicting information regarding the date of the incident, where the arrow struck Dana (left side vs. near the heart vs. liver), and whether he died instantly or two days later. The information above is pieced together from the newspaper articles listed and will be updated in accordance to ongoing research.

In my research, I have been unable to find information regarding the appointment of a new Sheriff immediately upon Dana’s death or if he had an Under Sheriff to execute the duties of the office until one was elected or appointed. It is unlikely that Dana had an Under Sheriff since it appears that the Yuma County Coroner, A.A. Mix, was serving as Sheriff of Yuma County until October 3, 1871.

On October 3, 1871, County Coroner A.A. Mix appeared before the board claiming “that he is by virtue of his office of County Coroner, the Sheriff of Yuma Co., that he is entitled to the same by reason of the fact that the law makes him said Sheriff on the death of the Sheriff elect. That there is no vacancy in said office of Sheriff and that as such Co. Coroner and Sheriff he desires to enter his protest against the appointment asked for.” Despite the claim and protest of County Coroner A.A. Mix, the Board of Supervisors appointed George Tyng to the office of Sheriff of Yuma County (Yuma County BOS Minutes - October 3, 1871: George Tyng appointed Sheriff).

NOTE: In accordance with the Howell Code, Chapter IV. Of Coroners. Section 2. “When there shall be no sheriff or under-sheriff in any county, the judge of the district court shall designate one of the coroners to perform the duties of sheriff, which coroner so designated shall be vested with the same powers and be liable in the same manner as sheriffs, until a sheriff shall be elected and qualified;...”

 
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