Those Tales Less Told
- David Grassé
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
Had another one of those moments where I was looking for one thing and stumbled across another story to good not to tell. I have forgotten what I was looking for initially, but I inadvertently came across an article about Dora Garnett, a former Gay Alley prostitute in Tucson, who opened a brothel and saloon in Bisbee's Brewery Gulch (pictured here). Dora's competitor, Irene Logan, who owned a saloon and brothel across the street from Dora's place, seems to have been a fairly bellicose individual, especially when she was in her cups. On the evening of Saturday, May 6th, 1899, Irene entered Dora's saloon even though Dora had told her numerous times to stay out. Upon seeing Irene, Dora again told her to leave the premises. Irene retorted, saying there were not enough people present to put her out. Hot words and insults followed. At some point, Dora pulled a revolver from beneath the bar, and shot Irene in the neck, killing her almost immediately.
I am not going to give away the ending herein. Suffice it to say, a number of famous men became in involved in the case including attorneys Allen English of Tombstone, and Francis J. Heney of Tucson (the same man who shot Dr. John Handy to death), and Cochise Couty Sheriff Scott White. Yesterday, I sent the article to Mark Boardman at The Tombstone Epitaph and it has been accepted for publication. I will let you know when it will appear in that newspaper.
As far as I recall, I have never read about the altercation between these two women in any magazine or newspaper. Do not know how other authors and historians missed this story, but then again, maybe they were too busy researching and documenting Wyatt Earp's bowel movements during his time in Alaska.
A number of people over the years have asked me why I do not write about the Earp-Cowboy Feud, the Powers Brothers shootout, the Pleasant Valley Feud or the like. I just don't have any interest in further flogging these dead, decaying horses. Enough has been written about these events already, at times by better authors than myself. I'd rather tell the stories that do not get as much attention, like that of Augustine Chacón, Sheriff Frank Wattron, or Madame Eva Blanchard. There is so much more to Arizona Territorial history than what is commonly written about, and these are the stories which interest me. - those tales less told The shooting of Irene Logan is one of these stories, and I hope all of you who have the opportunity to read it enjoy it.

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