The Last Deputy

The Last Deputy is a story based on factual events. Young Arthur Moore King ran  away from home, and wound up in Indian Territory -- Oklahoma -- for a short time. There he made his living anyway he could. He violated federal laws for hunting on Indian land and selling liquor to the natives . As quick as he could, for the U.S. Marshals were on his trail, Arthur escaped from the Territory and by chance landed in Los Angeles; the year, 1899. Unfortunately, Arthur had hopped a ride on a railroad to Los Angeles and was arrested upon his arrival for his free ride. Broke, Arthur was forced to work off his debt to society with jail time and grading and building road ways while on a chain gang. The police took a liking to him, as he was good-hearted but as “tough as they come” and could handle himself against any man. Being handy with a gun was a bonus. Released from jail, Arthur was hired by the police department as a patrol officer. His beat encompassed some of the roughest parts of the city. Los Angeles was as wild a western town as any. The murders, rapes, muggings, gambling and opium dens were no help to Los Angeles’ reputation. The police department was overwhelmed; most laws on the books were not enforced. The city was expanding, the police had to grow and expand as well. By year 1909, after nine years on the job, he was a well respected detective. But, Arthur, was fired along with most of City Hall. Anyone connected with political machine, the mayor, the city attorney, you name it, was forced out. Unemployment did not last long. Arthur was brought back by his beloved police department. He was offered a position to work as a private police, bounty hunter, for ten dollars per day and expenses. His task, was to work undercover, with sixty-two year old Wyatt Earp, the famed frontier marshal of Wichita, Dodge City and Tombstone, Arizona. Arthur was twenty-five. Together, Arthur and Wyatt had a series of adventures that took them to the territories, and Mexico to hunt, capture and return escaped criminals. The job was dangerous, the monetary reward great. The risk was at its highest when they were caught in the middle of the Mexican Revolution. This book tells the story of these men ending in what was to be Wyatt Earp’s last armed confrontation four years later. Arthur Moor King was at Wyatt’s side throughout these four years, he was indeed Wyatt Earp’s last deputy.