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;  violating federal laws for hunting on Indian land then selling liquor. 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 Angels; the year, 1899.  

Unfortunately, Arthur had hopped rail ride to Los Angels 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 building road ways. 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 Angels was as wild a western town  as  any. The murders, rapes, muggings, gambling and opium dens were no help to Los Angels’  reputation. The police department was overwhelmed; most laws on the book were not enforced. The city was expanding, the police had to expand as well.  

By year 1909, after nine years on the job,  he was now 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 Moore King was at Wyatt’s side throughout these four years, he was indeed Wyatt Earp’s last deputy.