His mother, who died shortly after giving birth, was from the Cocopah
Tribe. The true identity of his father is a mystery. Some say he was a
Paiute brave from a neighboring tribe, while others say he was a white
soldier, stationed at Fort Mohave. In either case, his mixed blood, and
the fact he was born deformed, with a club foot, caused him to be outcast
among the local tribes.
Queho was raised on the reservation in Las Vegas. (This reservation still
exists today in the heart of downtown, near the railroad track, by Main
and Fremont Streets.) From an early age, he worked as a ranch laborer and
as a wood gatherer in the mining camps. Reports say he was extremely
sullen and moody, quick tempered, with little liking for anyone, be they
Indian or white.
Accounts differ on exactly when Queho's troubles with the law began.
Unconfirmed stories have him involved in the death of another Indian as
early as 1897. Actual newspaper accounts of his exploits begin shortly
after Thanksgiving, in 1910.
The articles report Queho as being the main suspect in the slaying of
another Indian, Harry Bismark, during a brawl. on the reservation in Las
Vegas. (The brawl, most likely, fanned into fireworks by the white-man's
whiskey!)
Unsubstantiated stories that in making his escape, he murdered two others
and stole their horses. Stopping for supplies, Queho was confronted by
shopkeeper, Hy Bohn. In the ensuing melee, Queho took an ax handle to the
unfortunate proprietor, breaking both the man's arms and fracturing his
skull.
Queho fled southward, into the mountains, with a posse in hot pursuit.
They managed to trail him as far as the Gold Bug Mine. There, they found
L.W. "Doc" Gilbert, the watchman dead. He had been shot in the back, and
his "special Deputy" badge (No. 896) ripped from his shirt and stolen.
Here, all traces of Queho vanish.
Over the next few years, sightings of Queho continued, up and down the
entire length of the river. During this time all missing cattle,
unexplained thefts, and numerous prospectors, as well as the occasional
loan traveler, found waylaid and murdered were directly attributed to the
phantom renegade.
With each passing year, Queho's legend continued to grow. He was a
constant source of embarrassment for local law enforcement. He became the
local "Boogieman" for children.
There are many books and articles exploiting Queho's myth, should the
reader care to research further. One of our favorites is how Queho would
come to town during various celebrations, join in the festivities, and
moments before the law would arrive to arrest him, disappear.... until the
next party!
Queho's second rampage came in 1919. In January, Maude Dougles, was found
murdered ,in her cabin, near Techatticup Mine in El Dorado Canyon. About
the same time, the bodies of Eather Taylor and William Hancock, two
prospectors, were discovered. In both cases, the crime scene had been
ransacked and all supplies taken. Tracks leading away from both sites were
identified as those of Queho.
Posses were again sent out in search of the elusive Indian. The state of
Nevada, Clark County, and relatives of the victims were now offering
rewards for his capture (dead or alive) in excess of $3000.00. They
searched in vain! No trace was ever found again.
Occasional sightings continued through the years. One of the last
unsubstantiated ones was by a Las Vegas policeman, who reportedly spotted
Queho walking down Fremont Street in February of 1930. By the time the
officer summoned reinforcements to arrest him, he'd disappeared again.
On February 18, 1940, two prospectors, Charles Kenyon and Art
Schroder, found the remains of a dead Indian, high up in a cave on the
side of Black Canyon. Along with the mummified body, the two found a
shotgun, a 30/30 rifle, assorted pots and pans, clothing, and a "special
Deputy badge, No.896".
Frank Wait, then Chief of police for Las Vegas, and original member of the
posse in 1910, rushed to the scene and positively identified the remains
as belonging to Queho.
Here, the of Queho is confirmed, but NOT the end of his story. The body
was removed from the cave and taken tp Palm Funeral Home. This sets in
motion the strangest part of the story.
Charles Kenyon, who found the body, demanded that either reward money be
paid to him or the body be turned over to him so that he could sell it to
the Las Vegas Elks Club for exhibition purposes. A court order was issued
preventing anyone from taking possession of the body or articles found
with it until positive identification was made.
Several Indians brought forth what they said were the remains of Queho,
whom they had secretly buried years ago. The Indians claimed to be heirs of
Queho. This confused the issue.
The judge, who issued the injunction, ruled that the body found at the cave
was the actual remains of Queho. Attmpts to recover the rewards that were
offered 1n 1919, fell on deaf ears.
The corpse, weapons, and artifacts were beginning to develop value as
curios. The legal battle shifted from one of "Finder's Rights", to one
of legal possession for the purpose of sale. To compound matters, the
funeral home was demanding that the body be removed and that they be paid
storage charges.
When it was learned that expenses would be involved to secure the remains,
those claiming to be heirs disappeared, and Kenyon dropped his suit. The
judge ruled that the funeral home now had any and all rights over the
body.
This legal battle had taken place over three years. The funeral home
issued an ultimatum to all parties concerned, "Pay up, or they would
cremate the body and scatter the ashes over the desert!"
Frank Wait was the first to come up with the cash to pay the bill. He gave
the remains to the Las Vegas Elks Club with all the artifacts. Club
members built a glassed-in case at the Helldorado Grounds at Cashman
Field, and recreated the cave where the body was found.
Queho's remains stayed on public display though the early 1960's. He even
rode in a convertible during one of the Helldorado parades. Eventually,
the Elks Club decided it no longer wanted responsibility for the remains,
and they passed into private hands. Passing through several individuals,
the remains were given to the Museum of Natural History at the University
of Nevada. Here the remained until the mid 70's.
Retired Las Vegas attorney, Ronald H. Wiley, secured the remins from the
museum, and on November 6, 1975, Queho was finally laid to rest.
The small ceremony, on Wiley's Pahrum Valley ranch, was attended by Frank
Wait, who was quoted by local newspapers as saying he was relieved that
his old adversary had finally been properly and respectfully laid to
rest.
All told Queho is credited with the un-timely end of twenty-three separate
souls. He was declared "public Enemy No. 1" in Nevada, as well as being
it's first mass murderer. May he finally rest in peace!
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