Aurelio Herrera - Gilbertgia.com

when the Mexican was running the game, losers never
squealed. The city Marshal, too, was impressed with the
little scraper and appointed him deputy.” 9
The article explained what happened after Herrera lost his first
out-of-town boxing match.
“The reverse fairly stung the Mexican, and when he returned
he was a central figure in several shooting-up-the-town
episodes. Aurelio was called upon to defend the peace and
quiet of his law-abiding fellow townsmen. This occurred
when Jim McKinney, the bad man of Tulare County, killed a
man at one setting… [T]he vigilance committee decided it
was 23 for Jim. 10 The city marshal formed a posse, and with
Herrera cornered the outlaw in a Chinese joss house…
Aurelio, carrying a Winchester, judged distance well, and
said afterward that he had maintained the best traditions of
the town.” 11
9 Washington [DC] Times, Jan 16, 1906.
10 Several law enforcement agencies tracked McKinney’s movements, but no
vigilantes pursued him. See Lee Harold Edwards, The Killing of Jim McKinney;
“23” is short for “23 skidoo,” a slang expression meaning to leave quickly.
11 McKinney was killed Apr 19, 1903. Herrera was not in California that day.
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