On a crisp December day in 1892, the town of Snowflake, Arizona, was irrevocably altered by a violent confrontation that resulted in the death of a respected lawman. Justice of the Peace Charles L. Flake, a White/Caucasian male, was fatally shot on the first of the month while attempting to apprehend a man suspected of bank robbery. The suspect, who went by the alias 'Will Mason,' was believed to be responsible for a recent heist in San Marcial, New Mexico.
Aware of the potential danger,
yet resolute in his duty, Justice Flake, accompanied by his brother James, proceeded to Mrs. Hall's boarding house where Mason was staying. Despite warnings about the suspect's volatile nature, the brothers confronted him with the intention of making an arrest. In a sudden and tragic turn of events, Mason drew a concealed weapon and fired, striking Charles in the neck and killing him instantly.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting was chaotic, but James Flake reacted with swift resolve. As his brother fell, James drew his own firearm and shot and killed Mason, bringing a fatal end to the confrontation and to Mason's criminal activities. The community of Snowflake was left to mourn the loss of Justice Flake, a dedicated public servant and family man who left behind a wife and four children, with a fifth on the way. His death served as a stark reminder of the perils faced by those who upheld the law in the Arizona Territory during the late 19th century.
