The dark side of Route 66 is often overlooked as the world celebrates that storied highways centennial. There is a tendency to see iconic Route 66 in the context of neon and tail fins. For the average Route 66 adventurer this road trip is through a linear museum in a theme park.

It is easy to forget that, according to a study conducted in the 1950s, 40% of all highway fatalities in Arizona occurred on Route 66. But the wrecks that gave it a reputation as bloody 66 are only one part of the dark side of Route 66. Intertwined with the stories that fuel the romanticism and mythology of Route 66 are tales of dark deeds.

Arizona is just one of eight states linked by Route 66. But dark tales from the Grand Canyon state illustrate the highways dark side.

Tales From The dark side

Mere months before U.S. 66 was certified, on October 20, 1926, Tom King was working in the kitchen of the American Kitchen restaurant. The restaurant was east of the Hotel Beale on Front Street. This was the course for the National Old Trails Road that would soon be Route 66.

King was a Chinese immigrant. He was also a member of the Hop Sing Tong. And that was why five members of the Bing Kong Tong traveled from California.

Late on the cool fall evening, B.W.L. Sam, Shew Chin, Jew Har, Gee King Long, and Wong Lung, burst through the rear door of the restaurant. They opened fire and killed Tom King instantly.

The assassins from the Bing Kong Tong fled west along the National Old Trails Road. In pursuit were Mohave County Sheriff Mahoney and several deputies. The ensuing high-speed pursuit and running gun battle came to an abrupt end when the killers crashed near Topock and were arrested.

Aftermath

Well founded concerns over possible tong retaliation led to the prisoners being transferred from the Mohave County Jail in Kingman to Prescott for incarceration in the Yavapai County Jail. It also led Sheriff Mahoney to launch a controversial of Chinese residents in Kingman that included the confiscation of guns. There were even deportations from the county that led to the filing of numerous lawsuits.

The trial commenced in December of 1926. It soon became a national media sensation. Fueling this were claims that several Chinese businessmen in Prescott belonged to the Hop Sing Tong. And then Don On, the only eyewitness to the murder of Tom King, vanished without a trace.

After a contentious trial the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. All five men where charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to death by hanging at the state prison in Florence.

Lawyers retained by the Bing Kong Tong filed an appeal with the state supreme court. The Hop Sing Tong responded by hiring attorney J.N. Young of Chicago with a one million dollar retainer. He quickly established a legal team of Arizona attorneys including, E. Elmo Bollinger, a former judge with the Mohave County Superior Court, W.E. Patterson, Yavapai County Attorney, and John Sweeney, Assistant Yavapai County Attorney.

On appeal the Arizona Supreme Court upheld the conviction and death penalty. The media circus continued when Frank Craig, a witness at the appeals trial, recanted his testimony. He claimed that attorney J.N. Young had bribed him. This led to a flurry of appeals and legal filings with the court as well as the State Board of Pardons and Paroles

This merely postponed enforcement of the death penalty. Then, hours before the scheduled time for execution, on June 23, 1928, Wong Lung’s sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. This leniency resulted from his age, he was just seventeen years of old at the time of the King murder.

More Dark Tales From The Grand canyon State

Digging through newspaper archives makes it clear. Route 66 in the Grand canyon State had a dark side. But this should be expected as the highway was an artery of commerce as well as illicit activity.

Ary J. Best was a good Samaritan. He was also an elderly man suffering from advanced arthritis. On July 31, 1959 he stopped about twelve miles west of Flagstaff near Bellemont to lend assistance to a couple standing beside a car with its hood up. Patrick McGee and Millie Fain attacked and stabbed Ary Best six times. They stole his wallet and car.

The murderers drove to Williams where witnesses reported the couple spent the evening drinking, and buying drinks for everyone. The next morning McGee and Fain abandoned Best’s car in Williams, and continued to California by train. They were arrested shortly after their arrival in Los Angeles.

Fain received a life sentence. McGee was given the death penalty. His execution in the gas chamber occurred on March 8, 1963.

Every Mile Has A story

Scrolling through newspapers between 1926 and 1940 give the impression that something horrible happened along every mile of Route 66 in Arizona.

The Arizona Republican, October 1, 1930, “A plan to escape from officers resulted in tragedy for Martin Bowman, 20-year old Illinois youth and alleged auto thief. Attempting to escape, Bowman is believed to have caused the accident that may cause his death, physicians at Mercy hospital said tonight.

While handcuffed to Deputy Harry Cagle, Bowman attempted to leap from the car and caused Sheriff H. O. Coldren to crash into the Canyon Padre Bridge, thirty miles east of here (Flagstaff). Bowman went hurtling through the windshield as the car struck the bridge and is suffering from severe head injuries and loss of blood.

Officers escaped with lesser injuries, although Sheriff Coldren is suffering from two broken ribs and bruises. Bowman was being returned from Daggett, California to Marshall, Illinois to face charges of stealing the auto the officers were returning. He had attempted several previous escape attempts since starting on the journey, officers said.”

An American Story

Route 66 is an American story. And like the American story it is complicated. It is also a fascinating story with a few very dark chapters.

Telling America’s story. Inspiring road trips. Telling people where to go. It’s what we do at Jim Hinckley’s America.

If you want to learn more about the dark side of Route 66, perhaps adding a copy of Murder & Mayhem on The Main Street of America: Tales From Bloody 66 before the next road trip on the most famous highway in America.