True West Magazine
Tombstone Court House
Locations of the offices and jails in Tombstone before the completion of the county court house and city hall in 1882 are difficult to pin down as Tombstone was a town of tents, shacks and even wickiup’s in those first months of its existence and was in a constant state of transition.
According to one source,
The Last Chance: Tombstone’s Early Years, John Meyers Meyers, the location of Tombstone’s first jail or lockup was an adobe structure on Fremont St. near the one built in 1882 that stands there today. Another source mentions on the night Marshal Fred White was shot the lockup was described as “nearby” and was a structure about 10’ x 12’ and built with 2”x 4s”, one on top of the other and spiked together. It was described as quite strong and secure for ordinary purposes.