Bishop in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Dangerous Arrest
Inyo Register
| | Thursday, March 10, 1887 | |
The Shooting
For the first time in many months the peace and calm of the town were disturbed by a succession of pistols shots last Saturday night. The shots were fired by Officer Plumley in arresting one Phillip Staiger for disorderly conduct and it was certainly a justifiable case.
The Circumstances
Staiger went into Springsteads Saloon, and being drunk became abusive. Officer Plumley was appealed to and put Staiger out. Staiger was quiet for awhile, but went away and hunted up a pistol. He afterwards commenced to threaten persons on the street, in fact, did draw his pistol on David Hall. Plumley went to hunt him up and found him in the Headquarters Saloon. He searched Staiger, but found no weapon. Staiger went out into the street and became abusive. Plumley started to arrest him. Staiger presented a gun, and told him to stop. Plumley then drew his pistol and fired a shot by way of a frightener. It didnt work that way though. Plumley fired three more shots to scare his man, but this man refused to scare. Concluding that it was time to act decidedly, the next shot was fired to hit. The bullet just furrowed along his neck, not seriously injuring him. The officer at once closed in on Staiger and handcuffed him. The charge against the prisoner is for resisting an officer. Had his pistol worked satisfactory, Plumley could not have afforded to waste so much time. Staigers examination commenced Tuesday before Justice I.P. Yaney and it is not yet concluded. District Attorney Forbes is prosecuting and W.P. George is engaged in the defense.
Erected 2001 by Bishop Mural Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 37° 21.702′ N, 118° 23.787′ W. Marker was in Bishop, California, in Inyo County. It was at the intersection of Line Street and Warren Street, on the right when traveling west on Line Street. Located on the police station. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 207 W Line St, Bishop CA 93514, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in California’s Sierra Nevada. It was also in the American Mountain West. Globally,
it was in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Horace Marden Albright (a few steps from this marker); First United Methodist Church of Bishop (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Ernest Kinney Teamster Family Mural (about 700 feet away); The Old Inyo County Jailhouse (about 800 feet away); The Kittie Lee Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Whiskey Creek History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Slim Princess (approx. Ό mile away); "Atlas Copco Mucker" (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bishop.
More about this marker. Mural painted by Robert Thomas, John Knowlton, and Rich Perkins.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2014, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,216 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 26, 2014, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 6. submitted on November 9, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.





