Robert Havlin Paul (June 12, 1830 – March 26, 1901) was a law enforcement officer in the American Southwest for more than 30 years.

When the voyage ended two years later in the Sandwich Islands, the captain sold the cargo of whale oil and gave Paul his share, $250 (approximately $8,500 as of 2025).

[4] He was first elected constable in Campo Seco in 1854,[5] and a month later was appointed Calaveras County Deputy Sheriff for the next three years.

Paul was expected to win, but on November 2, 1880, Shibell was unexpectedly reelected, and he immediately appointed Johnny Behan as the new deputy sheriff for the Tombstone region of Pima County.

A week later, Paul accused Shibell and his supporters Ike Clanton, Curly Bill Brocius, and Frank McLaury of ballot-stuffing and filed suit in the courts.

While the election decision was being argued in the courts, Paul rejoined Wells Fargo as a shotgun messenger.

On the evening of March 15, 1881, the stage-driver of the Kinnear & Company stagecoach carrying $26,000 in silver bullion (about $821,000 in today's dollars) en route from Tombstone to Benson, Arizona, took ill in Contention City and Paul took the reins and the driver's seat.

Three members of the Cochise County Cowboys—Jim Crane, Harry Head, and Bill Leonard—attempted to rob the stagecoach near Drew's Station, just outside Contention City, by first stepping into the road and commanding them to "Hold!

"[6] Immediately, Crane fired at the guard's seat killing the popular and well-known driver Eli 'Budd' Philpot.

Paul fired his shotgun and emptied his revolver at the robbers, wounding a Cowboy later identified as Bill Leonard in the groin.

Paul was able to bring the stage under control after about 1 mile (1.6 km) by jumping onto the tongue, at which point they had lost the robbers.

Paul returned to the attempted robbery site near Drews Station and joined in with the posse on an 18-day chase that produced Luther King.

[5][6] The Arizona Territorial Supreme Court ruled on his election lawsuit in Paul's favor in February, but Shibell appealed, and the decision was not confirmed until April.

In the next three days they killed Florentino "Indian Charlie" Cruz, Curly Bill Brocius, and Johnny Barnes.

Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan organized a posse to pursue and arrest them, but Paul did not join in.

[18] When Paul arrived in Denver, he served a warrant for Doc Holiday's arrest on charges that he killed Frank Stilwell in Tucson.

[2] In April 1883, in the Old Pueblo in Tucson, local citizens attempted to lynch Joseph Casey, who earlier that day had murdered the jailer Deputy Sheriff Andrew Holbrook.