A. Tracy was a wealthy businessman who lived in Vail Station, where he was employed as an agent for the Helvetia Copper Company.

According to author Pleasant DeSpain, Tracy came to Arizona from Nevada to pursue a young lady, with whom he'd had relations in the past.

Mr. Silverton claimed that he married the young lady, whose name remains unknown, because she refused to tell the newspapers in the aftermath of the Benson shooting.

The ceremony was, allegedly, carried out by a traveling evangelist minister in Phoenix, but a later investigation suggested that the marriage may have been fabricated.

He began sending her threatening letters and, sometime later, he purchased a diamond ring with the intention of proposing to her, unaware that she had already been married.

The journey continued on towards Bisbee, however, the train had to stop overnight in the small town of Benson and the Silvertons were forced to book a room at the Virginia Hotel, located across the street from the station.

[2][3] According to a Benson newspaper, Tracy saw the Silvertons walking towards the train station and, just as he was drawing his Colt .45 to fire on them, he was confronted by Lieutenant Wheeler, who said: "Hold on there.

One of the bullets hit Wheeler in his right foot, but, according to the newspaper, he armed himself with rocks and began throwing them at Tracy until he was incapacitated.

Wheeler was taken to the hospital in Tombstone and he remained out of action for several months before going back to duty as the third and final captain of the Arizona Rangers.