The Wham Paymaster robbery is an armed robbery on or about May 11, 1889 on a United States Army paymaster and his escort transporting over US$28,000 in gold and silver coins.
Major Joseph W. Wham is transporting a payroll from Fort Grant, Arizona Territory to Fort Thomas when he and his escort of eleven Buffalo Soldiers are ambushed.
During the attack, the bandits wound eight of the soldiers, force them to retreat to cover, and steal the payroll.
As a result of their actions under fire, Sergeant Benjamin Brown and Corporal Isaiah Mays are awarded the Medal of Honor while eight other soldiers received a Certificate of Merit.
Eleven men, most from the nearby Mormon community of Pima, are arrested with eight tried on charges of robbery.
At trial, all the accused are found not guilty, and the stolen money has never been recovered.
