The Undertaker's Devil - Prologue. Prologue

This story was prompted by the striking photograph of A.J. (Andrew Jackson, "Andy") Ritter on the title page/ table of contents page. I saw that photo, then looked up AJ Ritter to find what I could. I was very intrigued by the following sentence from his obituary in the Tombstone Epitaph, April 30, 1899:

"Mr. Ritter was a whole souled citizen and his good heartedness was a failing that cost him dearly during life's experience."

Now, what was meant by that? And why, when he was treasurer of Cochise County, Arizona Territory, did he end up $6600 in arrears in the tax money he had collected and was supposed to turn over to the county?

Ritter died at age 57 or so (he was probably born in 1842) after being "in ill health for some time." I have not found a stated cause of death, but I'm going to guess tuberculosis.