Tag: Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp was a prominent figure in the American Old West, renowned as a lawman, gambler, and sometimes outlaw. Born on March 19, 1848, in Monmouth, Illinois, Earp is perhaps best known for his role in the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881, which cemented his status as a frontier hero. Throughout his life, Earp worked in various capacities, including as a deputy sheriff, marshal, and mining investor. His life was marked by both law enforcement successes and controversies, and he became a symbol of the rugged individualism and tumultuous nature of the West. Earp’s legacy has been immortalized in numerous books, films, and television series, reflecting his complex and often mythologized role in American history.

Frank Stilwell

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Frank Stilwell was a businessman, lawman, and outlaw in Arizona Territory, and was murdered by Wyatt Earp after the Gunfight at the O K Coral.

Frank Stilwell
Frank Stilwell

Early Life and Background

Frank C. Stilwell, sometimes spelled Stillwell, was born around 1856 in Iowa City, Iowa, though some sources suggest a possible birth in Texas based on census records. He was the son of William “Henry” Stilwell and Charlotte B. “Sarah” Winfrey. His family relocated to Palmyra, Kansas Territory, along the Santa Fe Trail shortly after his birth. In 1863, his parents divorced, and his father took Frank and his brothers, including Simpson Everett “Comanche Jack” Stilwell, while his mother retained custody of his sisters. Frank’s father served as a private in the Union Army during the Civil War, participating in Sherman’s March to the Sea. Little is documented about Frank’s early years, but he grew up in a turbulent frontier environment, which likely shaped his later life.

Frank’s older brother, “Comanche Jack,” became a renowned Indian fighter, scout, and lawman, contrasting sharply with Frank’s path. By 1877, Frank and Jack had traveled together to Arizona Territory, where Frank began to carve out a reputation as a multifaceted but controversial figure.

Life in Arizona: Businessman, Lawman, and Outlaw

J.W. Swart's Saloon in Charleston, circa 1885
J.W. Swart’s Saloon in Charleston, circa 1885

In Arizona, Frank Stilwell emerged as a complex character—part entrepreneur, part lawman, and part outlaw. He first appeared in historical records in 1877 when he shot and killed Jesus Bega near Miller’s Ranch in Prescott, Arizona, on October 18. Stilwell was acquitted on grounds of self-defense, marking the beginning of his association with violence. He worked as a teamster for C.H. “Ham” Light and later as a miner in Mojave County, demonstrating an early knack for frontier labor.

By the late 1870s, Stilwell had settled in the booming silver town of Tombstone, Arizona Territory. He prospered, possibly with connections to the notorious Clanton Gang, and owned interests in several mines, a saloon, a wholesale liquor business, a stage line, and livery stables in Charleston and Bisbee. He also partnered with ex-Texas Ranger Pete Spence in a Bisbee-area saloon. His business ventures showcased his entrepreneurial spirit, but his associations with the “Cowboys,” a loose gang of rustlers and outlaws, tainted his reputation.

In April 1881, Stilwell was appointed a deputy sheriff under Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan, a role he held for four months. His tenure was marred by controversy, and he was fired in August 1881 for “accounting irregularities,” possibly related to tax collection on county property, including cattle. That same summer, Stilwell was implicated in a fatal stagecoach robbery in Bisbee on September 8, 1881. Arrested by a posse that included Wyatt Earp and Behan’s deputy Billy Breakenridge, he was later released on bail, partly due to financial support from C.H. Light. This incident deepened tensions between Stilwell and the Earp brothers, setting the stage for future conflicts.

Involvement in the Earp-Cowboy Feud

Stilwell’s life became inextricably linked to the infamous Earp-Cowboy feud, culminating in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881. Although some myths suggest he was present at the shootout, Stilwell was actually in jail in Tucson at the time, likely related to the Bisbee robbery charges. His close ties to Sheriff Behan and the Cowboys, including Ike Clanton, placed him at odds with the Earps, who were aligned with law enforcement and business interests opposed to the Cowboys’ criminal activities.

The feud escalated in early 1882. On March 18, 1882, Morgan Earp, Wyatt’s younger brother, was assassinated while playing billiards in Tombstone. A coroner’s inquest, based on testimony from Pete Spence’s wife, named Stilwell as one of five suspected conspirators, though insufficient evidence prevented prosecution. Wyatt Earp, convinced of Stilwell’s guilt, considered him a primary suspect alongside Ike Clanton. This event marked the beginning of the “Earp Vendetta Ride,” a campaign of retribution led by Wyatt against those he believed responsible for Morgan’s death.

Death in Tucson

The Tombstone Epitaph, Marth 27, 1882 headlined with the murder of Frank Stillwell by Wyatt Earp et all
The Tombstone Epitaph, Marth 27, 1882 headlined with the murder of Frank Stillwell by Wyatt Earp et all

On March 20, 1882, Stilwell’s fate was sealed at the Tucson train station. The Earp posse, including Wyatt, Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, Sherman McMaster, and John Johnson, had escorted Virgil Earp and his wife to the station to board a train for California following an earlier ambush that left Virgil crippled. Upon arriving, they spotted Stilwell and Ike Clanton, reportedly armed and lying in wait on a flatcar in the train yard. According to Wyatt’s later accounts, Stilwell and Clanton fled when confronted. Stilwell stumbled in the dark, and Wyatt caught up, fatally shooting him at close range with a shotgun blast under the ribs. Coroner’s evidence indicated Stilwell’s body was riddled with two rounds of buckshot (one in the leg, one in the chest with powder burns) and four additional bullet wounds, suggesting multiple shooters. Witnesses reported seeing armed men running but could not identify them. Stilwell’s own pistol was unfired, and his body was found the next morning near the tracks, described by observer George Hand as “the worst shot up man I ever saw.”

Wyatt later claimed Stilwell’s last words were “Morg! Morg!”, possibly referencing Morgan Earp. Virgil Earp reported to the Arizona Daily Star that Stilwell confessed to Morgan’s murder before dying, naming accomplices, though this claim lacks corroboration. The killing was widely seen as a vengeful act, and arrest warrants were issued for Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and others. Murder indictments followed in Pima County, but Wyatt fled to Colorado, avoiding prosecution.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Frank C. Stilwell’s life and death cemented his place in the lore of the American Wild West as a quintessential outlaw figure. His role in the Earp-Cowboy feud and his dramatic death at the hands of Wyatt Earp have been immortalized in popular culture. Life-sized statues of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday stand at the site of his killing at the former Tucson Southern Pacific Depot, now part of the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, which offers tours of the historic site.

Stilwell was portrayed in media, including by John Baxter in Season 5 of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1960), Tomas Arana in the 1993 film Tombstone, and John Dennis Johnston in the 1994 film Wyatt Earp. His death, depicted as a pivotal moment in the Earp vendetta, remains a focal point in retellings of the Tombstone saga.

Despite his notoriety, Stilwell’s life reflects the duality of the frontier: a man who navigated roles as a businessman, lawman, and criminal in a lawless era. His ancestry remains unclear, and his brief but violent career underscores the chaotic nature of the Wild West. He is buried at Evergreen Memorial Park in Tucson, Arizona, where his grave serves as a reminder of his infamous end.

Conclusion

Frank C. Stilwell’s biography encapsulates the volatility of the American frontier in the late 19th century. From his early days in Kansas to his multifaceted career in Arizona, Stilwell embodied the opportunities and dangers of the Wild West. His association with the Cowboys and his suspected role in Morgan Earp’s murder placed him at the center of one of the era’s most famous feuds, culminating in his violent death at age 26. While his brother Jack pursued a path of honor, Frank’s legacy endures as that of an outlaw whose life was cut short in a vengeful act that reverberates through history.

Grand Jury Indictment for the Killing of Frank Stilwell

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Grand Jury Indictment Killing Frank Stilwell
Frank Stilwell

The following is the Grand Jury Indictment for the Killing of Frank Stilwell which charges Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, Sherman McMasters along with John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson

Frank Stilwell, an outlaw and former deputy sheriff, met his end on March 20, 1882, in Tucson, Arizona. Stilwell was deeply involved in the ongoing feud between the Earp brothers and the Clanton – McLaury faction, which culminated in the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. After the gunfight, the Earp brothers embarked on what became known as the Earp Vendetta Ride, seeking retribution for the murder of Morgan Earp, which they believed was orchestrated by Stilwell and his associates. On the night of March 20th, Wyatt Earp and his posse tracked Stilwell to a train station in Tucson, where they found him lying in wait, possibly intending to ambush Virgil Earp, who was traveling with his wife. Without hesitation, Wyatt Earp and his men opened fire on Stilwell, killing him on the spot.

The killing of Frank Stilwell marked a significant escalation in the Earp-Cowboy conflict, further entrenching the deep animosities between the two factions. Stilwell’s death was just the beginning of Wyatt Earp’s relentless pursuit of those he deemed responsible for his brother’s murder. In the aftermath, the Earp brothers were charged with murder but never convicted, as they continued their vendetta across Arizona, leaving a trail of bloodshed in their wake. The killing of Stilwell thus became one of the most infamous episodes in the violent history of the American West, exemplifying the lawlessness and personal vendettas that characterized the era.

(Transcript of the Murder Indictment returned as a True Bill by the foreman of the Grand Jury John S. Carr on March 25, 1882.)

Territory of Arizona

vs

Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, Sherman McMasters and John Johnson

Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp - Aged 39
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp – Aged 39
Warren Baster Earp ( March 9, 1855 - July 6, 1900 )
Warren Baster Earp ( March 9, 1855 – July 6, 1900 )
Photograph of John Henry Holliday taken by photographer D.F. Mitchell in Prescott, Arizona, 1879-80.
Photograph of John Henry Holliday taken by photographer D.F. Mitchell in Prescott, Arizona, 1879-80.

In the District Court of the First Judicial District of the Territory of Arizona in and for the County of Pima

Territory of Arizona

against

Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, Sherman McMasters and John Johnson

Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, Sherman McMasters and John Johnson are accused by the Grand Jury of the County of Pima and Territory of Arizona on their oath by this indictment of the crime of murder committed as follows: That the said Doc Holliday at the City of Tucson in the said County of Pima on or about the 20th day of March, A.D. 1882 with force and arms in and upon the body of one Frank Stilwell then and there being, then and there feloniously, willfully, and of his malice aforethought did make an assault and the said Doc Holliday a certain gun charged with gunpowder and leaden bullets which he the said Doc Holliday in his hands then and there feloniously, willfully, and of his malice aforethought in and upon the body of him the said Frank Stilwell did discharge and shoot off giving to him the said Frank Stilwell then and there with the said gun so discharged and shot off as aforesaid in and upon the body of him the said Frank Stilwell a mortal wound of which said mortal wound he the said Frank Stilwell instantly died. And the said Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, Sherman McMasters and John Johnson then and there feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought were present standing by, aiding, abetting assisting and maintaining the said Doc Holliday the felony and murder as aforesaid set forth, in manner and form aforesaid to do and commit, and so the Jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do say that the said Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, Sherman McMasters and John Johnson, the said frank Stilwell then and there in manner and form aforesaid feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought did Kill and Murder: Contrary to the form of Statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the Territory of Arizona.

Second Count

and the said Grand Jurors do further present that the said Wyatt Earp on or about the said 20th day of March A.D. 1882 at said City of Tucson in said County of Pima with force and arms in and upon the body of the said Frank Stilwell then and there being, then and there feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did make an assault and the said Wyatt Earp a certain gun charged with gunpowder and leaden bullets which he the said Wyatt Earp in his hands then and there had and held, then and there feloniously, willfully, and of malice aforethought in and upon the body of him the said Frank Stilwell did discharge and shoot off, giving to him the said Frank Stilwell then and there with the said gun so discharged and shot off as aforesaid in and upon the body of him the said Frank Stilwell a mortal wound of which said mortal wound he the said Frank Stilwell instantly died. And said Doc Holliday, Warren Earp, Sherman McMasters and John Johnson then and there feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought were present standing by, aiding abetting assisting and maintaining the said Wyatt Earp the felony and Murder as aforesaid set forth in manner and form aforesaid to do and commit. and so the Jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do say that the said Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Warren Earp, Sherman McMasters and John Johnson the said Frank Stilwell then and there in manner and form aforesaid feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought did Kill and Murder: Contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the Territory of Arizona.

Third Count

and the said Grand Jurors do further present that the said Warren Earp on or about the said 20th day of March A.D. 1882 at said City of Tucson in said County of Pima with force and arms in and upon the body of the said Frank Stilwell then and there being, then and there feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought did make an assault and the said Warren Earp a certain gun charged with gunpowder and leaden bullets which he the said Warren Earp in his hands, then and there had and held, then and there feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought in and upon the body of him the said Frank Stilwell did discharge and shoot off giving to him the said Frank Stilwell then and there with the said gun so discharged and shot off as aforesaid in and upon the body of him the said Frank Stilwell a mortal wound of which said mortal wound he the said Frank Stilwell instantly died. And the said Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Sherman McMasters and John Johnson then and there feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought were present, standing by, aiding, abetting assisting and maintaining the said Warren Earp the felony and murder as aforesaid set forth in manner and form aforesaid to do and commit. and so the Jurors aforesaid upon the oaths aforesaid do say that the said Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Sherman McMasters and John Johnson the said Frank Stilwell then and there in manner and form aforesaid feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought did Kill and Murder: Contrary to the form of Statute in such case made as provided and against the peace and dignity of the Territory of Arizona.

Fourth Count

and the said Grand Jurors do further present that the said Sherman McMasters on or about the said 20th day of March A.D. 1882, at said City of Tucson in said County of Pima with force and arms in and upon the body of the said Frank Stilwell then and there being, then and there feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought did make an assault and the said Sherman McMasters a certain gun charges with gun powder and leaden bullets which he the said Sherman McMasters in his hands then and there had held, then and there feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought in and upon the body of there the said Frank Stilwell did discharge and shoot off, giving to him the said Frank Stilwell then and there with said gun so discharged and shot off as aforesaid in and upon the body of him the said Frank Stilwell a mortal wound of which said mortal wound he the said Frank Stilwell instantly died. and the said Doc Holliday, Warren Earp, Wyatt Earp and John Johnson then and there feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought were present standing by, aiding, abetting, assisting and maintaining the said Sherman McMasters the Felony and Murder as aforesaid set forth, in manner and form aforesaid, to do and commit. And so the Jurors aforesaid do say that the said Sherman McMasters, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp and John Johnson the said Frank Stilwell then and there in manner and form aforesaid feloniously willfully and of their malice aforethought did Kill and Murder: Contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the Territory of Arizona.

Fifth Count

and the said Grand Jurors do further present that the said John Johnson on or about the said 20th day of march A. D. 1882 at said City of Tucson in said county of Pima with force and arms in and upon the body of said Frank Stilwell then and there being, then and there feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought did make an assault, and the said John Johnson a certain gun charged with gun powder and leaden bullets which he the said John Johnson in his hands then and there had and held, then and there feloniously, willfully, and of his malice aforethought in and upon the body of him the said Frank Stilwell did discharge and shoot off, giving to him the said Frank Stilwell then and there with the said gun so discharged and shot off as aforesaid in and upon the body of him the said Frank Stilwell a mortal wound he the said Frank Stilwell instantly died, and the said Doc Holliday, Warren Earp, Wyatt Earp and Sherman McMasters then and there feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought were present standing by, aiding, abetting, assisting, and maintaining the said John Johnson the Felony and Murder as aforesaid set forth, in manner and form aforesaid to do and commit and so the Jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do say that said John Johnson Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp and Sherman McMasters the said Frank Stilwell then and there in manner and form aforesaid feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought did Kill and Murder: Contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and provided and against the dignity and peace of the Territory of Arizona

Hugh Farley District Attorney

of Pima County Arizona Territory

References

The Tombstone Epitaph – March 27, 1882

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Frank Stilwell
Frank Stilwell

On March 27, 1882, The newspaper the Tombstone Epitaph announced the murder of Frank Stilwell in Tucson Arizona.

Frank Stilwell was an outlaw and a member of the Cochise County Cowboys, a group of rustlers and bandits who operated in southern Arizona during the late 19th century. Stilwell’s life took a fatal turn after he was implicated in the murder of Morgan Earp, the younger brother of lawman Wyatt Earp. On March 18, 1882, Morgan Earp was ambushed and killed in Tombstone, Arizona, while playing billiards. Wyatt Earp, seeking revenge for his brother’s murder, believed that Stilwell was one of the men responsible. Stilwell was known for his criminal activities, including cattle rustling, robbery, and involvement in various violent conflicts, which made him a prime target for Earp’s vendetta.

Just two days after Morgan’s death, Wyatt Earp and his posse tracked Stilwell to the train station in Tucson, Arizona, on March 20, 1882. Stilwell had been trying to flee, likely aware that Earp was on his trail. Earp and his men confronted Stilwell at the train station, and in a swift and brutal act of retribution, they shot and killed him. Stilwell’s body was found riddled with bullets, with some reports suggesting as many as five or six gunshots were fired into him at close range. This killing marked the beginning of Wyatt Earp’s infamous “Vendetta Ride,” a bloody campaign of vengeance against those he believed responsible for the death of his brother, further cementing Earp’s legend in the American West.

The following is a copy of the article from The Tombstone Epitaph, March 27, 1882 announcing the killing of Frank Stillwell.

The Tombstone Epitaph, Marth 27, 1882 headlined with the murder of Frank Stillwell by Wyatt Earp et all
The Tombstone Epitaph, Marth 27, 1882 headlined with the murder of Frank Stillwell by Wyatt Earp et all

ANOTHER ASSASSINATION.

Frank Stilwell Pound Dead this Morning,

Being Another Chanter In the Earp-Clanton Tragedy.

Special Dispatch to the Epitaph.

Tucson, March 21. This morning at daylight the track-man at the Southern Pacific railroad depot found the body of Frank Stilwell about one hundred yards north of Porter’s hotel, at the side, of the track, riddled with bullets.

The circumstances of the case, so far as learned, are as follows: Stilwell arrived here Sunday to appear before the grand jury on a charge of stage robbery near Bisbee last November. He was under bonds for his appearance. Last night when the west bound passenger train arrived, it brought the REMAINS OF MORGAN EARP, who had been killed Saturday night at Tombstone, and his three brothers, accompanied by Sherman McMasters, Doc Holliday and a man known as Johnson, all heavily armed with shotguns and revolvers. A few moments before the train started, Stilwell and lke Clanton (brother to W.M.-Clanton, who was killed in Tombstone by the Earps) went to the depot to meet a man by name of McDowell was to have come in witness before the grand jury. On their arrival at the depot they saw the Earp party walking on the platform. Stilwell advised Clanton to leave at once, saying they wanted to kill him. Clanton left a few moments later.

Stilwell was Seen WALKING DOWN THE TRACK in the direction where his body was found. Four of the armed men who were on the platform soon followed. One was described as a slender, light complexioned man wearing a white hat. Just as the train, was leaving, six shots wore heard in the locality of the assassination, but attracted no particular attention, and nothing was known of the tragedy until this morning whop the body was discovered. Six shots went into his body four rifle balls and two loads of buckshot.

Both legs were shot through and A CHARGE OP BUCKSHOT to his left thigh, and a charge through his breast, which must have been delivered close, as the coat was powder burnt, and six buckshot holes within a radius of three inches. Stilwell had a pistol on his person which was not discharged. He evidently was taken unawares, as he was desperate in a, fight and a quick shot. His watch was taken, in the hurry of which a part of the chain was left. There is much excitement here concerning the assassination, and many speculations are rife.

Some say that he was DECOYED TO THE SPOT where he fell as ho possessed strong evidence against certain stage robbers. Others think he was trying to get away from the Earp party and was overtaken, while it is thought by some that he went down the track to shoot one or more of the Earp party as the train was moving out, two of them being on board. The killing is thought to have been done by four of the party who accompanied the Earps here, as the four men who followed the deceased down the track WERE NOT SEEN AGAIN. This morning at one o’clock as the east bound freight train approached Papago, nine miles east of here, it was flagged and four armed men got on the train. They are strongly suspected.

The deceased was 27 years of age; was a native of Texas; is a brother to the famous scout Jack Stilwell. He has been in Arizona four years; was a teamster at Signal for some time and lately has been keeping a livery stable at Charleston and Bisbee, and was an ex deputy sheriff of Cochise county. Yesterday, Ike Clanton received several dispatches from Tombstone, warning him to look out that a party were coming down to put him out of the way, which put him on his GUARD. The authorities here are determined to get to the bottom of this matter, and if the parties are apprehended there will be no sham examination, but a trial on merits, and the guilty parties, whoever they may be, will suffer the penalty of the law.

References

The Gunfight at the O K Corral

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The Gunfight at the O K Corral, one of the most iconic events in American Old West history, occurred on October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. This brief but deadly confrontation, lasting approximately 30 seconds, pitted lawmen against a loosely organized group of outlaws known as the “Cowboys.” The shootout resulted in three deaths and several injuries, cementing its place in popular culture as a symbol of frontier justice and lawlessness. This report examines the background, events, aftermath, and historical significance of the gunfight, providing a detailed account as of March 12, 2025.

Historical Background

Wyatt Earp - 1869
Wyatt Earp – 1869

Tombstone, founded in 1877 after prospector Ed Schieffelin discovered silver in the Goose Flats area, rapidly grew into a bustling mining town. By 1881, it boasted a population of around 7,000–10,000, fueled by the riches of the Tough Nut Mine and others in the San Pedro Valley. The town’s prosperity attracted a mix of miners, merchants, and a rough element of cattle rustlers and outlaws, including the Cowboys—a gang of about 50–100 men involved in smuggling, rustling, and robbery across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Tensions in Tombstone were exacerbated by political and economic rivalries. The Earp brothers—Virgil, Wyatt, Morgan, and James—arrived in 1879–1880, seeking opportunities in the booming town. Virgil became Tombstone’s city marshal in June 1881, while Wyatt, a former lawman and gambler, served as a deputy sheriff for Pima County and later worked for Wells Fargo. They were aligned with Tombstone’s business elite and Republican interests, often clashing with the Cowboys, who were tied to rural ranchers and Democratic factions.

The Cowboys, including figures like Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, Billy Claiborne, and Johnny Ringo, were notorious for their lawless activities. By mid-1881, their confrontations with the Earps escalated. A key incident occurred on October 25, 1881, when Ike Clanton, drunk and armed despite a town ordinance banning firearms, threatened the Earps and their friend, John H. “Doc” Holliday, a dentist-turned-gambler with a volatile reputation. Virgil arrested Ike, pistol-whipping him, and fined him $27.50, further inflaming tensions.

The Gunfight

The Arizona Historical Newspaper, the Tombstone Epitaph announces the gunfight at the O K Coral.
The Arizona Historical Newspaper, the Tombstone Epitaph announces the gunfight at the O K Coral.

On the morning of October 26, 1881, the Cowboys gathered near the O.K. Corral, a livery and horse stable owned by John Montgomery, located on Fremont Street between Third and Fourth Streets. Reports indicated they were armed and possibly planning to leave town or confront the Earps. Virgil, as marshal, decided to disarm them to enforce the no-weapons ordinance, enlisting Wyatt, Morgan, and Doc Holliday (temporarily deputized) to assist.

Around 2:30 p.m., the four lawmen approached the Cowboys—Tom and Frank McLaury, Ike and Billy Clanton, and Billy Claiborne—in a narrow lot west of the O.K. Corral’s rear entrance, adjacent to Fly’s Photography Studio. The exact sequence of events remains disputed, with conflicting testimonies from survivors and witnesses. According to most accounts, Virgil demanded the Cowboys surrender their weapons, shouting, “Throw up your hands; I want your guns!” What followed was a chaotic exchange of gunfire.

Wyatt later claimed the Cowboys drew first, with Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton firing simultaneously. Virgil testified that he fired only after being shot at. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne fled early in the fight, leaving the McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton to face the lawmen. The shootout involved an estimated 30 shots fired in 30 seconds. Tom McLaury was killed by a shotgun blast, likely from Holliday, who wielded a double-barreled coach gun. Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton, despite being wounded, exchanged fire with the Earps and Holliday before succumbing to their injuries.

The lawmen were not unscathed: Virgil took a bullet in the calf, Morgan was shot through the shoulder, and Holliday was grazed. Wyatt emerged unharmed. By 3:00 p.m., the shooting ceased, leaving three Cowboys dead and the lot strewn with blood and spent cartridges.

Aftermath

The bodies of Tom & Frank McLaury and Bill Clanton after the shoot-out in Tombstone
The bodies of Tom & Frank McLaury and Bill Clanton after the shoot-out in Tombstone

The gunfight sparked immediate controversy. The Cowboys’ allies, including Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan, a political rival of the Earps, accused the lawmen of murder, claiming the Cowboys were ambushed. Behan arrested Virgil, Wyatt, Morgan, and Holliday, but a preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace Wells Spicer began on October 31, 1881. After weeks of testimony from over 30 witnesses, Spicer ruled on November 30 that the evidence was inconclusive and the lawmen acted within their authority to enforce the ordinance. No formal charges were filed.

Public opinion remained divided. The pro-Cowboy Tombstone Nugget decried the Earps as killers, while the Tombstone Epitaph, supportive of the lawmen, framed it as a necessary stand against lawlessness. The Cowboys sought revenge, ambushing Virgil on December 28, 1881, crippling his left arm, and assassinating Morgan on March 18, 1882, while he played pool. Wyatt, now a deputized U.S. Marshal, led a vendetta ride with Holliday and others, killing several Cowboys, including Frank Stilwell and Curly Bill Brocius, in the following months.

The Earps and Holliday eventually left Tombstone. Wyatt died in 1929 in Los Angeles, Holliday in 1887 in Colorado, and Virgil in 1905 in Nevada. The Cowboys’ power waned as federal authorities cracked down on border crime.

Historical Significance

Historical photo of Ike Clanton in 1881 by photographer Camillus S. Fly, Tombstone, Arizona Territory.
Historical photo of Ike Clanton in 1881 by photographer Camillus S. Fly, Tombstone, Arizona Territory.

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a minor skirmish in its immediate context—only three deaths in a town accustomed to violence—but its legacy looms large. It epitomized the clash between law and disorder in the frontier, reflecting broader tensions over control of resources and governance in the post-Civil War West. Tombstone’s silver boom faded by the late 1880s, but the gunfight endured as a cultural touchstone.

Hollywood amplified its fame, beginning with Stuart N. Lake’s 1931 biography Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal, which romanticized the Earps as heroic lawmen. Films like Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) and Tombstone (1993) further mythologized the event, often exaggerating its scale and simplifying its moral complexities. Historians, however, note its ambiguity: the Earps were not unblemished heroes, nor were the Cowboys mere villains; both sides operated in a gray area of frontier ethics.

Current Status

As of March 12, 2025, the O.K. Corral site in Tombstone is a preserved historic landmark, part of the Tombstone Historic District, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The original corral burned in 1882, but the adjacent lot and Fly’s Studio remain, managed as a tourist attraction with daily reenactments. Artifacts like Doc Holliday’s shotgun and period photographs are displayed in local museums, such as the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park. Archaeological digs have uncovered bullets and casings, corroborating witness accounts of the fight’s location and intensity.

Conclusion

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a fleeting yet pivotal moment in Tombstone’s history, encapsulating the volatile spirit of the American West. Its blend of documented fact and embellished legend has ensured its place in the national imagination. Countless books and movies feature the story and the legend castes a long shadow across the history of Arizona. Beyond the gunfire, it reveals the fragility of order in a lawless land and the enduring human drive to impose it—or resist it. As a historical event, it remains a lens through which to view the complexities of justice, power, and survival on the frontier.

The Tombstone Epitaph, March 20, 1882

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The Tombstone Epitaph, March 20, 1882 reports of the murder of Tombstone Resident Morgan Earp while playing pool in Tombstone, Arizona. This event followed the O K Corral shootout and the attempted murder of Virgil Earp. These two events caused Wyatt Earp to lead a vendetta ride across the desert hunting the assassins. The death of Moargan made the right side of page three.

The Tombstone Epitaph, March 20, 1882
The Tombstone Epitaph, March 20, 1882
Morgan Earp historical photo, 1881. Probably taken by C.S. Fly.
Morgan Earp historical photo, 1881. Probably taken by C.S. Fly.

March 20, 1882
THE DEADLY BULLET
The Assassin at Last Successful in His Devilish Mission

Morgan Earp Shot Down and Killed While Playing Billiards

At 10:00 Saturday night while engaged in playing a game of billiards in Campbell & Hatch’s Billiard parlor, on Allen between Fourth and Fifth, Morgan Earp was shot through the body by an unknown assassin.

At the time the shot was fired he was playing a game with Bob Hatch, one of the proprietors of the house and was standing with his back to the glass door in the rear of the room that opens out upon the alley that leads straight through the block along the west side of A.D. Otis & Co.’s store to Fremont Street.

This door is the ordinary glass door with four panes in the top in place of panels. The two lower panes are painted, the upper ones being clear. Anyone standing outside can look over the painted glass and see anything going on in the room just as well as though standing in the open door.

At the time the shot was fired the deceased must have been standing within ten feet of the door, and the assassin standing near enough to see his position, took aim for about the middle of his person, shooting through the upper portion of the whitened glass.

The bullet entered the right side of the abdomen, passing through the spinal column, completely shattering it, emerging on the left side, passing the length of the room and lodging in the thigh of Geo. A.B. Berry, who was standing by the stove, inflicting a painful flesh wound.

Instantly after the first shot a second was fired through the top of the upper glass which passed across the room and lodged in the wall near the ceiling over the head of Wyatt Earp, who was sitting as a spectator of the game.

Morgan fell instantly upon the first fire and lived only about one hour. His brother Wyatt, Tipton, and McMasters rushed to the side of the wounded man and tenderly picked him up and moved him some ten feet away near the door of the card room, where Drs. Matthews, Goodfellow and Millar, who were called, examined him and, after a brief consultation, pronounced the wound mortal.

He was then moved into the card room and placed on the lounge where in a few brief moments he breathed his last, surrounded by his brothers, Wyatt, Virgil, James and Warren with the wives of Virgil and James and a few of his most intimate friends.

Notwithstanding the intensity of his mortal agony, not a word of complaint escaped his lips, and all that were heard, except those whispered into the ear of his brother and known only to him were, “Don’t, I can’t stand it. This is the last game of pool I’ll ever play.” The first part of the sentence being wrung from him by an attempt to place him upon his feet.

The funeral cortege started away from the Cosmopolitan hotel about 12:30 yesterday with the fire bell tolling its solemn peals of “Earth to earth, dust to dust.”

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