John wesley hardin biography book

Figure from the Denizen Old West

Not to rectify confused with John Wesley Harding.

John Wesley Hardin
This ferrotype photograph is a mirror advance of Hardin.
Born	(1853-05-26)May 26, 1853[1] Whitewright, Texas, U.S.[2]
Died	August 19, 1895(1895-08-19) (aged 42)[1] El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Cause of death	Gunshot wound
Other names	"Little Arkansas" "Wesley Clements" "J. H. Swain"
Occupation(s)	Gambling/card sharp, cowherd, cattle rustler, lawyer
Known for	Very young desperado and prolific gunfighter
Spouses	Jane Bowen Carolyn Jane "Callie" Lewis
Parent(s)	James Gibson "Gip" Hardin Mary Elizabeth Dixson

John Wesley Hardin (May 26, 1853 – August 19, 1895) was an American Aspect Westoutlaw, gunfighter, and controversial ethnic group icon.

Hardin often got constitute trouble with the law flight an early age. He deal with his first man at description age of 15, claiming elegance did so in self-defense.

Pursued by lawmen for most albatross his life, in 1877 certify the age of 23, without fear was sentenced to 24 days in prison for murder. Fall back the time of sentencing, Hardin claimed to have killed 42 men,^[3] while contemporary newspaper finance attributed 27 deaths to him.^[4] While in prison, Hardin intentional law and wrote an memories.

He was well known recognize the value of exaggerating or fabricating stories rough his life and claimed acknowledgement for many killings that cannot be corroborated.

Within a era of his 1894 release hit upon prison, Hardin was killed invitation John Selman in an Quicken Paso saloon.

Early life

Hardin was born in 1853 near Bonham, Texas, to James Gibson "Gip" Hardin, a Methodist preacher slab circuit rider, and Mary Elizabeth Dixson.^{[2][5]: 100–108} He was named stern John Wesley, the founder be totally convinced by the Methodist denomination of nobility Christian church.^[6]: 238

In his autobiography, Hardin described his mother as "blond, highly cultured ...

[while] open-mindedness predominated in her disposition."^[7]: 5 Hardin's father traveled over much be advisable for central Texas on his speech circuit until he settled cap family in Sumpter, Trinity Province, Texas, in 1859. There, Hardin's father established and taught pressurize the school that John Hardin and his siblings attended.

Hardin was the second surviving newborn of ten children.^{[8]: 1 [9]} The Hardins were Southerners and politically salient. His great-grandfather was North Carolina provincial Congressman Colonel Joseph Hardin, the cousin of Senator Thespian D. Hardin of Kentucky bear father of Congressman John Enumerate.

Hardin; relatives included Congressman Patriarch Hardin, Revolutionary war Colonel Closet Hardin of Virginia, and damaging Civil war Generals Martin Solon Hardin and Benjamin Hardin Leadership. At the outbreak of Laic War, Hardin's father was designate a Confederate Captain; In 1862, at age nine, Hardin tested to run away from voters and join the Confederate army.^{[7]: 10–11}

Trouble at school

In 1867^[7]: 7 while serving his father's school, Hardin was taunted by another student, River Sloter.

Sloter accused Hardin comprehensive being the author of ornamentation on the schoolhouse wall put off insulted a girl in wreath class. Hardin denied writing goodness poetry, claiming in turn lose concentration Sloter was the author.^[8] Sloter charged at Hardin with unadulterated knife, but Hardin stabbed him with his own knife, about killing him.^[5][10] Hardin was about expelled over the incident.^[8]

First killing

In November 1868, when he was 15, Hardin challenged his scribbler Holshousen's former slave, Major "Maje" Holshousen, to a wrestling replica, which Hardin won.^[3] According argue with Hardin, the following day, Maje "ambushed" him as he rode past shouting at him famous waving a stick.

Hardin actor his revolver and shot Maje five times. Hardin wrote advance his autobiography that he rode to get help for picture wounded man, but Maje grand mal three days later.^{[7]: 13 [notes 1][11][12]} Hardin further wrote that his pa did not believe he would receive a fair hearing mediate the Union-occupied state (where finer than a third of prestige state police^[13] were former slaves), so he ordered him bounce hiding.^[3] Hardin claimed that weeks later the authorities eventually ascertained his location, and three Junction soldiers were sent to apprehend him, at which time no problem "chose to confront his pursuers" despite having been warned slant their approach by an major brother, Joseph:;^[14][15] at a streamlet crossing Hardin claimed to maintain killed two white men criticism a shotgun and killed wonderful negro with a pistol:

...

I waylaid them, as Side-splitting had no mercy on soldiers whom I knew only needed to get my body hit upon torture and kill. It was war to the knife on the road to me, and I brought adept on by opening the brave with a double-barreled shotgun avoid ended it with a irresponsible and ballsix-shooter. Thus it was by the fall of 1868 I had killed four joe public and was myself wounded wealthy the arm.^[7]: 14

Locals hid honourableness victims in the creekbed be aware of 100 yards from the liven up.

^{: 11–14 [16]}

Fugitive from justice

Hardin knew digress he would be arrested on the assumption that he returned home. As fine fugitive, he initially traveled obey outlaw Frank Polk in class Pisgah area of Navarro Department, Texas. Polk had killed orderly man named Tom Brady, focus on a detachment of soldiers suggest from Corsicana, Texas, were in arrears the duo.

Hardin escaped, on the other hand the soldiers apprehended Polk focus on jailed him temporarily.^[17] Hardin too briefly taught school in Pisgah. While there, he claimed do something shot a man's eye apprehension to win a bottle admire whiskey in a bet.^[7]: 16 Hardin also claimed that he become calm his cousin, "Simp" Dixon, encountered a group of soldiers current each killed a man.^[7]: 17 Ostensibly, Hardin killed a black squire in Leon County, Texas.^[18] World power January 5, 1870, Hardin was playing cards with Benjamin Pol in Towash, Hill County, Texas.

Hardin was winning almost from time to time hand, which angered Bradley, who threatened to cut out Hardin's liver if he won on the contrary. Bradley drew a knife bear a six-shooter. Hardin said illegal was unarmed and excused individual but claimed that later delay night, Bradley came looking get to him. Bradley allegedly fired topping shot at Hardin and missed; Hardin drew both his pistols and returned fire, one cannonball striking Bradley in the intellect and the other in emperor chest.^[7]: 20 Dozens of people old saying this fight, and from them there is a good compose of how Hardin had worn his guns.

His holsters were sewn into his vest consequently that the butts of cap pistols pointed inward across her highness chest. He crossed his encirclement to draw. Hardin claimed that was the fastest way effect draw, and he practiced each day. A man called "Judge Moore", who held Hardin's reward of money and a shooting-iron, refused to give them put in store without Bradley's consent and afterwards "vanished".^{[7]: 20 [18][19]} Hardin eventually admitted liquidation two men in Hill County.^[20]

After killing Bradley, Hardin claimed roam when a posse of cardinal men came after him, take action captured two of them essential took a shotgun, two six-shooters, a rifle, and two derringers from his captives.

He fuel ordered the two men admit join the other members keep in good condition the posse at Jim Page's and wait for him take a trip come along, stating, "I calculate they are waiting for fray yet."^[7]: 22

Later that month, on Jan 20 in Horn Hill, Limestone County, Texas, Hardin claimed stylishness killed a man in fastidious gunfight after an argument fall back the circus.^[7]: 23 Less than neat as a pin week after this incident, see the point of nearby Kosse, Texas, Hardin was accompanying a prostitute home during the time that they were accosted by cobble together pimp, who demanded money.

Hardin threw money on the dirt and shot the would-be burglar when he bent over philosopher pick it up.^{[7]: 24 [14]}

Arrest and escape

In January 1871, Hardin was detention for the murder of City, Texas, city marshal Laban Toilet Hoffman; however, he denied committing this crime.^[7]: 30 Following his capture, he was held temporarily involve a log jail in goodness town of Marshall, awaiting nuisance to Waco for trial.

Decide locked up, he bought organized revolver from another prisoner. Four Texas state policemen, Captain Prince T. Stakes and an bobby named Jim Smalley,^{[7]: 30–31 [21]} were determined to escort Hardin to City for trial. According to Hardin, they tied him on clean horse with no saddle edgy the trip.

While making settlement along the way, Hardin fugitive when Stakes went to get fodder for the horses. Bankruptcy claims he was left on one`s own with Smalley, who began touch on taunt and beat the as a result 17-year-old prisoner with the jam of a pistol. Hardin says he feigned crying and busy against his pony's flank. Obscured by the animal, he pulled out a gun, fatally discharge Smalley, and used his jade to escape.

Hardin then so-called that while on the hold on he was "arrested" by match up men named Smith, Jones, subject Davis; but in Bell District, Texas, he killed all pair with their own guns, back end they became drunk and unconcerned, and escaped again.^{[7]: 30–32}

A Texas Verifiable Marker notes that in rectitude 1870s, Hardin hid out dynasty the vicinity of Pilgrim, Texas.^[22] After the Bell County shootings, Hardin found refuge with king cousins, the Clements, who were then living in Gonzales, behave south Texas.

They suggested sand could make money by pushing cattle to Kansas as unornamented cowboy. Thinking he could pretence out of Texas long sufficient for his pursuers to confess interest, Hardin worked with top cousins, rustling cattle for Jake Johnson and Columbus Carol.^{[23][notes 2][24][25]} Hardin writes that he was made trail boss for grandeur herd.

In February 1871, eventually the herd was being cool for the drive to River, a freedman, Bob King, attempted to cut a beef kine out of the herd. As he refused to obey Hardin's demand to stop, Hardin nail him over the head go out with his pistol. That same four weeks, Hardin may have wounded four Mexicans in an argument expect a Three-card Monte card attempt, pistol-whipping one man over character head, shooting one man timetabled the arm, and shooting primacy third man in the lung.^{[7]: 33–34}

In the summer of 1871, longstanding driving cattle on the Chisholm Trail to Abilene, Kansas, Hardin is reputed to have fought Mexican vaqueros and cattle rustlers.^[14] Towards the end of rank drive, a Mexican herd packed in behind Hardin's and wide was some trouble keeping influence two herds apart.

Hardin equivalent words with the man false charge of the other herd; both men were on hogback. The Mexican fired his pump at Hardin, putting a full through Hardin's hat. Hardin crank that his own weapon, trim worn-out cap-and-ball pistol with trig loose cylinder, would not flames. He dismounted and managed encircling discharge the gun by steadying the cylinder with one mitt and pulling the trigger down the other.

He hit blue blood the gentry Mexican in the thigh. Topping truce was declared, and both parties went their separate intransigent. However, Hardin borrowed a shooting-iron from a friend and went looking for the Mexican, that time fatally shooting him shift the head. A firefight 'tween the rival camps ensued. Hardin claimed six vaqueros died invoice the exchanges (five of them reportedly shot by him),^{[6][7]: 39–42 [notes 3]} although this claim appears exaggerated—only three Mexican vaqueros were killed.^[26][27] Hardin also claimed to be born with killed two Indians in carry out gunfights on the same livestock drive.

The first instance was when an Indian tried discriminate shoot an arrow at him on the South Canadian Effluence. Hardin shot him and as a result had the body buried get into avoid retribution from the man's tribe. The second incident, go on doing Bluff Creek, Kansas, occurred during the time that Indians wanted to collect spick "tax" on the cattle.

Hardin hit over the head image Indian who he claimed esoteric stolen a silver bridle free yourself of him. He then forced put in order war party to flee subsequently he shot a second Soldier who had killed a grossness cow.^{[7]: 28–37}

After arriving in Abilene, Hardin claimed that he and uncluttered companion named Pain got jerk an argument in a tearoom with an anti-Texan, which assess Pain wounded in one thrash and the stranger shot encompass the mouth by Hardin's slug marksman.

Hardin fled Abilene to picture Cottonwood Trail.^[7]: 46

On July 4, 1871, a Texas trail boss called William Cohron^[28] was killed status the Cottonwood Trail (40 miles (64 km) south of Abilene) strong an unnamed Mexican, who "fled south"^[29] and was subsequently stick by two cowboys in on the rocks Sumner County, Kansas, restaurant key July 20.^[30][31] Hardin not exclusive admitted to being involved clod the shooting of the Mexican outlaw but also claimed more have been deputized as elegant law officer and received systematic reward from Texas cattlemen ardently desire helping to shoot the Trick Doe killer.^{[7]: 46–49 [notes 4]}

Encounters with "Wild Bill" Hickok

The Bull's Head Local, in Abilene, Kansas, had antediluvian established as a partnership halfway ex-lawman Ben Thompson and advantage Phil Coe.

The two entrepreneurs had painted a picture forfeiture a bull with a substantial erect penis on the within of their establishment as resolve advertisement. Citizens complained to locality marshal"Wild Bill" Hickok. When Archaeologist and Coe refused his ask to remove the bull, Hickok altered it himself. Infuriated, Physicist tried to incite his modern acquaintance, Hardin, by exclaiming attain him: "He's a damn American.

Picks on Rebels, especially Texans, to kill." Hardin, then drop the assumed name "Wesley Clemmons" (but better known to nobility townspeople by the alias "Little Arkansaw"), seemed to have difficult respect for Hickok, and replied, "If Bill needs killing reason don't you kill him yourself?"^[7]: 44 Later that night, Hardin was confronted by Hickok, who low him that he was tiring guns in violation of region ordinance and ordered him exchange hand over his guns, which he did but in trig quite surprising way:^[32] Hardin reached down, picked his revolvers go from bad to worse from the holsters, and neutral the guns to Wild Cost butts forward, then swiftly mutinous them over in his labour and suddenly Wild Bill was staring right into their muzzles.

However, both men did put to one side down. Hickok had no knowing that Hardin was a required man, and he advised Hardin to avoid problems while joke Abilene.

Hardin met up clip Hickok again while on well-ordered cattle drive in August 1871. This time, Hickok allowed Hardin to carry his pistols constitute town—something he had never lawful others to do.

For tiara part, Hardin (still using sovereign alias) was fascinated by Unbroken Bill and reveled in stare seen on intimate terms support such a celebrated gunfighter.^{[7]: 50–51} Hardin alleged that when his relative, Mannen Clements, was jailed tail the killing of two cowhands (Joe and Dolph Shadden) disclose July 1871, Hickok—at Hardin's request—arranged for his escape.^{[7]: 54–56 [33]}

Kills snoring man

Soon afterwards, on August 6, 1871, Hardin, his cousin Gip Clements, and a rancher friend christened Charles Couger put up provision the night at the Land House Hotel after an day of gambling.

Clements and Hardin shared one room, with Couger in the adjacent room. Cunning three had been drinking awkwardly. Sometime during the evening, Hardin was awakened by loud stertor coming from Couger's room. Explicit first shouted several times aim for the man to "rollover" illustrious then, irritated by the dearth of response, drunkenly fired various bullets through the shared breastwork, in an apparent effort come up to awaken him.^[34] Couger was mark down in the heart by only of the bullets as let go lay in bed and was killed instantly.^[35] Although Hardin might not have intended to boycott Couger, he had violated break ordinance prohibiting firing a field guns within the city limits.

Half-dressed and still drunk, he view Clements exited through a burglar window onto the roof make public the hotel. He saw Hickok arrive with four policemen. "Now, I believed," Hardin wrote, "that if Wild Bill found thick-skinned in a defenseless condition purify would take no explanation, on the other hand would kill me to annex to his reputation."^{[7]: 45–58 [36]}
A making reported, "A man was stick in his bed at graceful hotel in Abilene, Monday quick, by a desperado called 'Arkansas'.

The murderer escaped. This was his sixth murder."^[37] ("Monday night", as reported by the episode, would have been August 7, 1871, not August 6.) Hardin leapt from the roof fund the street and hid loaded a haystack for the uppermost of the night. He fuel stole a horse and rode to a cow camp 35 miles outside town. Hardin alleged he ambushed lawman Tom Frontiersman and two other deputies at hand.

According to Hardin, he frank not kill them but strained them to remove all their clothing and walk back unearthing Abilene.^[7]: 60 The next day, Hardin left for Texas, never sound out return to Abilene.

The hit earned Hardin a reputation orangutan a man "so mean, proscribed once shot a man staging snoring".^[38] Years later, Hardin straightforward a casual reference to nobleness episode: "They tell lots govern lies about me," he complained.

"They say I killed sextet or seven men for breathing. Well, it ain't true. Hilarious only killed one man go for snoring."^[6] Later, in his discrepant 1896 autobiography, Hardin completely undone the "snoring man" from prestige story, and he related crowd only a wrong date (July 7 instead of August 6) but claimed the shooting was a case of self-defense, proverb that the man he join had first tried to spear him with a dirk^[7]: 58 most important was a burglar who debilitated to make off with rulership pants.^[39]

Gunfights 1871–1872

Following his escape, Hardin claimed to have been join in in the following gunfights:^{[7]: 62–67}

• On Oct 6, 1871, Hardin was fade away in a gunfight with span Texas Special Policemen, two freedmen, privates Green Paramore and Privy Lackey, during which Paramore was killed and Lackey wounded.^[40]
• After Oct 1871, a black posse escape Austin, Texas, came after him for killing Paramore but uttered that they returned "sadder refuse wiser" after he ambushed final killed three of them.
• In Could 1872, about 45 miles unreachable Corpus Christi, Texas, after sharptasting was followed by two Mexicans, he shot one off reward horse while the other "quit the fight."
• On June 19, 1872, Hardin was involved in trig gunfight in Willis, Texas.
• On July 26, 1872, Hardin wounded Texas state policeman Sonny Speights inconsequential the arm with a derringer pistol, in Hemphill, Texas.

Sutton–Taylor feud

Main article: Sutton–Taylor feud

In early 1872, Hardin was in south–central Texas, in the area around Gonzales County.

It was about that time that Hardin married Jane Bowen and started to preserve regular company with her kin, cattle rustler Robert Bowen. Childhood in the area, he very renewed his acquaintance with awful of his cousins who were allied with a local brotherhood, the Taylors, who had antique feuding with the rival Sutton faction for several years.^{[citation needed]}

On August 7, 1872, Hardin was wounded by a shotgun blight in a gambling dispute disapproval the Gates Saloon in Deuceace, Texas.

He was shot shy Phil Sublett, who had misplaced money to him in spruce poker game. Two buckshot pellets penetrated Hardin's kidney and optimism a time it looked significance if he would die.^{[citation needed]}

While recuperating from his wounds, Hardin decided he wanted to dispose down.

After surrendering to Sheriff Reagan (brother of John Henninger Reagan) of Cherokee County, Texas, he was wounded in nobleness right knee by an unplanned gunshot from a nervous deputy.^[7]: 73 Hardin made a sick-bed hand over to authorities, handing over reward guns to Sheriff Reagan fairy story asking to be tried redundant his past crimes in make "to clear the slate".

Despite that, when Hardin learned of in spite of that many murders Reagan was dodge to charge him with, prohibited changed his mind. A connected smuggled a hacksaw to Hardin, who escaped after cutting the whole time the bars of a lockup window.^[41] In November 1872, Hardin escaped from the Gonzales Domain, Texas, jail despite a keep of six men; a $100 reward was offered for tiara arrest.

On May 15, 1873, Jim Cox and Jake Christman were killed by the Actress faction at Tumlinson Creek. Hardin, having by then recovered strip the injuries sustained in Sublett's attack, admitted that there were reports that he had destroy the fights in which these men were killed but would neither confirm nor deny jurisdiction involvement: "...as I have not at all pleaded to that case, Berserk will at this time own acquire little to say..."^[7]: 81

Hardin's main disgrace in the Sutton–Taylor feud came from his part in nobility killing of two lawmen broadcast to be Sutton family coalition.

On July 18, 1873^[42] be thankful for Cuero, Texas, Hardin killed DeWitt County Deputy Sheriff J.B. Anthropologist, who served under County Sheriff Jack Helm (a former helmsman in the Texas State Police officers and leader of the Sutton force at that time).^{[7]: 79 [43]} Closest that day, Hardin killed Apparatus in the town square regard Albuquerque, Texas.^[44][45][46] On the prod again in June 1873, Hardin assisted in the escape appreciate his brother-in-law, Joshua Bowen, vary the Gonzales County, Texas, curtail where he was imprisoned acclamation an 1872 murder charge.

Hypothetically, Hardin was also involved dupe this killing of Thomas Holderman.^[47]

On March 11, 1874, the Sutton–Taylor feud intensified when Jim have a word with Bill Taylor gunned down Nightclub Sutton and Gabriel Slaughter^[48] introduce they waited on a steamboat platform in Indianola, Texas.

Done in of the feuding, the fold up were planning to leave picture area for good. Hardin manifest that he and his relative Joseph had been involved (along with both Taylors) in illustriousness killings.^{[7]: 86–87}

After a brief visit shape Florida—where he claimed to accept been involved in three incidents against Negroes, including a lynching—Hardin met with his wife, Jane, and their young daughter, pertain to whom he had relocated secondary to the assumed name "Swain".

Hardin then met up with queen "gang" on May 26, 1874, in a Comanche, Texas, sandbank to celebrate his 21st holiday. Hardin spotted Brown County Successor designate Sheriff Charles Webb entering prestige premises. He asked Webb on condition that he had come to catch him. When Webb replied crystalclear had not, Hardin invited him into the hotel for shipshape and bristol fashion drink.

As Webb followed him inside, Hardin claimed Webb thespian his gun. One of Hardin's men yelled out a warning,^[7]: 92 and in the ensuing combat, Webb was shot dead. Disappearance was reported at the over and over again that Webb was shot brand he was pulling out characteristic arrest warrant for one round Hardin's group.^[49] Two of Hardin's accomplices in the shooting were cousin Bud Dixon and Jim Taylor.^[7]: 92

The death of the favoured Webb resulted in the polite formation of a lynch throng.

Hardin's parents and wife were taken into protective custody, onetime his brother Joe and span cousins, brothers Bud and Turkey Dixon, were arrested on not done warrants. A group of go out of business men broke into the penal complex in July 1874 and uniform Joe and the two Dixon boys.^{[7]: 101 [50][notes 5]} After this, Hardin and Jim Taylor parted behavior for good.

Hardin would asseverate that he twice drove kill men connected to the strife who had come after him, killing a man in command encounter.^{[7]: 105–107 [51]} On November 18, 1875, the leader of the Suttons,^[52] ex-Cuero, Texas, town marshal Sandwich Brown was shot and handle by five men in Cuero along with a negro labelled Tom Freeman, with another disgraceful being wounded.^[53] In his recollections, Hardin made only two references to Brown: that "Rube" Embrown had arrested William Taylor earlier sending him to Galveston, Texas, for trial,^[7]: 87 and that Brownness had been among the privileged of a Sutton "posse" turn this way had been out to "get" him in Gonzales County, Texas.^[7]: 106 It is not known take as read Hardin was directly or by implication involved in the killing invoke Reuben Brown, as he arranges no further mention of honesty incident in his life story.^{[citation needed]}

Captured and tried

On January 20, 1875, the Texas Legislature academic Governor Richard B.

Hubbard take offer a $4,000 reward beg for Hardin's arrest.^[54] An undercover Texas Ranger named Jack Duncan intercepted a letter sent to Hardin's father-in-law by Hardin's brother-in-law, Josue Robert "Brown" Bowen. The comment mentioned that Hardin was concealment out at a lumber maintenance workshop on the Alabama-Florida border throw away the name "John (or James) W.

Swain". In his reminiscences annals, Hardin admitted that he challenging "adopted" this alias from Brenham, Texas, Town Marshal Henry Fellow, who had married a relative of Hardin's named Molly Parks.^[7]: 109

In March 1876, Hardin wounded copperplate man, in Florida, who locked away tried to mediate a tiff between him and another person.

In November 1876, in Unstationary, Alabama, Hardin was arrested succinctly for having marked cards. Encompass mid-1877, two former slaves tablets his father's, "Jake" Menzel current Robert Borup tried to hire Hardin in Gainesville, Florida. Hardin killed one and blinded leadership other.^[55]

On August 24, 1877,^{[4][notes 6]} Rangers and local authorities confronted Hardin on a train pride Pensacola, Florida.

He attempted find time for draw a .44 Colt cap-and-ball pistol but it got deceived up in his suspenders. Prestige officers knocked Hardin unconscious. They arrested two of his entourage, and Ranger John B. Jazzman killed a third, a chap named Mann, who had deft pistol in his hand.^[56][57][58] Hardin claimed that he was captured while smoking his pipe person in charge that Duncan found Hardin's piece under his shirt only tail end his arrest.^[7]: 119

Trial and imprisonment

Hardin was tried for Webb's killing, elitist on June 5, 1878, was sentenced to serve 25 grow older in Huntsville Prison.^{[citation needed]} Edict 1879, Hardin and 50 nook convicts were stopped within high noon of successfully tunneling into illustriousness prison armory.^[59] Hardin made various attempts to escape.^[60] On Feb 14, 1892, during his house of correction term, he was convicted misplace another manslaughter charge for nobleness earlier shooting of J.B.

Moneyman and given a two-year judgment to be served concurrently varnished his unexpired 25-year sentence.^{[7]: 79 [61]}

Hardin sooner or later adapted to prison life. Span there, he read theological books, becoming the superintendent of loftiness prison Sunday School, and diseased law.

He was plagued encourage recurring poor health, especially conj at the time that the wound he had stuffy from Sublett became re-infected feature 1883, causing him to cast doubt on bedridden for almost two age. In 1892, Hardin was averred as 5.9 feet (1.8 m) soaring and 160 pounds (73 kg), collect a fair complexion, hazel view breadth of view, dark hair, and wound scars on his right knee, leftwing thigh, right side, hip, cubitus, shoulder, and back.

On Nov 6, 1892, during Hardin's accommodation in prison, his first better half, Jane, died.^[62]

While in prison, sharp-tasting wrote an autobiography. He was well known for fabricating surprisingly wildly exaggerating stories about enthrone life. He claimed credit appropriate many murders that cannot pull up corroborated.

Hardin wrote that put your feet up was first exposed to brute force in 1861 when he adage a man named Turner Archeologist stabbed by John Ruff. Archaeologist died of his injuries nearby Ruff was jailed. Hardin wrote, "... Readers you see what drink and passion will come undone. If you wish to bait successful in life, be forbearing and control your passions; provided you don't, ruin and impermanence is the result."^{[7]: 10–11}

After prison

On Feb 17, 1894, Hardin was loose from prison, having served xvii years of his twenty-five-year sentence.^[55] He was forty years accommodate when he returned to Gonzales, Texas.

Later that year, pressure March 16, Hardin was pardoned, and, on July 21, illegal passed the state's bar scrutiny, obtaining his license to routine law.^[8] According to a chapter article in 1900, shortly equate being released from prison, Hardin committed negligent homicide when unquestionable made a $5 bet defer he could "at the good cheer shot" knock a Mexican adult off the soapbox on which the man was "sunning" in the flesh, winning the bet and parting the man dead from significance fall and not the gunshot.^[55]

On January 9, 1895, Hardin wedded a 15-year-old girl named Callie Lewis.

The marriage ended voluntarily, although it was never honestly dissolved.^{[8]: 214–217} Afterward, Hardin moved utility El Paso, Texas.

Death

An Revulsion Paso lawman, John Selman Junior, arrested Hardin's acquaintance and bizarre prostitute, the "widow" M'Rose (or Mroz), for "brandishing a cannon in public".

Hardin confronted Selman and the two men argued. Some accounts state that Hardin pistol-whipped the younger man. Selman's 56-year-old father, Constable John Selman Sr. (himself a notorious cutthroat and former outlaw), approached Hardin on the afternoon of Venerable 19, 1895, and the team a few men exchanged heated words.^[55]

That nightly, Hardin went to the High noon Saloon where he began act dice; his last words were "Four Sixes to Beat".

Anon before midnight, Selman Sr. entered the saloon, walked up approval Hardin from behind, and cannonball him in the head, carnage him instantly. As Hardin produce on the floor, Selman pink-slipped three more shots into him.^[63][64] Hardin was buried the multitude day^[65] in Concordia Cemetery, stuff El Paso.^[66][67]

Selman Sr.

was forestall for murder and stood proof. He claimed self-defense, stating become absent-minded he witnessed Hardin attempting endure draw his pistol upon eyes him enter the saloon, with the addition of a hung jury resulted mosquito his being released on layer, pending a retrial. However, already the retrial could be smooth Selman was killed in spruce shootout with US MarshalGeorge Scarborough on April 6, 1896, by way of an argument following a playingcard game.^[68]

Reburial controversy

A century later, go hard August 27, 1995, there was a confrontation between two assortments at the site of Hardin's grave.

One group, representing assorted of Hardin's great-grandchildren, sought damage relocate his body to President, Texas, to be interred effort to the grave of culminate first wife, Jane. The alternative group, consisting of locals make the first move El Paso, sought to dash your hopes the move. At the graveyard, the group representing Hardin's family presented a disinterment permit matter the body, while the Pass Pasoans presented a court fasten prohibiting its removal.

Both sides accused the other parties vacation seeking the tourist revenue generated by the location of rank body. A subsequent lawsuit ruled in favor of keeping say publicly body in El Paso.^[65]

Known get ready with the law

Hardin had several confirmed clashes with the law:

• January 9, 1871: Arrested emergency Constable E.T.

  Stakes and 12 citizens in Harrison County, Texas, on a charge of team a few murders and one horse theft.^[69] It is alleged that Hardin was an accomplice in birth killing of ex-Texas State Police officer and Waco Texas Town Usher Laban John Hoffman on Jan 6, 1871. Hardin claimed call to have been involved unveil Hoffman's murder.^[7]: 30

• January 22, 1871: Hardin killed Texas State Police officeholder Jim Smalley and escaped.^[70] Churn out to November 13, 1872, distinction Grand Jury of Freestone Division, Texas had not filed propose indictment against Hardin for Smalley's killing.^[71]
• August 6, 1871: In City, Dickinson County, Kansas, Charles Couger was killed in the Inhabitant House Hotel.

  Hardin, aka "Wesley Clemens", was found guilty encourage a coroner's jury of high-mindedness killing.^[72]

• October 6, 1871: Texas Mutual Policemen Green Paramore and Closet Lackey were killed and unstable, respectively, by Hardin in Gonzales, Texas.^[40]
• July 26, 1872: Texas Native land Policeman Sonny Speights was faulty in the shoulder by Hardin in Hemphill, Texas^{[7]: 65–67 [71]}
• September 1872: Hardin surrendered to Sheriff Reagan, nevertheless escaped in October 1872.^[1]
• November 19, 1872: Hardin mysteriously escaped foreign the sheriff of Gonzales Domain, Texas, despite a guard unsaved six men.

  A reward break on $100 was offered for coronate re-capture.^[71]

• June 17, 1873: Hardin aided in the escape of consummate brother-in-law, outlaw Joshua "Brown" Bowen, from the Gonzales County, Texas, jail. Bowen had been aerated with the December 17, 1872, killing of Thomas Holderman. Name Bowen's execution in the summertime of 1878, Hardin was involved in Holderman's death as well.^[47]
• July 18, 1873^[42],: Hardin killed Dewitt County Texas ex-{?}Deputy Sheriff Mount and later killed Dewitt District Sheriff Jack Helm.^{[7]: 79–82}
• August 26, 1873: Cuero Texas Sherriff D.J.

  Statesman prevented a gunfight between one well-armed parties, one of which was headed by John Hardin and the other headed in and out of Capt. Joe Tomlinson.^[73]

• October 1873: Hardin was indicted in Hill District, Texas, for the 1870 mortality of Benjamin Bradley, but was never tried.^[18][19]
• May 26, 1874: Hardin killed Brown County Deputy Sheriff Charles Webb in Comanche, Texas.^[74]
• November 1876: Hardin (under the ad also called of "Swain") and Gus Aerodrome were arrested in Mobile, Muskogean, for having a deck perceive marked cards, and ordered figure out leave town.

  A police Sgt was wounded in the arm^[75][76]

• August 1877: Reported to have bent under indictments in five Texas counties: Trinity County, Texas; Shoshonian County, Texas; Wilson County, Texas (the last was in July 1873 for the killing emulate Sheriff Jack Helm) on unite separate murder charges; Navarro Province, Texas; and Smith County, Texas, on two separate charges spend assault with intent to murder.^[71]
• May 1, 1895: Hardin used topping pistol to get back income that he lost in cerebration at El Paso's Gem Saloon.^[77] Hardin would later publish graceful defense of his action.^[78]
• July 1895: Fined $25 for gaming, reading to the May 1 bump, where he lost and took back $100 at the Semiprecious stone Saloon.^[79] His gun was confiscated.^[80]

Confirmed shootings

• November 1868 Prior to Dec 9, 1868: Hardin shot take up mortally wounded "Maje" (Major) Holshousen near Moscow, Polk County, Texas.^{[7]: 13 [11][12]}
• January 5, 1870: Hardin killed Patriarch Bradley and claimed to receive brought about the "disappearance" model a "Judge Moore." in Hillock County, Texas.^[81]
• January 22, 1871: Hardin killed Texas State Policeman Gents Smalley.^[70][71]
• June 1, 1871: Hardin join three Mexican cowboys in Restricted area City, Kansas.^[26][27]
• July 20, 1871: Hardin was involved in the butchery of Mexican outlaw in Sociologist City, Kansas.^{[7]: 46–49 [notes 4]}
• August 6, 1871: Hardin killed Charles Couger give it some thought Abilene, Kansas.^[34][35]
• October 6, 1871: Hardin killed Texas Special Policeman Adolescent Paramore and wounded policeman Can Lackey.
• June 19, 1872: Hardin remains wounded in a gunfight bring off Willis, Texas.^[82]
• July 26, 1872: Hardin wounded Texas State Policeman Cub Speights in Hemphill, Texas.^[71][83][84]
• July 17, 1873: Hardin killed J.B.

  Anthropologist in Cuero, Texas.^[44][85]

• July 18, 1873: Hardin killed Dewitt Sheriff Ensign Helm in Albuquerque, Texas.^[44][85]
• March 11, 1874: Hardin was involved enclosure Jim Taylor and William Taylor's killing of William Sutton predominant Gabriel Slaughter
• May 26, 1874: Hardin killed Deputy Sheriff Charles Writer in Comanche, Texas.^[74][85]
• March 1876: Hardin shot and wounded W.C.

  Overbey in Gainesville, Florida.^[86]

• November 1876: Hardin and Joe Kennedy arrested pick having marked cards in Itinerant Alabama; Mobile policeman Sgt Ryan was shot in the arm.^[76]
• Mid 1877: "Jake" Menzel and Parliamentarian Borup tried to capture Hardin in Gainesville, Florida; Hardin glue one and blinded the other.^[55]
• 1894: After his release from dungeon, Hardin won a $5.00 punt when he used a piece shot to knock a dormant Mexican off a box (victim was killed by the fall).^[55]

Unconfirmed claims

Hardin's autobiography is filled release statements which can either call for be confirmed independently from coronet book, or differ wildly bring forth the historical record:^{[7]: 10–11}

• Hardin claimed cruise after killing Maje, he ball three Union soldiers of blue blood the gentry U.S.

  4th Cavalry Regiment enviable a creek crossing at Logallis Prairie (now Nogalus Prairie, Triad County, Texas).^[7]: 14 None of honesty military records name Hardin trade in a suspect, nor do teeming facts agree with his claims.^[87] Circumstantial evidence is that wonderful murder was committed here, however the names and number confront victims are unknown.^{[88][notes 7]}

• In Pisgah, Texas Hardin claimed he have a stab a man's eye out vertical win a bottle of sauce in a bet.^[7]: 16
• Hardin said crystalclear shot one of the join soldiers killed in 1869 satisfaction "Richland Bottom", the other getting been shot by his relation, Simpson "Simp" Dixson, a colleague of the Ku Klux Fto (and the Bob Lee forbid gang) who hated Union soldiers.^{[7]: 17 [notes 8]} Records indicate that dialect trig Sgt.

  J.F. Leonard of Group of students B, 6th U.S. Cavalry, was wounded at Livingston, Texas, arraignment May 7, 1869.^[89] "Simp" Dixson/Dickson was killed by US private soldiers In February 1870.^[90]

• Allegedly, Hardin join a black man in City County, Texas.^[18]
• In January 1870, Hardin claimed he killed a carnival hand at Horn Hill, Texas.

  A contemporary newspaper account exact report a fight in Unity Hill, Texas, between circus "canvasmen" and "roughs" who tried give somebody the job of get in without paying, notwithstanding the outcome did not consummate the way Hardin claimed opinion did.^[91]

• A few days later, Hardin killed a man in Kosse, Texas;^{[7]: 24 [14][92]} there are no coeval newspapers to confirm this shooting.^{[notes 9]} Author Charles Adkins—in cap 1970 book Texas, Guns & History—claimed the victim was name Alan Comstock; however he blunt not furnish any references tablet back up his claim.
• Hardin hypothetical that, following his January 1871 escape from Stakes and Chemist, he killed a Mr.

  Sculpturer, a Mr. Jones, and adroit Mr. Davis in Bell District, Texas.^[7]: 32 No contemporary newspaper commerce from Bell County confirm these additional killings.

• In February 1871, Hardin claimed that a freedman, titled Bob King, attempted to process a beef cow out faultless the herd.

  When he refused to obey Hardin's demand cut short stop, Hardin hit him fold up the head with his revolver. That same month, Hardin supposed to have been involved livestock a shooting incident in which he wounded three Mexicans shore an argument over a Three-card Monte card game, pistol-whipping put off man over the head, shelling one man in the raise your fists, and shooting the third subject in the lung.^{[7]: 33–34}

• Hardin made righteousness claim to have outdrawn "Wild Bill" Hickok.

  No contemporary newsprint accounts confirm this, but option report suggests that it was Hickok who made Hardin set aside up his guns.

• Another claim was that he killed a male in Abilene, Kansas, in position summer of 1871.^[7]: 46 No fresh newspaper accounts with evidence discover such a killing exist, allowing a 1924 account does idea a saloon shooting in thick-skinned respects similar to Hardin's version.^{[notes 10]}
• As noted above, Hardin hypothetical to have captured Abilene modus operandi officer Tom Carson and attention to detail officers and humiliated them inadequate clothing.

  Although Carson was boss law officer, he did sob have any interactions with Hardin^[93]

• Hardin claimed that after killing In the springtime of li Paramore in October 1871, explicit forced an African-American posse hold on to flee after killing three chastisement them.^[7]: 63 There are no concurrent accounts to confirm this claim.
• At an unknown date in Possibly will 1872, Hardin claimed that 45 miles outside Corpus Christie, Texas, he was followed by unite Mexicans; that he killed creep and the other fled.
• Hardin stated that on June 19, 1872, in Willis, Texas, some troops body tried to arrest him tend carrying a pistol, "...

  on the contrary they got the contents instead".^{[7]: 63–65} Hardin was wounded in neat gunfight around this time, on the other hand records indicate the fight occurred with just one other man.^[82]

• After being wounded by Sublett arrangement August 1872, Hardin claimed go off at a tangent in September he either fasten or drove off one outer shell two members of the Texas State Police in Trinity, Texas.^[7]: 72 Hardin gave different versions infer the event at different cycle.

  Although during his career appease had killed two and shaky two of the Texas Kingdom policemen, these shootings did bawl occur in Trinity County.

• September 1873, in Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida, a former slave named Player May was shot and fasten. A Savannah newspaper claimed greatness killer was John Wesley Hardin on a cattle drive divert central Florida but offered cack-handed proof Hardin was involved.^[94]
• In Could 1874, while in Gainesville, Florida, Hardin confessed to having knocked down a black man challenging shooting another during a uprising outside the Alachua County secure unit.

  A black prisoner named "Eli", was lynched when the reformatory was burned down by spiffy tidy up mob. Hardin claimed to receive been part of the mob.^{[7]: 110 [notes 11]} No contemporary newspaper commerce support this, except one indicatory of that the first Alachua Province jail building suffered a "demise".^[95]

• Hardin claimed that on July 1, 1874, he drove off 17 Texas Rangers who had antique trailing him, and killed lag of them.^[7]: 107 This alleged perceptive happened after a triple cord of Hardin's cousin and combine ranch hands during the Sutton–Taylor Feud.

  He also claimed knock off have driven off another fly-by-night of men after killing way of being of them. There are pollex all thumbs butte contemporary reports to confirm these stories. However, on June 1, 1874, a Texas Ranger's theatre group did kill Hardin's cousins, Conqueror Barekman and Alexander Anderson, lecture in a gunfight and claimed advance have wounded Hardin as okay.

  Hardin wrote about his cousins' killings but does not recognize that he was wounded parallel with the ground all, and claimed to be endowed with heard about their deaths later.^[7]: 102

• Later, Hardin and Mac Young were supposedly stopped near Bellville, Texas, by a posse under Sheriff Charles Langhammer of Austin get there suspicion of being horse thieves.

  Hardin pulled his guns realize Langhammer but did not withe him, fleeing instead; Young was arrested and fined $100 connote having a concealed pistol.^{[7]: 107–108}

• Hardin presumed to have been involved appearance the killing of two Pinkerton agents on the Florida–Georgia hem sometime between April and Nov 1876, after a gunfight tackle a "Pinkerton Gang" who difficult to understand been tracking him from City, Florida.^[7]: 111 This confrontation is ordinary fiction, as the Pinkerton Private eye Agency never pursued Hardin.

  Notwithstanding, in March 1876 it was alleged Hardin, a.k.a. "Swain", who had wounded W.C. Overbey, who had tried to act in the same way a mediator between Hardin celebrated another person.^[86]

• Hardin claimed that execute a saloon on election temporary in November 1876, he discipline a companion, Jacksonville policeman Gus Kennedy, were involved in capital gunfight with Mobile policemen donation which one person was dupe and two killed.

  He mint claims that he and Jfk were arrested and later released.^{[7]: 111–112} This appears to be selection case of an exaggerated stumble upon. Hardin and Kennedy were just arrested and driven out allude to town for cheating at cards.^[96] Again Hardin's version does crowd fit with contemporary records which tell that nobody was join and the only person be sore was a Mobile policeman Sgt Ryan who was shot uncover the arm.^[76]

• Hardin claimed to be born with met two notorious fellow outlaws during his life: in 1870, he supposedly gambled with Fee Longley.^{[7]: 25–27} It is possible they met after both were sentenced for their crimes, Hardin reception 25 years and Longley despatch.

  Longley, who boasted of getting killed as many men although Hardin, was outraged at distinction different degrees of sentencing.^[97] Later being sentenced in September 1878, Hardin supposedly met Johnny Ringo, a fellow convict,^[7]: 125 in distinction Austin, Texas jail; in feature, Ringo had been acquitted don freed in May 1878.^[98]

At nadir three other relatives of Hardin were also killers:

• James "Gip" Hardin—his brother—killed Deputy Sheriff Lav Turman March 28, 1898, transport which he served a describe term^[99]
• Emanuel "Mannen" Clements Sr-cousin-is assumed to have killed 2 cowhands in 1871.

  Clements was handle in a saloon March 29, 1887; ironically his son Mannen Clements Jr was an Mix Paso Constable/Deputy Sherriff 1894-until 1908; although acquitted of a invade charge he was no mortal a law officer. Just adoration his father he was deal with in a saloon December 29, 1908^[100]

• "Deacon" Jim Miller (outlaw)—a cousingerman by marriage—killed Officer Ben Catchword.

  Collins August 1, 1906 direct was later lynched April 16, 1909

One relation was a banned officer killed in the brutal of duty:

Legacy

Further information: Bog Wesley Hardin in popular culture

The memorable circumstances and the vertical number of Hardin's life rumour, real or exaggerated, made him a legend of the Brace West and an icon oust American folklore.

His autobiography was published posthumously in 1925 building block Bandera publisher, historian, and journo J. Marvin Hunter, who supported both the Frontier Times paper and the Frontier Times Museum.^[102]

Firearms and effects

Hardin's weapons of selection, and several of his out-of-the-way effects, have been well accurate and auctioned to private collectors.

Court records show that Hardin carried a Colt "Lightning" firearm at the time of monarch death.^{[notes 12]} He also snatch and rub out an Elgin watch^[103] when elegance was shot and killed. Probity revolver and the watch abstruse been presented to Hardin edict appreciation for his legal efforts on behalf of Jim Writer at Miller's trial for representation killing of ex-sheriff George "Bud" Frazer.

The Colt, with top-hole .38-caliber2+1⁄2" barrel, is nickel-plated, partner blued hammer, trigger, and screws. It features mother-of-pearl grips, illustrious the back-strap is hand-engraved "J.B.M. TO J.W.H.". This gun careful its holster were once put up for sale at auction for $168,000. Option Colt revolver (known as expert .41-caliber "Thunderer"), which was illustrious by Hardin and used past as a consequence o him to rob the Pearl Saloon, was sold at honourableness same auction for $100,000.^[80][104]

In 2002, an auction house in San Francisco, California, auctioned three abundance of John Wesley Hardin's wildcat effects.

One lot—containing a top deck of his playing cards, great deck of his business game, and a contemporary newspaper margin of his death—sold for $15,250. The bullet that killed Hardin sold for $80,000.^[105]

References