Tag: Doc Holliday

Doc Holliday, born John Henry Holliday in 1851, was a notorious figure in the American Wild West, known for his skills as both a gambler and a gunslinger. Originally a dentist by trade, he turned to gambling and a life of adventure after being diagnosed with tuberculosis, believing the dry climate of the West might help his condition. Holliday’s most famous association was with lawman Wyatt Earp, with whom he fought in the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, in 1881. Known for his sharp wit, loyalty to friends, and deadly accuracy with a gun, Doc Holliday remains an iconic figure in Western folklore.

Contention City, Arizona

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Contention City (also known simply as Contention) was a short-lived boomtown and ghost town in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona. Located along the banks of the San Pedro River approximately 10–12 miles northwest of the more famous Tombstone, it emerged as a key milling and transportation hub during the region’s silver mining rush in the late 19th century. Today, it is largely a ghost town, with only a few foundations and rubble remaining as evidence of its brief existence.

Mason's Western Hotel in Contention City, 1880
Mason’s Western Hotel in Contention City, 1880

Founding and Origins

The town’s name originated from a mining dispute. In the late 1870s, prospectors Ed Williams and Jack Friday tracked stray mules to a rich silver lode discovered by the famous prospector Ed Schieffelin (whose finds had sparked the Tombstone boom starting in 1877). A contention arose over ownership of the claim, leading to a division: Schieffelin retained part (named the Contention Mine), while Williams and Friday took the other (named the Grand Central Mine). This “contention” over the silver claim directly inspired the naming of both the mine and the subsequent town.

Contention City was established in late 1879 (with some sources citing early 1880) primarily as a milling site to process silver ore from the nearby Contention and Grand Central mines, as well as other Tombstone-area operations. Its strategic location on the San Pedro River provided essential water for the stamping mills—something lacking in drier Tombstone—making it ideal for ore processing. Several mills were constructed there, including the Contention Mill (with 25 stamps) and the smaller Sunset Mill, along with others to handle ore from up to six stamping operations in the district.

Contention City, Arizona, circa 1880. The Contention Mill - twenty-five stamps and thirty men - was one of three stamp mills that reduced the silver ore from the Tombstone mines.
Contention City, Arizona, circa 1880. The Contention Mill – twenty-five stamps and thirty men – was one of three stamp mills that reduced the silver ore from the Tombstone mines.

The town grew quickly to support mill workers and related activities. The Contention City Post Office opened on April 6, 1880, marking its official establishment. At its peak around 1882, the population approached 500, with amenities like saloons, hotels (such as Mason’s Western Hotel), and other frontier businesses.

Key Historic Events

Contention City, Arizona, 1880.
Contention City, Arizona, 1880.

Contention City’s history intertwined with the lawless and violent atmosphere of the Old West, particularly due to its proximity to Tombstone and involvement in events linked to the Earp brothers and the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (October 26, 1881).

  • March 1881: A stagecoach robbery (the Benson stage) occurred just outside town, heightening tensions in the region amid ongoing conflicts between lawmen and outlaws.
  • Post-O.K. Corral (1881–1882): After the gunfight, outlaw Ike Clanton attempted to have Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday tried for murder in Contention City, following a grand jury’s refusal to indict them in Tombstone after the Spicer Hearing. No trial ever took place there.
  • March 19, 1882: The day after Morgan Earp’s assassination in Tombstone (March 18, 1882), Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, and others transported Morgan’s body to Contention City’s railroad depot for shipment to the family home in Colton, California.
  • March 20, 1882: Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday left their horses in Contention and arranged transport for the wounded Virgil Earp and his wife Allie to the railroad in Benson, as part of the Earps’ vendetta ride following the vendetta.
  • 1887: A notable shootout occurred between Cochise County Sheriff John Slaughter (with deputy Jeff Milton) and members of the Jack Taylor Gang (wanted outlaws including Manuel Robles and others). The confrontation left two outlaws dead after they fled Tombstone and were pursued.

A significant infrastructure milestone came in 1882, when the New Mexico and Arizona Railroad extended service to Contention City, establishing a depot there. This gave the town advantages over Tombstone (which lacked direct rail access until much later), supporting ore transport and passenger travel.

Decline and Abandonment

Contention City’s prosperity was tied to silver mining. The town’s fortunes declined sharply in the late 1880s due to multiple factors:

  • Flooding of the Tombstone mines following a major earthquake in Sonora, Mexico, in 1887, which forced mill shutdowns.
  • Declining silver prices and exhaustion of accessible ore.
  • Competition from other towns that offered services as mining waned.

The post office closed on November 26, 1888, and by 1890, the town was largely abandoned, with residents moving elsewhere. Unlike Tombstone, which endured as a county seat and later a tourist destination, Contention City faded rapidly.

Legacy

Contention City exemplifies the boom-and-bust cycle of Arizona’s mining towns. Though overshadowed by Tombstone, its role in processing silver ore, its railroad connection, and its tangential links to iconic Old West figures like the Earps and Doc Holliday give it lasting historical significance. Today, the site is remote and undeveloped, serving as a quiet reminder of the fleeting nature of frontier mining communities. Only scattered foundations, mill ruins, and occasional historical markers remain to mark where a once-thriving settlement stood.

Mary Katherine Horony

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Mary Katherine Horony, better known as Big Nose Kate, was a Hungarian-born figure of the American Old West, renowned for her independence, resilience, and her long-term relationship with gunfighter Doc Holliday. Born on November 7, 1849, in Érsekújvár, Hungary (now Nové Zámky, Slovakia), Kate’s life took her from a privileged upbringing to a rugged existence as a prostitute, dance hall girl, and occasional outlaw associate in the frontier towns of the American West. Her nickname, “Big Nose Kate,” likely derived from her prominent nose or her bold, inquisitive nature, though she embraced her reputation as a formidable woman. This biography explores her early life, her adventures in the Wild West, her tumultuous relationship with Holliday, and her later years as a pioneer, drawing on historical records and contemporary accounts.

Early Life and Immigration

Mary Katherine Horony was born into a well-to-do Hungarian family, the second daughter of Dr. Mihály Horony, a physician, and Katalin Boldizsár. Her father’s connections to European nobility included an appointment as personal surgeon to Emperor Maximilian of Mexico in 1862, reflecting the family’s status. In 1860, at age 10, Kate immigrated with her family to the United States, arriving in New York City aboard the steamship Bremen. They settled in Davenport, Iowa, within a German-speaking community, where her father practiced medicine.

Tragedy struck in 1865 when both of Kate’s parents died within a month of each other, leaving her and her six siblings orphaned. At 15, Kate and her siblings were separated, and she was placed in a foster home under the care of Otto Smith. Unhappy with this arrangement, Kate ran away in 1867, reportedly stowing away on a steamship bound for St. Louis, Missouri. There, she adopted the name Kate Elder and began forging her own path.

Some accounts suggest that in St. Louis, Kate briefly married a dentist named Silas Melvin, with whom she may have had a son. Both reportedly died of yellow fever, though evidence of this marriage is inconclusive. By 1874, at age 24, Kate had moved to Dodge City, Kansas, a bustling cattle town, where she worked as a prostitute under the name Kate Elder, marking her full entry into the gritty world of the frontier.

Life in the Wild West and Meeting Doc Holliday

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.

By 1876, Kate had relocated to Fort Griffin, Texas, a rough outpost known for its saloons and transient population of cowboys, soldiers, and outlaws. Working as a dance hall girl and prostitute, she thrived in the chaotic environment, known for her sharp wit and independence. In 1877, at John Shanssey’s Saloon, she met John Henry “Doc” Holliday, a Georgia-born dentist turned gambler and gunfighter. Holliday, suffering from tuberculosis and known for his volatile temperament, was drawn to Kate’s fiery spirit and intelligence. Their meeting sparked a passionate, on-again-off-again relationship that lasted until Holliday’s death in 1887.

Kate and Holliday’s relationship was marked by mutual affection but also frequent quarrels, often fueled by alcohol and the stresses of their itinerant lifestyles. Kate, described as tall, blonde, and strong-willed, was no shrinking violet; she reportedly stood up to Holliday’s temper and even saved his life on at least one occasion. In 1878, when Holliday was arrested in Dodge City for gambling, Kate allegedly set fire to a shed as a diversion, allowing him to escape—a story she later recounted, though some historians question its veracity.

Role in the Tombstone Era and the OK Corral

In 1878, Kate and Holliday moved to Dodge City, where she continued working as a prostitute while Holliday gambled and practiced dentistry sporadically. Their relationship was tumultuous, with Kate occasionally leaving to work in other towns. By 1880, they had settled in Tombstone, Arizona, a booming silver-mining town and a hotspot for outlaws and lawmen. There, Holliday became associated with the Earp brothers—Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan—while Kate worked in saloons and brothels.

Kate’s time in Tombstone is most famous for her involvement in the events leading to the Gunfight at the OK Corral on October 26, 1881. Earlier that year, she and Holliday had a heated argument, during which Kate, possibly intoxicated, accused Holliday of involvement in a stagecoach robbery. This led to her brief arrest and Holliday’s questioning, though no charges were filed due to lack of evidence. The incident strained their relationship and fueled tensions between Holliday and the Clanton-McLaury faction, rivals of the Earps. Kate’s accusation, though likely exaggerated, contributed to the escalating conflict that culminated in the OK Corral shootout, where Holliday and the Earps faced off against Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, and Billy Claiborne.

After the gunfight, Kate and Holliday left Tombstone intermittently, as Holliday faced legal scrutiny and ongoing feuds. Kate’s role in Tombstone was not as an outlaw but as a peripheral figure in the violent drama, supporting Holliday through his gambling and health struggles.

Later Years with Holliday

Throughout the early 1880s, Kate and Holliday drifted through Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, living in mining towns and gambling hubs. Kate supported herself through prostitution and occasionally gambling, while Holliday’s tuberculosis worsened. Despite their frequent separations, they reunited repeatedly, bound by a complex loyalty. In 1884, Kate was in Silver City, New Mexico, while Holliday gambled in Leadville, Colorado. By 1887, Holliday’s health had deteriorated significantly, and he entered a sanatorium in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where he died of tuberculosis on November 8, 1887, at age 36. Kate was not with him at the time but later claimed to have been devastated by his death.

Life After Holliday

After Holliday’s death, Kate’s life took a quieter turn. In 1888, she married George Cummings, a blacksmith, in Colorado, but the marriage was short-lived due to Cummings’ drinking and their mutual incompatibility. By the 1890s, Kate had settled in Cochise County, Arizona, working as a housekeeper and boardinghouse operator. She later lived with a man named John Howard, possibly as a common-law wife, in Dos Cabezas, Arizona, until his death in the early 1900s.

In her later years, Kate became a respected figure in Arizona’s pioneer community, distancing herself from her earlier life as a prostitute. In 1931, at age 81, she applied for residency at the Arizona Pioneers’ Home in Prescott, initially claiming to be Kate Cummings, Holliday’s legal widow, to secure admission. Though she and Holliday never formally married, her application was accepted, and she lived there until her death on November 2, 1940, just days shy of her 91st birthday.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Big Nose Kate’s life encapsulates the challenges and opportunities of the American frontier for women. As an immigrant, orphan, and working-class woman, she navigated a male-dominated world with remarkable resilience, transitioning from prostitution to a respected pioneer. Her relationship with Doc Holliday, romanticized in books and films, made her a fixture in Western lore, though historical accounts often overshadow her with Holliday’s and the Earps’ exploits.

Kate’s story has been depicted in numerous works, including the 1957 film Gunfight at the OK Corral and the 1993 film Tombstone, where she was portrayed by Joanna Pacula. However, these portrayals often exaggerate or simplify her role, overlooking her complexity as a survivor and entrepreneur. Her memoirs, recorded late in life by Dr. Glenn Boyer, offer insights into her experiences, though their accuracy is debated due to embellishments.

In Arizona, Kate is remembered as a pioneer who outlived the Wild West, embodying the spirit of independence that defined the era. Her grave in Prescott’s Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery remains a point of interest for historians and tourists.

Conclusion

Mary Katherine Horony, known as Big Nose Kate, lived a life of extraordinary adaptability, from her privileged Hungarian childhood to her survival in the rough-and-tumble world of the American West. Her relationship with Doc Holliday, marked by love and conflict, placed her at the heart of iconic events like the Gunfight at the OK Corral, but her story extends beyond her famous companion. As a prostitute, gambler, and later a respected pioneer, Kate defied societal constraints, leaving a legacy as one of the West’s most enduring female figures.

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.

The first Tucson depot was a 200-foot long Victorian structure built in 1880. The depot accommodated passenger and freight trains. University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections, Arizona, Southwestern and Miscellaneous Photograph Collection, Tucson (Ariz.)
The first Tucson depot was a 200-foot long Victorian structure built in 1880. The depot accommodated passenger and freight trains. University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections, Arizona, Southwestern and Miscellaneous Photograph Collection, Tucson (Ariz.)

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.

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Doc Holliday – Death Announcement by the Denver Republican

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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.

Doc Holliday, born John Henry Holliday, died on November 8, 1887, at the age of 36 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. A dentist turned gambler and gunslinger, he suffered from tuberculosis for much of his life, which progressively worsened. By 1887, his health had deteriorated significantly, and he sought relief in the mineral springs of Glenwood Springs, hoping the warm waters might ease his condition. However, the disease, combined with his heavy drinking and frail state, led to his death in a sanatorium. Legend has it that his final words, upon looking at his bare feet and realizing he wasn’t dying in a gunfight, were, “This is funny.” He was buried in Linwood Cemetery overlooking Glenwood Springs.

News of Doc Holliday death was reported on November 10, 1887, by the Denver Republican.

Now a Sleeper

Doc Holliday is dead. Few men have known better known to a certain class of sporting people and few men of his character had more friends or stronger champions. He represented a class of men who are fast disappearing the New West. He had the reputation of being a bunco-man, desperado and bad man generally. yet he was a very mild mannered man; was genial and companionable, and had many excellent qualities. In Arizona he was associated with the Wyatt Earp gang. These men were officers of the law, and were opposed to the ’‘rustlers” or cattle thieves. Holliday killed several men during his life in Arizona his body was full of wounds received in bloody encounters. His history was an interesting one. He was sometimes in the right, but quite often in the wrong, probably, in his various escapades.

The Doctor only had one deadly encounter in Colorado, and this was in Leadviile. He was well known in Denver and had lived here a good deal in the past few years. He had strong friends in some old-time detective officers and in certain representatives of the sporting element. He was a rather good looking man and his coolness and courage, his affable ways fund of interesting experiences, won him many admirers. He was a strong friend, a cool and determined enemy and a man of quite strong character. He has been well known to all the States and Territories west of Kentucky, which was his old home. His death took place at Glenwood Springs Tuesday morning.

Denver Republican.

Killing of Frank Stilwell

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Frank Stilwell
Frank Stilwell

Frank C. Stilwell (1856–March 20, 1882) was a complex figure in the American Old West, known as an outlaw, sometime deputy sheriff, and businessman in Arizona Territory. Born in Iowa, Stilwell moved with his family to Kansas Territory along the Santa Fe Trail. After his parents’ divorce in 1863, he was raised by his father, a Union Army veteran who participated in Sherman’s March to the Sea. Stilwell’s early life was marked by frontier instability, which shaped his later path as a man entangled in violence and crime.

By 1877, Stilwell had arrived in Arizona with his brother Simpson Everett “Comanche Jack” Stilwell, a noted Indian fighter and scout who took a more honorable path. Frank, however, became associated with the notorious Cochise County Cowboys, a loosely organized group involved in cattle rustling and other illicit activities. He worked as a teamster, miner, and entrepreneur, owning interests in 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 saloon.

Stilwell’s criminal record began to take shape in 1877 when he shot and killed Jesus Bega near Miller’s Ranch in Prescott, Arizona, after an argument over Bega serving tea instead of coffee. He was acquitted on grounds of self-defense. In 1879, Stilwell was charged with the murder of Col. John Van Houten in a dispute over claim-jumping in Pima County. Van Houten was beaten to death with a rock, but Stilwell and co-defendant James Cassidy escaped indictment due to insufficient evidence. These incidents established Stilwell’s reputation as a violent man, though he avoided legal consequences.

In 1881, Stilwell briefly served as a deputy sheriff under Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan, a key figure in the escalating feud with the Earp brothers—Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan—and their ally, Doc Holliday. Stilwell’s association with Behan and the Cowboys placed him in direct conflict with the Earps, who represented law enforcement and opposed the Cowboys’ criminal activities. Stilwell was also implicated in the September 8, 1881, Bisbee stage robbery alongside Pete Spence, though both were acquitted due to lack of evidence. This event further strained relations with the Earps, particularly after Wyatt, acting as a deputy U.S. marshal, arrested Stilwell and Spence.

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and Its Aftermath

The tensions between the Earps and the Cowboys culminated in the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Arizona. Although Stilwell was not present at the gunfight (he was in jail in Tucson at the time), his close ties to the Cowboys, including Ike Clanton and the McLaury brothers, made him a suspect in subsequent events. The shootout left three Cowboys—Tom and Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton—dead, intensifying the feud.

Following the gunfight, threats against the Earps escalated. Cowboy Frank McLaury warned Morgan Earp that the McLaurys would kill the Earps if they attempted further arrests of Stilwell, Spence, or their allies. The Tombstone Epitaph reported “veiled threats” against the Earps, fueled by misreports that Stilwell and Spence had been arrested for a separate stage robbery near Contention City, which added to perceptions that they were being unfairly targeted.

On December 28, 1881, Virgil Earp was ambushed and severely wounded, losing the use of his left arm. The Earps suspected Cowboy involvement, including Stilwell. Then, on March 18, 1882, Morgan Earp was assassinated while playing billiards in Tombstone. Shot through a window, he died within an hour. A coroner’s inquest, led by Dr. H. M. Mathews, named Stilwell, Pete Spence, Indian Charlie, Frederick Bode, and an unnamed “half-breed” as suspects, based partly on testimony from Spence’s wife, Marietta Duarte, who said the group returned home an hour after the shooting and that Spence threatened her to remain silent. Despite the suspicions, there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Stilwell or the others.

The Killing of Frank Stilwell

Morgan Earp historical photo, 1881. Probably taken by C.S. Fly.
Morgan Earp historical photo, 1881. Probably taken by C.S. Fly.

The assassination of Morgan Earp set the stage for Wyatt Earp’s vendetta, a campaign to exact revenge on those he believed responsible. On March 20, 1882, Wyatt, his brother Warren, Doc Holliday, Sherman McMaster, and “Turkey Creek” Jack Johnson escorted the crippled Virgil Earp and his wife, Allie, to Tucson to board a train for California, where they could find safety. The group traveled by buckboard to Contention City, then by train to Benson, and finally to Tucson, arriving at dusk. Tucson was celebrating the activation of its first gaslights, and the festive atmosphere was punctuated by celebratory gunfire, which masked the violence about to unfold.

According to Wyatt Earp’s later accounts, he received word—likely via telegraph in Benson—that Stilwell and Ike Clanton were in Tucson, possibly planning to ambush the Earps. Clanton later claimed they were at the train station to meet a witness, McDowell, for a grand jury hearing, but Wyatt believed they were armed and waiting to attack Virgil. As the train approached the Tucson Southern Pacific Depot, near the Porter Hotel (later renamed the San Xavier Hotel), Wyatt’s posse spotted Stilwell and Clanton on a flatcar in the train yard, allegedly armed with shotguns under their coats.

What followed was a chaotic and brutal encounter. As the Earp party confronted Stilwell and Clanton, both men fled. Stilwell, running in the dark train yard, dropped his weapon and stumbled. Wyatt pursued him and, according to his 1926 account with John H. Flood, caught up to Stilwell, who tried to fend off Wyatt’s shotgun with his hands. Wyatt fired both barrels at close range, striking Stilwell under the ribs. The coroner’s report detailed a gruesome scene: Stilwell’s body, found the next morning 100 yards north of the station, 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. Wyatt later claimed Stilwell’s last words were “Morg! Morg!,” possibly referencing Morgan Earp. Other accounts, including Virgil’s March 1882 interview with the Arizona Daily Star, alleged Stilwell confessed to Morgan’s murder before dying, naming his accomplices. However, the reliability of this confession is debated, as it aligns with the Earps’ narrative.

The first Tucson depot was a 200-foot long Victorian structure built in 1880. The depot accommodated passenger and freight trains. University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections, Arizona, Southwestern and Miscellaneous Photograph Collection, Tucson (Ariz.)
The first Tucson depot was a 200-foot long Victorian structure built in 1880. The depot accommodated passenger and freight trains. University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections, Arizona, Southwestern and Miscellaneous Photograph Collection, Tucson (Ariz.)

The Arizona Daily Star on March 22, 1882, condemned the killing as an act of “desperadoes” seeking vengeance, noting its boldness in a busy depot and suggesting Stilwell was targeted as a friend of Ike Clanton, whom the Earps may have initially sought. The Tombstone Epitaph and other newspapers reported the coroner’s jury verdict that Stilwell died from shots fired by Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, and others. The severity of Stilwell’s wounds—described as “the worst shot-up man” some had ever seen—underscored the vengeful nature of the attack.

Aftermath and Legal Consequences

The killing of Stilwell marked the beginning of the Earp Vendetta Ride, a series of retaliatory killings targeting suspected Cowboys. Arrest warrants were issued by Pima County Sheriff Bob Paul for Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Warren Earp, Sherman McMaster, and Jack Johnson, and a grand jury indicted them for murder. However, Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan, a Cowboy ally, did not serve the warrants when he had the chance, possibly intimidated by Wyatt’s armed posse. Wyatt initially agreed to turn himself in but instead fled to Colorado, where he and his men evaded prosecution.

Warren Baster Earp ( March 9, 1855 - July 6, 1900 )
Warren Baster Earp ( March 9, 1855 – July 6, 1900 )
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp - Aged 39
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp – Aged 39
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.

Stilwell’s body was buried in Tucson’s old cemetery with, according to some reports, only Ike Clanton as a mourner. His brother, Comanche Jack, traveled to Tombstone seeking revenge but left without confronting the Earps. The killing fueled public outrage, with newspapers like the Arizona Weekly Citizen decrying the lawlessness of the Earps’ actions, though some viewed it as frontier justice.

Historical Significance and Legacy

The killing of Frank Stilwell is a pivotal moment in the lore of the American West, epitomizing the violent feuds and blurred lines between law and vengeance in Arizona Territory. It is commemorated by life-sized statues of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday at the site of the former Tucson Southern Pacific Depot, now part of the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, which offers tours of the historic site. The original depot and Porter Hotel were destroyed by fire and demolition in the early 20th century.

Stilwell’s life and death have been depicted in popular culture, notably in the 1993 film Tombstone (played by Tomas Arana) and the 1994 film Wyatt Earp (played by John Dennis Johnston). He also appeared in Season 5 of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (played by John Baxter). A fictionalized version of Stilwell, spelled “Stillwell,” is the antagonist in Disney’s 1975 film The Apple Dumpling Gang, loosely inspired by the historical figure.

Stilwell’s story reflects the duality of the frontier: a man who was both a businessman and an outlaw, caught in a deadly conflict between rival factions. While the Earps framed his killing as retribution for Morgan’s murder, critics argue it was an extrajudicial execution, highlighting the lawlessness of the era. The lack of definitive evidence against Stilwell for Morgan’s murder leaves open questions about the justice of his death, making it a subject of ongoing debate among historians.

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Sources

  • Wikipedia: Frank Stilwell
  • Legends of America: Frank C. Stilwell
  • Destination4x4: Frank Stilwell
  • HistoryNet: The Stilwell Shooting Near the Tucson Depot
  • True West Magazine: Blood on the Tracks