It's that time of year again. Us old timers get our shot glasses ready, and a flack of whiskey for our year pilgrimage to Concordia Cemetery. The event? The 115th anniversary of the killing of John Wesley Hardin.
It was a trial that brought Hardin to El Paso in March 1895. While in prison, he had read law. After being released and pardoned in 1894, Hardin passed the bar exam and hung out his shingle in Gonzalez, Texas. After backing a losing candidate for Sheriff and a failed attempt of marriage to the 16 year old Callie Lewis, Hardin was at loose ends when his cousin wrote asking for help.
Jim Miller had been at odds with Reeves County Sheriff Bud Frazier since 1892. Frazier had once before attempted to gun Miller down in the street. Dec 26th, 1894 Frazier tried it again, emptying his six gun into Miller, and running when the wounded Miller begins firing back. Instead of hunting the man down and killing him out right, Miller decided to prosecute the charge of attempted murder ( actually in those days it was assault with intent to commit murder) In January, Miller's wife, Sallie Clements Miller, wrote to Hardin, asking his assistance in prosecuting the case. The party arrived on March 31st.
There already were a number of gunmen of reputation in town at the time. Jefferson Davis Milton had been confirmed as Chief of Police the previous November. Milton had been a Texas ranger, Customs rider, and Pullman conductor prior to being asked to become the Chief of Police. He had a reputation for bringing in even the hardest of crimminals if the wanted to, but would end the fight permenatly if they made the mistake of shooting at him. George Scarborough had arrived in El paso in 1893 to receive his appointment as Deputy U.S. Marshal. He rode on the posse ouot to clint to retrive the body of Capt Frank Jones, when the Rangers were ambushed by the Olguin brothers on the Island. He was another man that could shoot when the situation called for it. And there was the oldest one of the bunch, Constable John Selman.
Selman had served in an Alabama Regt during the war, deserting and serving in the home guard near Ft Davis until wars end. After a breif sojurn to New mexico territory, Selman set up a small ranch and farm near the Sodom and Gomorrah of the Old West, Ft Griffin, Texas. He teamed up with Sheriff John Larn and ran a successful rustling operation, as well as leading the local Vigilantes. Things got too hot, and Selman escaped to Lincoln County, while Larn was arrested by Rangers, only to be gunned down in his jail cell.
Selman participated at the tail end of the Lincoln County War, his Selman's Scouts committing more actrosities that the other factions combined. After Fleeing New Mexico, Selman set up a rustling operation near Ft Davis, Texas. When that was broken up, he fled to old Mexico, where he ranched, worked rail roads, and traveling saloons/ brothels. All charges in the US had been dropped by 1888, so Selman moved into El Paso. First he worked for the Smelter, the one we now know as ASARCO. After a stint as a bouncer at the Wigwam, and driving horses for Oliver Lee and Albert Fall, he ran for Constable in 1892, and won. Selman had a reputation as a killer, but not from the front. back shooting and in the dead of night were more in line with Selman's style.
The trial of Bud Frazier was a fizzle. With in 5 days the jury was hung, and a new trial set for the session in Colorado City. Miller and most of his party departed to settle their differences elsewhere. Hardin decided to remain in El Paso. A fateful decision. He hung his shingle out on the second floor of the 1st National Bank on the corner of El Paso and San Antonio streets. He had a few clients at first. According to folks that know abouot these things, Hardin was a competent attorney, as evidenced by the written briefs he left behind. The he received a buxom blonde client by the name of M'Roz, Beulah M'Roz to be exact.
Beulah's common law husband, Martin, was a Polish cowboy/ rustler. He had escaped into Mexico to dodge trial on cattle theft charges. With a $1000 reward on his head, the Mexican authorities cooperated and arrested Martin and held him in the Juarez carcel waiting extradition. Beulah needed an attorney to fight the extradition and to recover her money and valuables. Hardin took the case. He hired an attorney in Juarez to cover that end of the situation, and recovered her valuables and most the money. But romance was in the air. Beulah and her lawyer was getting pretty cozy, while Martin remained in jail.
Hardin managed to sell Beulah 1/2 interest in his autobiography, as Martin gained his freedom from the Juaerz jail. He was still wanted by the New Mexico authorities on charges of cattle theft. Matter of fact, New Mexico wanted him bad enough to place a $1000.00 reward for his arrest and return to Eddy County to stand trial. Now Deputy U.S. Marshal George Scarborough was a man who never met a reward he didn't like. He was reminded of a $1000.00 walking around free for the taking across the Rio Grande. Scarborough got the help of Jeff Milton and Frank McMahon and set out to collect that reward. June 29th, 1895 Scarborough convinced Martin to cross after dark so he could see his "beloved" Beulah. Milton and McMahon were waiting on the otherside. Seeing the lawmen, Martin went for the pistol in his pants pocket. The trio of lawmen fired a volley, and Martin went down. M'Roz wasn't finished, he raised up and attempted to fire again. again the trio fired. Martin rose up a third time, and a third time he was knocked down by gunfire. Martin M'Roz was dead. Unfortunately, the Territory of New Mexico's reward was only for Martin's arrest, and return for trial. It was not a Dead or Alive offer. Before the smoke had cleared there was already speculation. Many claimed that Scarborough lifted a sizable bank roll from Martins body. Supposedly he was to split that with Martin's attorney, Wes Hardin.
Selman seemed preoccupied with his "split" of this money, according to the George Look manuscript. It festered at his soul through July, and the start of August.The afternoon of August 19th, Selman and Hardin had a verbal altercation over his son, John Jr. Hardin claimed to be unarmed, but when get a gun, and force Selman to "..shit like a wolf...". Things simmered on
about 10:30 that night Hardin arrived at the Acme Saloon on San Antonio St. For a brief period, Hardin and Selman played a few hands of cards together. Selman left and returned several times. Just before 11:00 the night of August 19th, 1895 Hardin moved to the bar where he played dice with local grocer Harry Brown. Hardin had just thrown his dice when Sleman burst into the saloon, and fired his first round. The bullet his Hardin in the back of the head, exiting near the eyebrow. As the gunfighter lay on the floor, Selman pumped three more bullets into him. John Jr rushed in and spirited his father away.
Hardin would lay on the floor for over two hours as the population of El Paso trooped by to see the dead gunfighter.
--- More to Come---
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