Q. What is your name and age? A. Wyatt S. Earp; age 32 last March.
Q Where were you born? A. Monmouth, Warren county, Illinois.
Q. Where do you reside and how long have you resided there? A. Tombstone;
since Dec. 1st, 1881*.
*Should read 1879*
Q. What is your business or profession? A. Saloon keeper; have also been
employed as a deputy sheriff, and also as a detective.
Q. Give any explanation you may think proper of the circumstances appearing
in the testimony
against you, and state any facts which you think will tend to your exculpation.
A. The difficulty between deceased and myself originated first when I followed
Tom McLowry and Frank McLowry, with Virgil and Morgan Earp and Captain Hearst
and four soldiers to look for six government mules which were stolen. A man
named Estes told us at Charleston, that we would find the mules at McLowry's
ranch, that the McLowrys were branding "D. S." over "U. S." We tracked the
mules to McLowry's ranch, where we also found the brand. Afterwards some of
those mules were found with the same brand. After we arrived at McLowry's
ranch there was a man named Frank Patterson who made some kind of a compromise
with Captain Hearst. Captain Hearst came to us boys and told us he had made
this compromise and by so doing he would get the mules back. We insisted on
following them up. Hearst prevailed upon us to go back to Tombstone, and so
we came back. Hearst told us two or three weeks afterwards that they would
not give up the mules to him after we left, saying they only wanted to get
us away: that they could stand the soldiers off. Captain Hearst cautioned
me and Virgil and Morgan to look out for those men; that they had made some
hard threats against the lives. About one month after that, after those mules
had been taken, I met Frank and Tom McLowrv in Charleston. They tried to pick
a fuss out of me, and told me that if I ever followed them up again as close
as I did before that they would kill me.
Shortly after the time Budd Philpot was killed by those men who tried to
rob the Benson stage, as a detective I helped trace the matter up, and I
was satisfied that three men, named Billy Leonard, Harry Head and Jim Crane
were in that robbery. I know that Leonard, Head and Crane were friends and
associates of the Clantons and McLowrys and often stopped at their ranches.
It was generally understood among officers, and those who have information
about criminals, that Ike Clanton was a sort of chief among the cowboys;
that the Clantons and McLowrys were cattle thieves, and generally in the
secrets of the stage robbers; and that the Clanton and McLowrvs ranches were
the meeting place, and place of shelter for the gang.
I had an ambition to be sheriff of this county next election, and I thought
it would be a great help to me with the people and the business men if I
could capture the men who killed Philpot. There were rewards offered of about
$1,200 each for the robbers. Altogether there was about $3,600 offered for
their capture. I thought that this amount might tempt Ike Clanton and Frank
McLowry to give away Leonard, Head and Crane; so I went to Ike Clanton and
Frank McLowry, when they came in town. I had an interview with them in the
back yard of the Oriental saloon. I told them what I wanted. I told them
I wanted the glory of capturing Leonard, Head and Crane; if I could do so,
it would help me make the race for sheriff next election. I told them if
they would put on the track of Leonard, Head and Crane--- tell me where those
men were hid---I would give them all the reward, and would never let anybody
know where I got the information. Ike Clanton said that he would be glad
to have Leonard captured, that Leonard claimed a ranch that he claimed, and
if he could gel him out of the way he would have no opposition about the
ranch. Ike Clanton said that Leonard, Head and Crane would make a fight,
that they would never be taken alive, and that I must first find out if the
reward would be paid for the capture of the robbers dead or alive. I then
went to Marshall Williams, the agent of Wells, Fargo & Co., in this town,
and at my request he telegraphed to the agent of Wells, Fargo & Co.,
at San Francisco to find out if the reward would be paid for the robbers
dead or alive. He received in June, 1881 a telegram which he gave me, promising
that the reward should be paid dead or alive. I showed this telegram soon
after I got it to Ike Clanton in front of the Alhambra and afterwards told
(approx. 26 lines in the copy of the Epitaph had been covered by a white
rectangle. This section will be replaced by the report for the Nugget.) ***Frank
McLowry of its contents. It was then agreed between us that they should have
all the $3.600 reward outside of necessary expenses for horses in going after
them and Joe Hill should go to where Leonard, Head, and Crane were hid, over
near Eureka, in New Mexico, and lure them in near Frank and Tom McLowry's
ranch near Soldier Holes, 30 miles from here, and I would be on hand with
a posse and capture them. I asked Joe Hill, Ike Clanton and Frank McLowry
what tale they would make to them to get them over here. They said they had
agreed upon a plan to tell them that there would be a pay master going from
Tombstone to Bisbee shortly to pay off the miners, and that they wanted them
to come in and take them; Ike Clanton then sent Joe Hill to bring them in;
before starting Joe Hill took on his watch and chain and between two and
three hundred dollars in money, and gave it to Virgil Earp to keep for him
until he got back. He was gone about ten days and returned with the word
that he had got there a day too late; that Leonard and Harry Head had been
killed the day before he got there by horse thieves. I learned afterward
that the thieves had been killed subsequently by members of the Clanton and
McLowry gang.
*"*At this time we return to the printed word from the Epitaph***
After that Ike Clanton and Frank McLowry said I had given them away to Marshal
Williams and Doc Holliday, and when they came in town they shunned us, and
Morgan and Virgil Earp and Doc Holliday and myself began to hear of their
threats against us. I am a friend of Doc Holliday, because when I was city
marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, he came to my rescue and saved my life, when
I was surrounded by desperadoes. A month or so ago Morgan and I assisted to
arrest Stillwell and Spence on the charge of robbing the Bisbee stage. The
McLowrys and Clantons have always been friendly with Spence and Stillwell,
and they laid the whole blame of their arrest on us, though the fact is, we
only went as a sheriff's posse. After we got in town with Spence and Stillwell,
Ike Clanton and Frank McLowry came in. Frank McLowry .took Morgan into the
middle of the stree,. where John Ringgold, Ike Clanton and the Hicks boys
were standing, and commenced to abuse Morgan Earp for going after Spence and
Stillwell. Frank McLowry said he would never speak to Spence again for being
arrested by us. He said to Morgan, "If ever you come after me you will never
take me." Morgan replied that if he ever had occasion to go after him he
would arrest him. Frank McLowry then said to him, "I have threatened you
boys' lives, and a few days ago I had taken it back, but since this arrest
it now goes." Morgan made no reply, and walked off.
Before this and after this, Marshal Williams and Farmer Daly, and Ed.
Burns and three or four others, told us at different times of threats made
to kill us, by Ike Clanton, Frank McLowry: Tom McLowry, Joe Hill and John
Ringgold. 1 knew that all these men were desperate and dangerous, cattle
thieves, robbers and murderers. I knew of the Clantons and McLowrys stealing
six government mules. I heard of Ringgold shooting a man down in cold blood
near Camp Thomas. I was satisfied that Frank and Tom McLowry killed and robbed
Mexican in the Skeleton canyon two or three months ago, and I naturally keep
my eyes open, and I did not intend that any of the gang should get the drop
on me if I could help it.
Three or four weeks ago Ike Clanton met me at the Alhambra, and told me
that I had told Holliday about this transaction, concerning the capture of
Head and Leonard. I told him I never told Holliday anything. I told him when
Holliday came up from Tucson I would prove it. Ike Clanton said that Holliday
had told him so; when Holliday came I asked him and he said no; I told him
that Ike Clanton had said so.
On the 25"' of October Holliday met Ike Clanton in the Alhambra saloon
and asked him about it. Clanton denied it, and they quarreled for three or
four minutes. Holliday told Ike Clanton he was a d-d liar, if he said so.
I was sitting eating lunch at the time. They got up and walked out on the
street. I got through and walked out, and they were still talking about it.
I then went to Holliday, who was pretty tight, and took him away. Then I
came back alone and met Ike Clanton. He called me outside and said his gun
was on the other side of the street at the hotel. I told him to leave it
there. He said he would make a fight with Holliday any time he wanted to.
I told him Holliday did not want to fight, but only to satisfy him this talk
had not been made. I then went away and went to the Oriental, and in a few
minutes Ike Clanton came over with his six shooter on. He said he was not
fixed right; that in the morning he would have man for man that this fighting
talk had been going on for a long time, and it was about time to fetch it
to a close. I told him that I wouldn't fight no one if I could get away from
it. He walked off and left me, saying, "I will be ready for all of you in
the morning." He followed me into the Oriental, having his six shooter in
plain sight. He said, "You musn't think 1 won't be after you all in the morning."
Myself and Holliday walked away and went to our rooms.
I got up next day, October 26, about noon. Before I got up, Ned Bolye
came to me and told me that he met Ike Clanton on Allen street, near the
telegraph office that morning; that Ike was armed; that he said "As soon
as those d-d Earps make their appearance on the street to day the battle
will open," That Ike said, "We are here to make a fight, we are looking
for the sons of b--s." Jones came to me after I got up and went to the saloon,
and said, "What does all this mean?" I asked what he meant. He says, "Ike
Clanton is hunting you Earp boys with a Winchester rifle and a six shooter.
"I said, I will go down and find him and see what he wants." I went out,
and on the corner of Fourth and Allen streets I met Virgil Earp, the marshal.
He told me how he had heard that Ike Clanton was hunting us. I went up Allen
street, and Virgil went down Fifth street and then Fremont street. Virgil
found Ike Clanton on Fourth street in an alley. He walked up to him and said,
"I hear you are hunting for some of us." Ike Clanton then threw his Winchester
rifle around towards Virgil. Virgil grabbed it and hit Clanton with his six
shooter and knocked him down. Clanton had his rifle, and his six shooter
was exposed in his pants. By that time I came up, and Virgil and Morgan took
his rifle and six shooter away and took them to the Grand Hotel after the
examination, and took Ike Clanton before Justice Wallace. Before the investigation
Morgan Earp had Ike Clanton in charge, as Virgil Earp was out. A short time
after I went into Wallace's court and sat down on a bench.
Ike Clanton looked over to me and says, "I will get even with all of you
for this. If I had a six shooter I would make a fight with all of you." Morgan
then said to him, "If you want to make a fight right bad I will give you
this one." At the same time offering Ike Clanton his (Ike's) own six shooter.
Ike Clanton started to get up to take it, when Campbell, the deputy sheriff,
pushed him back on his seat, saying he wouldn't allow any fuse. I never had
Ike Clanton's arms at any time as he has stated.
I would like to describe the position we occupied in the courtroom at
that time. Ike Clanton sat down on a bench, with his face fronting to the
north wall of the building. I myself sat down on a bench that was against
the north wall right in front of Ike. Morgan Earp stood up against the north
wall with his back against the north wall, two or three feet to my right.
Morgan Earp had Ike Clanton's Winchester in his left hand and his six shooter
in his right hand, one end of the rifle was on the floor. Virgil Earp was
not in the court room any of the time, and Virgil Earp came there after I
walked out.
I was tired of being threatened by Ike Clanton and his gang. I believed
from what they had said to others and to me, and from their movements, that
they intended to assassinate me the first chance they had, and I thought
if I had to fight for my life against them, I had better make them face me
in an open fight. So I said to Ike Clanton, who was then sitting about eight
feet away from me, "you d--d dirty cur thief, you have been threatening our
lives, and I know it. I think I should be justified shooting you down any
place I should meet you, but if you are anxious to make a fight, I will go
anywhere on earth to make a fight with you, even over to the San Simon among
your own crowd." He replied, "all right, I will see you after I get through
here. I only want four feet of ground to fight on." I walked out and just
then outside the court room, near the justice's office, I met Tom McLowry.
He came up to me and said to me, "If you want to make a fight I will make
a fight with you anywhere." I supposed at the time he had heard what had
first transpired between Ike Clanton and me. I knew of his having threatened
me and I felt just as I did about Ike Clanton, that if the fight had to come,
I had better have it come when I had an even show to defend myself, so I
said to him all right "make a fight right here," and at the same time I slapped
him in the face with my left hand, and drew my pistol with my right. He had
a pistol in plain sight on his right hip, but made no move to draw it. I
said to him, "Jerk your gun use it." He made no reply and I hit him on the
head with my six shooter and walked away down to Hafford's corner. I went
into Hafford's and got a cigar, and came out and stood by the door. Pretty
soon after I saw Tom McLowry, Frank McLowry and William Clanton. They passed
me and went down Fourth street to the gunsmith shop. I followed down to see
what they were going to do. When I got there Frank McLowry's horse was standing
on the sidewalk with his head in the door of the gun shop. I took the horse
by the bit, as I was deputy city marshal, and commenced to back him off the
sidewalk. Frank and Tom McLowry and Billy Clanton came to the door, Billy
Clanton had his hand on his six shooter. Frank McLowry took hold of the horse's
bridle. I said "you will have to get this horse off the sidewalk." He backed
him off on the street Ike Clanton came up about that time and they all walked
into the gunsmith's shop. I saw them in the shop changing cartridges into
their belts. They came out of the shop and walked along Fourth street to
the corner of Allen street. I followed them as far as the corner of Fourth
and Allen streets, and then they went down Allen street and over to Dunbar's
corral. Virgil Earp was then city marshal; Morgan Earp was a special policeman
for six weeks, wore a badge and drew pay. I had been sworn in Virgil's place
to act for him while Virgil was gone to Tucson on Stillwell and Spence, on
the charge of robbing the Bisbee stage trial. Virgil had been back several
days, but I was still acting. I know it was Virgil's duty to disarm those
men. He suspected he would have trouble in doing so; and I followed up to
give assistance if necessary, especially as they had been threatening us,
as I have already stated. About ten minutes afterwards, and while Virgil,
Morgan, Doc Holliday and myself were standing in the center of Fourth and
Allen streets several persons said, "there is going to be trouble with those
fellows," and one man named Coleman said to Virgil Earp, "they mean trouble.
They have just gone from Dunbar's corral into the 0. K. corral, all armed.
I think you had better go and disarm them." Virgil turned around to Doc
Holliday, Morgan Earp and myself and told us to come and assist him in disarming
them. Morgan Earp said to me, "they have horses; had we not better get some
horses ourselves, so that if they make a running fight we can catch them?"
I said, "No, if they try to make a running fight we can kill their horses,
and then capture them." We four then started through Fourth to Fremont stree
t. When we turned the corner of Fourth and Fremont streets we could see them
standing near or about the vacant space between Fly's photograph gallery and
the next building west. I first saw Frank McLowry, Torn McLowry, Billy Clanton
and Sheriff Behan standing there. We went down the left hand side of Fremont
street. When I got within about 150 feet of them I saw Ike Clanton, Billy
Claiborne and another party. We had walked a few steps further when I saw
Behan leave the party and come towards us, every few steps he would look
back as if he apprehended danger. I heard Behan say to Virgil Earp, "For
God's sake don't go down there or you will get murdered." Virgil replied,
"I am going to disarm them"-- he, Virgil Earp, being in the lead. When I and
Morgan came up to Behan he said, "I have disarmed them." When he said this
I took my pistol, which I had in my hand, under my coat, and put it in my
overcoat pocket. Behan then passed up the street, and we walked on down.
We came up on them close-Frank McLowry, Tom McLowry and Billy Clanton standing
all in a row against the east side of the building on the opposite side of
the vacant space west of Fly`s photography gallery. Ike Clanton and Billy
Claiborne and a man I did not know were standing in the vacant space about
halfway between the photograph gallery and the next building west. I saw
that Billy Clanton and Frank McLowry and Tom McLowry had their hands by their
sides and Frank McLowry's and Billy Clanton's six shooters were in plain
sight. Virgil said, "Throw up your hands. I have come to disarm you."
Billy Clanton and Frank McLowry had their hands on their six shooters. Virgil
said, "Hold I don't mean that; I have come to disarm you." They-----Billy
Clanton and Frank McLowry---commenced to draw their pistols, at the same time
Tom McLowry threw his hand to his right hip and jumped behind a horse. I
had my pistol in my overcoat pocket where I had put it when Behan told us
he had disarmed the other party. When I saw Billy and Frank draw their pistols
I drew my pistol. Billy Clanton leveled his pistol at me but I did not aim
at him. I knew that Frank McLowry had the reputation of being a good shot
and a dangerous man, and I aimed at Frank McLowrv. The two first shots which
were fired were fired by Billy Clanton and myself he; shot at me, and I shot
at Frank McLowry. I do not know which shot was first; we fired almost together.
The fight then became general. After about four shots were fired Ike Clanton
ran up and grabbed my arm. I could see no weapon in his hand and thought
at the time he had none, and so I said to him, "The fight has now commenced
go to fighting or get away." At the same time I pushed him off with my left
hand. He started and ran down the side of the building and disappeared between
the lodging house and the photograph gallery. My first shot struck Frank
McLowry in the belly. He staggered off on the sidewalk but first fired one
shot at me. When we told them to throw up their hands Claiborne held up his
left hand, and then broke and ran. I never saw him afterwards until later
in the afternoon, after the fight. I never drew my pistol or made a motion
to shoot until after Billy Clanton and Frank McLowry drew their pistols.
If Tom McLowry was unarmed I did not know it. I believe he was armed and
that he fired two shots at our party before Holliday who had the shotgun,
fired at and killed him. If he was unarmed there was nothing to the circumstances
or in what had been communicated to me, or in his acts or threats, that would
have led me even to suspect his being unarmed. I never fired at Ike Clanton,
even after the shooting commenced, because I thought he was unarmed and I
believed then, and believe now, from the acts I have stated, and the threats
I have related, and other threats communicated to me by different persons,
as having been made by Tom McLowry, Frank McLowry and Isaac Clanton, that
these men, last named, had formed a conspiracy to murder my brothers Morgan
and Virgil, and Doc Holliday and myself. I believe I would have been legally
and morally justified in shooting any of them on sight, but I did not do
so or attempt to do so; I sought no advantage. When I went as deputy marshal
to help disarm them and arrest them, I went as a part of my duty and under
the direction of my brother the marshal. I did not intend to fight unless
it became necessary in self defense, and in the performance of official duty.
When Billy Clanton and Frank McLowry drew their pistolsl I knew it was a
fight for life, and I drew and fired in defense of my own life and the lives
of my brothers and Doc Holliday.
I have been in Tombstone since December 1, 1879. I came here from Dodge
City Kansas, where, against the protest of business men and officials, I
resigned the office of City Marshal, which I held from 1876. I came to Dodge
City from Wichita, Kansas. I was on the police force in Wichita, from 1874
until I went to Dodge City.
The testimony of Isaac Clanton that I had anything to do with any stage
robbery, or any criminal enterprise, is a tissue of lies from beginning to
end. Sheriff Behan made me an offer in his office on Allen street, and in
the back room of the cigar store, that if I would withdraw and not try to
get appointed sheriff of Cochise county, that we would hire a clerk and divide
the profits. I done so; and he never said another word to me afterward in
regard to it. The reasons given by him here for not complying with his contract,
are false.
I give here as a part of this statement, a document sent me from Dodge
City, since my arrest, and marked Exhibit "A", and another document sent
me from Wichita, since this arrest, which I wish attached to this statement.
and marked Exhibit "B".
Myself and Doc Holliday happened to go to Charleston the night that Behan
happened to go down to subpoena Ike Clanton. We went there for the purpose
of getting a horse that had been stolen from us a few days after I came to
Tombstone. I had heard several times that the Clantons had him. When I got
there that night I was told by a friend of mine that the man that carried
the dispatch from Charleston to Ike Clanton's ranch had my horse. At this
time I did not know where Ike Clanton's ranch was. A short time afterward
I was in the Huachucas, locating some wate rrights. I had started home to
Tombstone, and had got within twelve or fifteen miles of Charleston, when
I met a man named McMasters. He told me if I would hurry up I would find my
horse in Chaleston. I drove to Charleston, and saw my horse going through
the streets toward the corral. I put up for the night at another corral. I
went to Barnett's office, to get out papers to recover the horse. He was not
at home, having gone to Sonora to see some coal fields that had been discovered.
I telegraphed to Tombstone, to James Earp, and papers were made out and sent
to Charleston, that night. While I was in town, waiting for the papers, Billy
Clanton found out I was there. He went and tried to take the horse out of
the corral. I told him that he could not take him out, that it was my horse.
After the papers came he gave the horse up without the papers being served,
and asked me "if I had any more horses to lose." I told him I would keep
them in the stable after this, and not give him a chance to steal them.
In one of the conversations I had with Ike Clanton about giving away Leonard,
Head and Crane, I told him one reason why I wanted to catch them was to prove
to the citizens of Tombstone that Doc Holliday had nothing to do with it,
as there were some false statements circulated to that effect. In following
the trail of Leonard, Head and Crane, we struck it at the scene of the attempted
robbery, and never lost the trail or hardly a footprint from the time that
we started from Drew's ranch, on the San Pedro, until we got to Helm's ranch,
in the Dragoons. After following about eight miles down the San Pedro river
and capturing one of the men, named King that was supposed to be in with
them, we then crossed the Catalina mountains within fifteen miles of Tucson,
following their trail around the front of the mountain after they had crossed
over to Tres Alamos, on the San Pedro river. We then started out from Helm's
ranch and got on their trail. They had stolen fifteen or twenty head of
stock so as to cover their trail. Wyatt Earp, Morgan arp, R.H. Paul, Breckenridge,
Johnny Behan and one or two others still followed the trail up into New Mexico.
Their trail never led south from Helm's ranch, as Ike Clanton has stated.
We used every effort we could to capture these men. I was out ten days.
Virgil Earp and Morgan Earp were out sixteen days, and we done all we could
to capture these men, and I safely say if it had not been for myself and
Morgan Earp, they would not have got King, as he started to run when we rode
up to his hiding place, and was making for a big patch of brush on the river,
and would have got in it if it had not been for us.
DEFENSE EXHLBIT "A"
To All Whom It May Concern, Greetings:
We, the undersigned citiizens of Dodge City, Ford County, Kansas, and vicinity
do by these present certify that we are personally acquainted with Wyatt
Earp, late of this city; that he came here in the year 1876; that during
the years of 1877, 1878, and 1879 he was Marshal of our city; that he left
our place in the fall of 1879; that during his whole stay here he occupied
a place of high social position and was regarded and looked upon as a high-minded,
honorable citizen; that as Marshal of our city he was ever vigilant in the
discharge of his duties, and whild kind and courteous to all, he was brave,
unflinching, and on all occasions proved himself the right man in the right
place.
Hearing that he is now under arrest, charged with complicity in the killing
of those men termed "Cow Boys." From our knowledge of him we do not believe
that he would wantonly take the life of his fellow man, and that if he was
implicated, he only took life in the discharge of his sacred trust to the
people; and earnestly appeal to the citizens of Tombstone, Arizona, to use
all means to secure him a fair and impartial trial, fully confident that
when tried he will be fully vindicated and exonerated of any crime.
R.M. Wright Lloyd Shinn M.W. Sutton George F. Hinkle J.W. Liellow F.C. Zimmerman G.W. Potter Thomas S. Jones A.B. Weber C.M. Beeson Geo. Emerson A.H. Boyd J.H. Philips R.G. Cook Wright, Beverly & Co. Herman F. Fringey O.W. Wright March and Son W.W. Robins H.P. Weiss Fred T. M. Wenir R.C. Burns H.M. Bell T.L. McCarty D.E. Frost Beeson and Harris |
Representative, Ford County Probate Judge, Ford County, Kansas County Attorney, Ford County Sheriff, Ford County, Kansas Ford County Commissioner Ford County, Treasurer and Tax Collector Clerk of Ford County Police Judge and Attorney at Law Mayor, Dodge City, Kansas City Council, Dodge City, Kansas City Council, Dodge City, Kansas City Council, Dodge City, Kansas Deputy County Treasurerr, Ford County U.S. Commissioner Dodge City Merchants Postmaster, Dodge City, Kansas Pastor, Presbyterian Church Merchants Groceries Shoemaker Notary Public and Insurance Agent Attorney Deputy United States Marshal M.D. Ex-Police Judge Liquor Dealers |
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