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John Wesley Hardin

Quite possibly the meanest gunfighter that ever lived. John Wesley Hardin was a cruel man who held little respect the law, and even less respect for life. His philosophy was simple. You cross him and he would deal out his own kind of justice at the giving end of a .44! His verdict was always death!

John was born on May 26, 1853 in Bonham Texas to a Methodist minister. John decided to follow the way of the gun instead of following in his father’s footsteps. He killed his first man at the age of 15. He shot the former slave 5 times and also shot the three union soldiers who chased after him. Shooting blacks and union soldiers made Hardin a hero in Texas.

Hardin killed many men, one just for snoring too loud. He also came face to face with a Marshall in Abilene Kansas who tried to disarm him as he was breaking the city ordinance of "no firearms allowed in city limits". The marshal he squared off with was none other than "Wild Bill" Hickok. Marshall Hickok pulled his pistols and ordered Hardin to surrender his guns and Hardin obliged. As Bill put away his pistols Hardin did something called the "border roll". John spun his guns around and aimed them both at Hickok. Wild Bill talked John out of killing him and they later went to the saloon for a drink.

Hardins life changed forever when he gunned down a Texas Ranger named Charlie Webb. A lynch mob formed as Hardin fled the state. The lynch mob captured and hung Hardins brother and seven of his cousins. Hardin was ultimately captured in July of 1876 while aboard a train. He was recognized by two Pinkerton detectives and when the made their move, Hardin was surprised to find that he had accidentally looped his suspender strap through the trigger guard of his revolver. He was unable to draw of fire his weapon.

Hardin served 16 years in prison for the murder of Charlie Webb and 39 other people as well. While in prison he studied law and started his own practice when he got out. Hardins law practice floundered however, so he took to drinking and gambling. On Aug 19 1895, while Hardin was playing cards, John Selman a former constable, entered the saloon and fired 4 quick shots at Hardin. As Hardin fell to his death, he went down grabbing for his gun.