Hardin, after 15 years, is released from prison, becomes a lawyer in El Paso, but his past catches up with him.
One day a policeman known as Young John Selman got into an argument with Wes over a woman. Selman's father, also a policeman and the one who had killed desperado Bass Outlaw, recalled the pre-prison days of Hardin. He feared for his son's life after this heated argument. Later, Hardin got into an argument with the elder Selman over the same woman.
At this time, Hardin had been hard at work writing his life-story. On August 19, 1895, early in the evening Hardin declared, thankfully, that one more day's work and the manuscript would be complete. Taking a break from his writing, he went out for a stroll about town. It was then that he happened upon the elder Selman and had words with him. Selman stated later that during this conversation Hardin had threatened to kill both his son and himself.
Going on his way, Hardin strolled into the Acme Saloon on San Antonio Street. There were only a few customers in attendance. Hardin had a drink and played a few games. About eleven o'clock that evening he matched a dice game with a man named H. S. Brown who was an El Paso grocer. Somehow, as the game proceeded, Hardin was standing with his back to the front door. No matter that Hardin had done 15 years in prison and hadn't pulled a gun since entering jail, his reputation still trailed him. Standing with his back to the door was almost next to committing suicide.
A few minutes later, the elder Selman stepped just inside the saloon door. Selman took aim and shot John Wesley in the head-then kept shooting.
Gunslinger John Wesley Hardin fell to the saloon floor. He was dead.
Recommended Reading:
To assist you in following the Suite 101 Outlaw Trail here is a list of many western outlaws currently riding through the pages of this site.
Bill Longley was exceedingly more than a mere gunfighter. He was also a deadly, Negro-murdering killer. His notorious career may have begun when he shot a Negro dead for sassing Bill's father.
Sources:
McCarty, Lea F. The Gunfighters. Mike Roberts Color Productions, Emeryville, California, 1959.
Nordyke, Lewis. John Wesley Hardin: Texas Gunman. Castle Books, Edison, New Jersey, 1957.
