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Billy the Kid, Pat Garett, Virgil & Wyatt Earp, Frank Stilwell, Johnny Behan...



Item # 704204

August 10, 1881

THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, August 10, 1881 

* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral


Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept this town in popular culture. This issue was printed less than 2 months before the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
The top of page 2 has: "The citizens of Las Vegas have presented the plucky sheriff, Pat Garrett, with a purse of $1078.50 for his services in killing Billy the 'Kid'. " Among the several legal notices for "Mining Applications" is: "Application for a Patent to the First North Extension of the Mountain Maid" which notes at the beginning: "U.S. Land Office, Florence, Arizona. Notice is hereby given that Robert J. Winders for himself and his co-claimants, Virgil W. Earp, Eyatt [Wyatt] S. Earp ad James C. Earp, whose address is Tombstone, Cochise county Arizona, has this post office  day filed..." with other details. A court report notes that two women were: "...Arrested on complain of Hannah Barns charging them with using profane and indecent language...court rendered a judgement of guilty...". Sheriff Behan's name is mentioned in 4 "Sheriff's Sale" advertisements, and which also includes "F.C. Stilwell, Deputy Sheriff". Frank Stilwell was closely involved in the events leading up to and following the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, and was suspected in the murder of Morgan Earp on March 18, 1882. Two days after Morgan's death, Frank Stilwell was killed by Deputy U.S. Marshal Wyatt Earp in a Tucson train yard. Earp agreed to turn himself in but instead fled the Arizona Territory for Colorado. Wyatt Earp admitted late in his life to killing Stilwell at close range with a shotgun.
Complete in 4 pages, archivally rejoined at the spine plus some other archival mends mostly at edges, otherwise in quite nice condition and rarely found as such.

Category: The Old West