True West Magazine
Tom Sherman’s Saloon was a hot spot in early Dodge City, Kansas sometimes for the wrong reasons. The owner himself was not averse to picking up a gun.
In March 1873, a fracas erupted at the establishment. Sherman firing as he went–chased a man named Burns out of the place. Burns went down with at least one bullet in his back. Sherman walked up to him and said, “I’d better shoot him again, hadn’t I, boys?” He put a bullet in the man’s head at point-blank range. Sherman was later arrested but it’s unclear what happened after that.
True West Magazine
Dodge City, Kansas was pretty much lawless in 1873. The vigilance committee had gone rogue. On June 3, two members of the group killed the servant of Col. Richard Dodge, commander of nearby Fort Dodge. He demanded action. With approval of the governor, the colonel took troops into town and over the next three days arrested six vigilantes. One of them was later convicted in the servant’s killing. And on that last day, June 5, Charlie Bassett was appointed the first sheriff of Ford County. Slowly but surely, law and order was coming to Dodge. Post Views: 493
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An Important Man In New Mexico Henry Jaffa little remembered today made his mark in the 19th century.
Henry Jaffa
Henry Jaffa little remembered today made his mark in the 19
th century.
That year, he started a business in Las Vegas, New Mexico which he soon spread to Albuquerque. When that city was incorporated in 1885, Jaffa became its first mayor. He started the first synagogue in 1897 and continued to be active in civic and business affairs until his death in 1901.
And he happened to be a good friend of Wyatt Earp. Post Views: 253
True West Magazine
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bill Tilghman’s capture of outlaw Bill Doolin in a Eureka Springs, Arkansas, bathhouse on January 15, 1896, made national headlines and brought personal fame to Tilghman. Almost a decade later, he maintained his notoriety as a top lawman at public showings of his movie, The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws, while his wife, Zoe, after his death, perpetuated the legend of her late husband through small booklets such as Outlaw Days. – Photo of Bill Tilghman and Cover of “Outlaw Days” Courtesy True West Archives/”Daily Enterprise” and “El Reno News” Clippings Courtesy Newspaper.com –
True West Magazine
Sealed With A Kiss Wyatt Earp engaged in a Jewish ritual while he was on the run.
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp engaged in a Jewish ritual while he was on the run.
When Wyatt Earp fled Arizona after the Vendetta Ride, he and his cohorts headed through New Mexico on the way to Colorado. They stopped in Albuquerque, where Wyatt stayed with Jewish businessman Henry Jaffa. There are reports that Wyatt perhaps following the example of his host kissed the mezuzah, a ritual often followed by observant Jews when entering a home. The mezuzah is an encased piece of parchment with Hebrew verses from the Torah inscribed on it. It is and would have been unusual for a Christian (even a nominal one like Wyatt) to do such a thing.