The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a gunfight that occurred at about 3:00 PM on Wednesday, October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, in the United States. Despite its name, the gunfight did not actually take place at the O.K. Corral: it occurred in a vacant lot next to Camillus Fly's photography studio, six doors down Fremont Street from the rear entrance to the O.K. Corral. Although only three men were killed during the gunfight, it is generally regarded as the most famous gunfight in the history of the Old West.

The immediate cause of the conflict that led up to the fight was the arrest by Virgil Earp, acting in his capacity as deputy federal marshal, of two rural "cowboys" for a stagecoach robbery. Drunken threats made by another cowboy against the Earps set them on guard, and when family and friends of the drunken man arrived in town on horseback the next day, fully armed, there was a misunderstanding about how and where they should disarm according to city law. Within hours, both new arrivals were dead, as was a cowboy standing with them, who had illegally failed to surrender his pistol the previous day.

The gunfight was part of what became known as the Arizona War, or the Cochise County War. It occurred in a fifteen to twenty-foot space (used as an alleyway) between Fly's Lodging House and photographic studio, and the MacDonald assay house west of it. The end of the gunfight took place in Fremont Street. Some of the fighting was in Fremont Street in front of the alleyway. About thirty shots were fired in thirty seconds.

The gunfight at the O.K. Corral has been portrayed in numerous Western films. It has come to symbolize the struggle between legal authority and banditry and rustling in frontier towns of the Old West, where law enforcement was often weak or nonexistent. In other views, the fight was a more complex embodiment of some of the tensions of the American Civil War of a generation before.

Law enforcement (the three Earp brothers and "Doc" Holliday) were eventually exonerated of the killings, but later assassinations and assassination attempts against the Earps over the next six months led to a series of killings and retributions, often with federal and county lawmen supporting different sides of the conflict. The series of battles, known as the Earp Vendetta Ride, finally ended with Virgil Earp permanently crippled by gunfire and his brother Morgan killed. The Earps and Holliday were also forced to flee the territory to Colorado and California, never to return to Arizona.
 

The Gunfighters
Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, Virgil Earp, and Doc Holliday fought Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, Billy Claiborne, Ike Clanton, and Billy Clanton. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne (who later claimed that he had been unarmed, though some reports credit him with shooting one or more times) ran away from the fight, unharmed. Both McLaurys and Billy Clanton were killed; Morgan Earp, Virgil Earp and Doc Holliday were wounded.

The conflicts leading to the gunfight are complex: the two sides were related in two instances (in both cases by strong family ties), but were in opposition due to politics, business concerns, and other ideological factors. The McLaurys, the Clantons and Claiborne were from a larger group called the Cowboys. The Cowboys were not necessarily hated, but they were loosely organized criminals. However, they enforced their interests in the town as a group, and going against one of them would likely be dangerous. Certainly they did not allow the law to hinder them.

The Earps were viewed by their enemies as badge-toting tyrants who ruthlessly enforced the business interests of the town; the McLaurys, Clantons, and their Cowboy crowd were viewed by their enemies as cattle rustlers, thieves, and murderers. "Cowboys" was a term used in the area to identify a band of outlaws - which included the McLaurys and Clantons - who were implicated in such crimes. These Cowboys were affiliated by a combination of blood relations, friendships and, allegedly, a sworn oath. The Cowboys did not have the formal structure of a modern gang. Cowboys teamed up in crimes and came to each other's aid based on personal relationships, and a general understanding, not orders from a leader. In addition to this, although known to one another and having worked on cattle ranches together, not all of those considered part of the Cowboy faction were involved in illegal acts.

Contrary to popular belief engendered by subsequent films and writings, the Cowboy faction was fairly popular in Tombstone as they had a lot of money to spend.Many members were involved in cattle rustling and probably some in robberies; most were seen as wild but generally easy to get along with, as long as one was not standing in the way of their progress. Many of the businesses in Tombstone saw the "Cowboys" as "job security," since they bolstered the business of saloons and gambling houses around town and rarely were known to involve themselves in illegal activities inside of Tombstone.

The Clantons themselves were ranchers, with their ranch in Charleston, Arizona being one of the most successful in the territory at the time. They were associated with several outlaws, but there is little evidence that any large-scale planned outlaw operations were underway based at their ranch, as is often indicated in films. Although Ike Clanton was not well-liked, due mostly to his boasting while drinking, his brother Billy was quite popular, and considered level-headed and hard-working. Little is known about brothers John and Phin Clanton, and it appears they simply worked their ranch. It is known that Phin Clanton was arrested several times over the years, for cattle rustling and once for robbery, but he was never convicted. Ike Clanton would eventually die while resisting arrest for cattle rustling.

Wyatt Earp's summary of the tensions which led up to the shootout

There are no known existing accounts of the tensions which led up to the shooting, from the "Cowboy" view. Wyatt Earp's written testimony at the Spicer hearing after the shootout is perhaps the most completely detailed account of incidents which led to friction between the Cowboys and the Earps, from the time the Earps arrived in Tombstone.

Mule and horse thievery

On July 25, 1880, U.S. Deputy Marshal Virgil Earp accused Frank McLaury, a "Cowboy", (often capitalized in papers as a local term for a cattle-dealer that often was synonymous with rustler) of taking part in the stealing of six Army mules from Camp Rucker. This was a federal matter because the animals were federal property. The McLaurys were caught changing the "U.S." brand to "D.8." by the Army representative and Earp. However, to avoid a fight, the posse withdrew on the understanding that the mules would be returned. They were not. In response, the Army's representative published an account in the papers, damaging Frank McLaury's reputation. This incident marked the beginning of animosity between the McLaurys and the Earps.

According to Wyatt Earp, he had had a favorite branded horse stolen from him, shortly after his arrival in Tombstone on Nov. 1, 1879. About a year later (probably sometime in late 1880), Wyatt testified that he heard the horse was in the possession of the Clantons at their ranch, and he and Holliday rode to the Clanton ranch near Charleston to recover it. On the way, they overtook the newly-appointed south Pima County undersheriff Behan (who had replaced Earp after the previous November, 1880 election), riding in a wagon. Behan was also heading for the ranch to serve an election-hearing subpoena on Ike Clanton, demanding his testimony about ballot-box-stuffing (voter fraud) in the November election. Wyatt testified that when he arrived at the Clanton ranch, Billy Clanton gave up the horse easily, even before being presented with ownership papers (which Wyatt had sent for). This indicated to Earp that Billy knew the horse was stolen. According to Behan's later testimony, Earp and Holliday put a scare into the Clantons by telling them that Deputy sheriff Behan was actually on his way with an armed posse to arrest them for horse theft. This damaged the Clantons' reputations, and convinced the Earps that the Clantons were also horse thieves.

This incident also apparently put ill feelings between Behan and the Earps. At the Spicer hearing, Behan said this incident was the reason that he did not choose Earp later as his own undersheriff. (The governor and legislature had appointed Behan to the newly-created position of Sheriff of Cochise County in February, 1881.)

Stagecoach robbery and betrayal
Tensions between the Earps and both the Clantons and McLaurys increased through 1881. On March 15, 1881, three cowboys attempted an unsuccessful stagecoach holdup near Benson, during which the driver and a passenger were murdered in the gunfire. There were rumors that Doc Holliday, who was a known friend of one of the suspects, had been involved. The formal accusation of Doc's involvement was started by Doc's companion Mary Katherine "Big Nose Kate" Horony after a drunken quarrel, and she later recanted once sober. (The chief suspects in this robbery were later determined to be Luther King, Bill Leonard, John Crane and Harry Head. King mysteriously escaped after he implicated the others.)

After being passed-over for the position of undersheriff, Wyatt stated he now intended to eventually stand for election for sheriff of Cochise County against incumbent Johnny Behan. Wyatt reported that he (Wyatt) attempted to entice Ike Clanton and Frank McLaury with Wells Fargo Co. reward money for information leading to the capture or death of the stage-robbers. Wyatt believed catching the robbers would help him win the sheriff's office. According to Wyatt, Ike later backed out of the deal after the robbers had all been killed in other separate incidents. Ike Clanton, for his part, would later claim that Wyatt and Holliday had actually been the ones involved in the stage robbery, and wanted to kill him because of his knowledge of this. However, Ike Clanton did not explain why Wyatt or Holliday would confide such a thing to him, as he claimed they both separately did, and Ike's testimony on this point was not believed by the presiding justice (or many people in the courtroom). Clanton accused Earp of leaking their deal to Holliday.

Stilwell and Spence arrests

Tensions between the Earps and the McLaurys further increased with the holdup of another stage in the Tombstone area (September 8), this one a passenger stage in the Sandy Bob line, bound for nearby Bisbee. The masked robbers shook down the passengers (the stage had no strongbox) and in the process were recognized from their voices and language as Pete Spence (an alias) and Frank Stilwell, a business partner of Spence who had recently been terminated from a position as a deputy of Sheriff Behan's (for "accounting irregularities"). Spence and Stilwell were friends of the McLaurys. Wyatt and Virgil Earp rode with the sheriff's posse attempting to track the Bisbee stage robbers, and during the tracking, Wyatt discovered the unusual print of a custom-repaired boot heel. Checking a shoe repair shop in Bisbee known to provide widened bootheels led to identification of Stilwell as a recent customer, and a check of a Bisbee corral turned up both Spence and Stilwell. Stilwell was found with a new set of wide custom boot heels matching the prints of the robber. Stilwell and Spence were arrested by sheriff's deputies Breakenridge and Nagel for the stage robbery.

Released on bail, Spence and Stilwell were re-arrested by Deputy U.S. Marshal Virgil Earp for the Bisbee robbery a month later, October 13, on the new federal charge of interfering with a mail carrier. The newspapers, however, reported that they had been arrested for a different stage robbery that occurred (October 8) near Contention City. Occurring less than two weeks before the O.K. Corral shootout, this final incident may have been misunderstood by the McLaurys as simple harassment. While Wyatt and Virgil were still out of town for the Spence and Stilwell hearing, Frank McLaury confronted Morgan Earp, telling him that the McLaurys would kill the Earps if they tried to arrest Spence, Stilwell, or the McLaurys again.

Ike's reputation and his hunt for Doc Holliday.
The precipitating event to the gunfight was (according to Wyatt Earp) Ike Clanton's hunting of Doc Holliday, for spreading rumors that he had agreed to give away his friends (King, Leonard, Head, and Crane) as perpetrators of the March stage robbery and double-murder, in return for money. Though the men who had presumably robbed the stage were all dead by this time, such an offer would have been a severe blow to Ike's reputation among his own friends.


Relevant law in Tombstone
Ordinances Relevant in the Preliminary Hearing in the Earp-Holliday Case, Heard before Judge Wells Spicer.  

November 1881

Ordinance No. 9: "To Provide against Carrying of Deadly Weapons" (effective April 19, 1881).
Section 1. "It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person to carry deadly weapons, concealed or otherwise [except the same be carried openly in sight, and in the hand] within the limits of the City of Tombstone.

Section 2: This prohibition does not extend to persons immediately leaving or entering the city, who, with good faith, and within reasonable time are proceeding to deposit, or take from the place of deposit such deadly weapon.

Section 3: All fire-arms of every description, and bowie knives and dirks, are included within the prohibition of this ordinance."

Ordinance No. 7, Section 1: "Any establishment, house of prostitution or other place open to the public and it shall be the duty of any officer to enter such place and at once arrest such persons as he may then find engaged in or causing such breach of the peace." (effective April 12, 1881).


Events leading up to the Ike Clanton court hearing
On Tuesday, October 25, 1881, Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury drove the 10 miles into Tombstone from Chandler's Milk Ranch at the foot of the Dragoon Mountains. They were in town to get supplies and rode in a spring wagon (a light horse-team drawn wagon, often with removable seats to increase cargo-carrying area), arriving about 11 A.M. That evening, shortly after midnight, Clanton had a verbal run-in with Doc Holliday and Morgan Earp.

The previous weekend, Holliday had been out of town, gambling at a fiesta celebration in Tucson. Morgan Earp had gone to get him for the trouble with the Cowboys which he saw coming. In the small hours of the morning of the 26th, Clanton was confronted by Holliday, who walked into the 24-hour "lunch-counter" where Clanton was eating and tried to provoke him into drawing his gun; the reasons for this confrontation would vary by the witness.

Wyatt and Morgan Earp watched the confrontation, and Wyatt suggested that Morgan, as a city police officer, do something about it. However, no arrests were made; Virgil threatened to arrest Doc and Ike if they didn't stop, and finally Wyatt got Doc in hand and took him back to his boarding house to sleep it off. Some accounts claim that Ike Clanton ended up threatening Doc Holliday and all the Earps, as soon as he was armed, while other accounts claim that it was Holliday that threatened Clanton. Meanwhile, Wyatt had gone home to bed. Virgil Earp, the City Marshal (Chief of Police), in order to try to calm things down overnight, spent the night playing a long card game with Ike Clanton, Tom McLaury, Cochise County sheriff Johnny Behan and a fourth man unknown to Ike Clanton and to history. Ike Clanton later testified that Virgil sat through the game with a revolver on his lap, which caused Ike to be upset.

In the morning, around dawn at about 6 or 7 A.M., the card game broke up and Behan and Virgil Earp went home to bed. Tom McLaury and Ike Clanton were still awake, with nothing to do. For some reason neither of them rented a room to get sleep. Ike was drinking heavily. By later in the morning Ike had reacquired both his rifle and revolver, having gotten them (so he testified later) from the West End Corral, where the wagon and team had been stabled, and where weapons brought into the city by Ike and Tom the day before should, by law, have been deposited while the men were in town.

By noon on Wednesday, October 26, Ike was publicly bar-hopping while fully armed, still saying he was looking for Holliday or an Earp. Not long after noon, Virgil and Morgan Earp (who had been bothered in their sleep by various people reporting Ike Clanton's threats) came up behind Clanton on 4th Street, grabbed Clanton's rifle, and pistol-whipped Ike. The Earps then took Clanton to court for violating the city's ordinance against carrying firearms after arrival in the city.


Clanton court hearing and following events
Before the hearing which followed almost immediately, and while Virgil was out looking for the judge, Ike, Morgan, and Wyatt traded death-threats. When Judge Wallace arrived, Ike Clanton was fined $25 plus court costs, and left sometime after 1 P.M., unarmed. Virgil, ever the calm city peace officer, told Ike he'd leave Ike's confiscated rifle and revolver at the Grand Hotel (a favorite of the Cowboys when in town) and he did so. There Ike's weapons stayed through the gunfight which followed.

Ike's death threats against all the Earps got under Wyatt's skin during the hearing. While extremely agitated as he left the court that was trying Ike, Wyatt almost walked into Tom McLaury, who was headed the other way. Witnesses would agree that Wyatt was headed toward the court while Tom was headed away, but regardless of the directions of the men, the trial apparently had already happened. The two men were brought up short nose-to-nose. Wyatt immediately instigated an argument with Tom. Tom, as an ordinary citizen who had arrived in town the day before, was not supposed to be armed. Wyatt, however, saw that Tom had a revolver under his shirt, tucked into the waistband of his pants. Wyatt was armed in his capacity as temporary deputy for his brother.

At this point the Earps had had enough of armed Arizonans in their own town, and Virgil, who was the city marshal and also the deputy federal marshal for the area, deputised Holliday, and possibly said something about active service for Wyatt as well, although the latter was never clear. Wyatt said in the deposition that he had been acting as temporary city marshal for Virgil the week before the gunfight, while Virgil was in Tucson for the Pete Spence and Frank Stilwell trial. Wyatt would say that he still considered himself a deputy city marshal, and Virgil would later confirm that. However, it is apparent from Wyatt's behavior at the time that he thought that arresting Tom for the misdemeanor infraction of carrying a firearm within city limits, or searching Tom for a concealed revolver would best be done by Virgil Earp in his capacity as city-marshal, or by one of Virgil's paid city-police deputies – which recently had come to include Morgan Earp and possibly Warren Earp, but not Wyatt, who was only a temporary and unpaid deputy with no badge. Wyatt was ready for a gunfight – preferring an open fight when he was ready for it. Under the circumstances, however, the only thing Wyatt could do to provoke a fight was to attack Tom and force him to draw his weapon. According to witnesses,Wyatt drew his own revolver from his coat pocket and pistol-whipped Tom McLaury with it. This put Tom prostrate and bleeding in the street, but it did not accomplish Wyatt's goal: Tom would not draw a weapon, either because he would be immediately killed for doing so or because of a herculean force of will to avoid violent retribution. Since Wyatt was an off-duty temporary deputy, he could not legally search or arrest Tom for possessing a revolver. Tom would not draw a weapon for a gunfight; Wyatt was finally forced simply to walk away.


Possibility of a concealed weapon on Tom McLaury
Whether Tom McLaury actually did have a concealed revolver in his pants at the time of his beating by Wyatt remains a historical mystery. It is known from the later testimony of saloon-keeper Andrew Mehan at the Spicer Hearing that at this same time of the beating, between 1 and 2 P.M., Tom McLaury did deposit his revolver at the nearby Capital Saloon on the southwest corner of Fremont and 4th Street. Further, one of the witnesses to Tom's beating (A. Bauer) would testify that he saw Tom after the beating, at the Capital Saloon. Thus, unless Tom visited the Capital Saloon both before and after his beating by Earp, he left the revolver there after the beating and therefore was armed during the beating by Wyatt, just as Wyatt believed him to be. Wyatt, from this actions, thought Tom was possibly carrying a weapon to back up his friend Ike. However, it is possible that Tom was merely carrying the revolver as protection from robbery, since he intended to receive $3000, some of it in cash the next day, from sale of beefstock. Because of Wyatt's beating, he ended up doing this without the weapon, however.

Depositing his revolver at the saloon was an act that, according to city ordinance, Tom should have performed the previous day when he first arrived in town. The fact that Tom left his revolver at the Capital Saloon on the 26th, and not at the West End Corral on the 25th when he arrived in town more than 24 hours earlier, shows that Tom McLaury did indeed carry his revolver as a concealed weapon into town for some time, contrary to city ordinance which required weapons to be deposited immediately upon arrival. Tom's reason for leaving his revolver at the saloon after being beaten by Wyatt would appear that he wished to give Wyatt no further excuse for violence. However, the Earps had no way of knowing that Tom had gotten rid of the weapon.

In any event, Tom's revolver, like Ike Clanton's arms, remained at a nearby saloon during the O.K. Corral gunfight.

By the time Ike and Tom had seen doctors for their head wounds, it was getting into the early afternoon. The day was chilly, with snow still on the ground in some places. Neither Tom nor Ike had slept, but had spent the night gambling. Now they were both out-of-doors, both wounded from head beatings, and at least Ike was still drunk. Their ability to organize an ambush in their condition has been questioned.

More Cowboys Enter Town
At about this time (1:30 to 2:30 P.M. or so, but after the pistol-whipping of Tom) fresher men with more willingness to fight arrived in town. Ike's younger brother Billy Clanton (aged 19) and Tom's older brother Frank McLaury had heard from Ed "old man" Frank that Ike had been stirring up trouble in town overnight, and they had ridden into town on horseback to back up their brothers

They had come from Antelope Springs, 13 miles east of Tombstone, where they had been rounding up stock with their brothers and had had breakfast with Ike and Tom the day before. Both Frank and Billy were armed with revolver and rifle, as was the custom for lone riders in the wild country outside Tombstone. Apache warriors had engaged the U.S. Army near Tombstone just three weeks before the O.K. Corral gunfight, so the southeast Arizona Territory country was far from tame.

Billy and Frank stopped first at the Grand Hotel on Allen Street, being greeted there warmly by practical joker Doc Holliday, where almost immediately they were told of the beatings of both of their brothers by Earps within the previous two hours - an item which was the big news in town. Immediately, Frank and Billy left the saloon without drinking.

By law and custom, both Frank and Billy also should have left their firearms at the first corral or hotel at which they stopped in town, in this case the Grand Hotel. Instead of doing that, they remained fully-armed about the Western part or "horse end" of town. At some point, they even ventured up to Spangenberger's gun and hardware store (on 4th Street) to buy ammunition, where they were observed by Wyatt Earp who was smoking his cigar outside Hafford's saloon nearby.

Wyatt and Virgil Earp’s Reactions
Wyatt still had the problem of having no legal authority to question their holding of weapons, and so did nothing but move Frank McLaury's horse off the sidewalk where it had strayed. Earp gave the excuse for handling the horse that he still considered himself a city police deputy, but he was still overplaying his role. Earp's handling of his horse provoked Frank to come out of the store, but not to draw his revolver from its holster. Again, things were at a draw.

Wyatt Earp thought that the Cowboys, including Ike, were arming themselves in the store. Ike would testify later that Tom was not in the store, but Wyatt could not tell who was there and who was not. Ike would say that indeed he had actually tried to buy a new revolver in the store, but the owner, observing his head bandages refused to sell him one. If Ike did indeed try to buy a revolver, it would have meant that he had not heard or had not believed Virgil Earp, who had put Ike's weapons exactly where he had said he would for Ike to pick up before leaving town.

Meanwhile, Virgil Earp, in charge of enforcing city law, was trying to avoid a confrontation with Frank and Billy by not going to where Virgil thought Frank and Billy were. These armed men, newly arrived in the city, were pushing at two fuzzy borders in the city law. One issue was how far east into town a newly-arrived traveler might go while carrying a firearm; the three main Tombstone corrals were all at the west end of town, a block or two away from where the Cowboys were buying ammunition. It was generally understood that newly-arrived travelers could pass through town while armed, if on their way directly to a hotel or saloon. The other question was how long, after arriving in town, might a traveler legally keep his firearms if he still had his horse with him. The latter would mean he was still in the process of "arriving" while surrendering a horse or wagon at a corral/livery stable automatically meant surrendering firearms with it.

The Earps apparently thought that Tom and Ike had arrived the previous day at the Dunbar Corral on Allen Street, where they were known friends of the owners, including Sheriff Behan. They naturally assumed that newly arrived "reinforcements" Frank and Billy would leave their horses and arms there also, if they meant peace. Thus, when Virgil heard that the Cowboys had gone to the O.K. Corral, he made the decision, stated in the presence of witnesses, that he would seek to disarm the Cowboys only if they left the vicinity of the corrals while still armed. That would have meant that they intended openly violating the town law against weapon-carrying after arrival or while not preparing to leave town. Unfortunately, unknown to the Earps, Ike and Tom had actually left their horse and wagon at the West End Corral on Fremont Street a block north of the O.K. Corral. If they prepared to leave town, it would be from a place a block north of where the Earps assumed it would be.
 

Actions near Fremont Street directly before the fatal fight
When Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton began to gather on Fremont Street while still saddled and armed, Virgil Earp suspected they were getting too far from the corrals he assumed they and their brothers had arrived at.

Johnny Behan, Cochise County Sheriff and friend of the Cowboys, testified later that he learned of the trouble while he was being shaved at the barbershop sometime after 1:30 P.M., the time he'd risen after his late night game. Behan stated he immediately went to Fremont Street, where he found Frank McLaury still with horse and arms, on Fremont and 4th Street (this would now have been about 2:30 P.M.). Down the street to the west, he saw that Ike, Tom, and Billy had all gathered off the street in the vacant lot immediately west of the Fly Gallery at 312 Fremont Street and Fly's 12-room boarding house. This was about half a block east of the West End Corral, which the Cowboys may have been intending to use as a jumping-off point to get out of town as soon as Frank finished doing business. It was also about half a block west of the Capitol Saloon where Tom's revolver was.

The Cowboys had gathered in a lot (a narrow 18 feet (5.5 m) alley between houses) a block away from the O.K. Corral entrance, on Allen Street. The vacant lot/alley was west of Fly's (where Doc Holliday rented a room), and also between the position of the Earps and their homes just two blocks further west on Fremont Street. All of this constituted a physical threat to the Earps and Holliday which they could hardly ignore, especially in light of Ike Clanton's verbal threats.

On Fremont and 4th Street, Behan tried to disarm Frank McLaury, and here Frank made the fatal error of resisting disarmament by Behan (the sheriff), insisting that Virgil Earp (the chief of police) and his brothers disarm first. Instead of leaving town, as Ike Clanton now planned to do, Frank McLaury insisted on staying in town to do some business. However, there is no evidence to suggest that he intended on confronting the Earps. A letter written by his older brother, William McLaury, who was a judge in Fort Worth, Texas, claimed that both Frank and Tom were trying to tie some loose ends up business-wise, before leaving town to visit him in Fort Worth. Billy Clanton was intending on accompanying them.

Meanwhile, having heard that the newly arrived Cowboys were now on Fremont Street, bearing weapons, and now a block away from the entrance to the O.K. Corral where they were legally entitled to hold weapons, Virgil Earp decided to act. While Wyatt was confronting Frank McLaury at Spangenberg's, Virgil had collected a shotgun from the Wells Fargo office around the corner on Allen Street, in case of trouble. This would have been a very short-barreled "messenger" or coach gun type weapon, double-barrelled and likely a 10- or 12-gauge, loaded with buckshot. Returning to Hafford's, and not wanting to alarm the citizenry of Tombstone by carrying the shotgun through the streets, Virgil gave the shotgun to Doc Holliday to hide under his longer overcoat. The Earps carried revolvers in their coat pockets or in their waistbands; there is some evidence that Holliday was using his longer coat that morning to conceal a revolver holster. Virgil took Holliday's walking-stick in return, which he carried in his right hand to use for emphasis. Then the Earps and Holliday walked west down the south side of Fremont street toward the Cowboys' last known position, keeping out of sight of the Cowboys.

Along the way, the Earps met Sheriff Behan coming up Fremont street from the Cowboys. Behan told the Earps that he had disarmed the Cowboys and that no trouble was necessary. The Earps brushed by Behan, only slightly put off their guard. But when the Earps moved out into the middle of Fremont street and came into full view of the Cowboys in the vacant lot west of Fly's boarding house, they found two horses with saddles and rifles in the lot, and Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton still near their horses, wearing their revolver belts and still fully armed. Later, Wyatt would especially blame Behan for telling what he took to be a lie about leaving the Cowboys disarmed. Behan would testify that he'd only said he'd gone down to the Cowboys "for the purpose of disarming them," not that he'd actually done it.

As the Earps and Holliday headed south into the alley between Fly's Boarding House and the MacDonald house immediately west of it, they came upon Ike Clanton as he was talking to Billy Claiborne in the middle of the lot. Behind them, against a house to the west (the MacDonald house and assay office), stood Tom and Frank McLaury, Billy Clanton, and the horses of Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury. The precise arrangements of the men and animals would be debated by witnesses, but the Coroner's inquest and the Spicer hearing produced the following blackboard sketch. The Cowboys stood (from left to right facing Fremont Street): Frank McLaury, Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and Ike Clanton, with Frank and Billy next to the MacDonald house and Tom and Ike roughly in the middle of the alley. Opposite them were Morgan Earp facing Frank near the MacDonald House, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp in the middle of the alley facing south and Virgil Earp holding the left end of the line opposite Ike Clanton. This set-up meant that to open the fight, Morgan and Doc fired across one another at Billy and Frank, respectively.

The Gunfight
The roughly 30-second gunfight that ensued at about 3:00 P.M., October 26, came to be known in the 1950s (after a movie title) as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - arguably the most famous gunfight in the history of the Old West. It has been the subject of many books and movies. It is not known who started the shooting. Partisan factions told conflicting stories, and independent eyewitnesses who did not know the participants by sight were unable to say for certain.

Of the participants, and contrary to popular belief, none but Virgil Earp had any extensive experience in shooting situations. Virgil's years of service during the Civil War had given him ample combat experience going into the fight, although it was an experience of a different sort than street fighting. Virgil had also been involved in a police shooting in Prescott, Arizona Territory (see his biography). Wyatt Earp, despite his reputation had only been involved in one shooting before the O.K. Corral, and was not widely known at the time. In that one shooting (in Dodge City, 1878), Wyatt Earp always claimed to have been the one to shoot a retreating horseman named George Hoy, who died later as a result of the gunshot wound to his arm. However, many lawmen, including James Masterson and his brother Bat Masterson, were involved in shooting at Hoy. History does not record that Morgan Earp had any experience at gunfighting prior to this incident, though he frequently rode shotgun as a stagecoach guard. Doc Holliday had been mixed up in a few altercations here and there, mostly while drunk, but details of those are sketchy and may not have been extensive. He may have killed one man in a gunfight prior to Tombstone, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and in the presence of gunman and friend John Joshua Webb.

As for the Earp faction's opposition, short of a few minor earlier instances, this encounter seems to have been the first actual shootout for any of them, except for Billy Claiborne, who had been in at least one gunfight, over which he was later arrested for killing a man. However, Claiborne did not fire a shot at the O.K. Corral, and fled the scene, claiming that he had been unarmed at the time. The closest thing to a shootout in which the McLaurys and Clantons were possibly involved was the Skeleton Canyon Massacre, but no witness to that (there were two survivors) recalled anyone other than Mexicans at that fight.

The Fight
Virgil Earp deputized Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday to support him and Morgan Earp in preparation for the gunfight. Wyatt spoke of his brothers Virgil and Morgan as the "marshals" while he acted as "deputy." Virgil carried a cane in his right hand to signify his intent to avoid a fight, but gave his short double-barrelled shotgun (coach gun) to Doc Holliday, who concealed it under his longcoat.

The two factions had both reportedly anticipated conflict. Martha J. King, who was in Bauer's Butcher Shop on Fremont Street when the Earp party passed, testified that one of the Earps [Morgan] on the outside of that party looked around and said to Doc Holliday, "...let them have it!" to which Holliday replied, "All right." When the Earp party reached the alley between the MacDonald House and Fly's Boarding House, the Cowboys came out to meet them, so that both sides were drawn up in rough lines facing one another at extremely close range. According to Addie Bourland, a seamstress who witnessed the fight from across the street, a man who was probably Holliday stepped forward and poked a "large bronze pistol" into a cowboy's belly (which one was not identified), then took a couple of steps backward. No hands were seen to be raised by Bourland, who was questioned during the hearing about this point. Virgil Earp immediately commanded the Cowboys to "throw up your hands!" But as people began to reach for weapons and he heard hammers clicking behind him, Virgil yelled: "Hold! I don't mean that!" Almost immediately, however, general firing commenced.

The first two shots were so close together that they were almost indistinguishable. There was then a gap of a few seconds before firing became general from both sides. According to Tombstone old-timers, these shots came from Doc and Morgan.Yet Wyatt would testify that the first two shots came simultaneously as he shot Frank McLaury in the abdomen, and Billy Clanton shot at Wyatt, but missed. This claim was meant to refute the prosecutors' charge that the Earps had opened fire on the Cowboys in cold blood. Various other people would testify as to who opened the fight, with Cowboy partisans stating it was the Earp faction, and Virgil backing up Wyatt's story. Independent witnesses generally did not know the fighters by sight, and could not say for sure which side fired first. Ham Light, a business partner of Pete Spence and thus a Cowboy partisan, heard the first two shots from his room at the Aztec House across the corner from the fight, and went to the window in time to see all but the first two shots fired. According to Light, at that time Tom McLaury was already running from the fight, although other eyewitness accounts placed Tom's flight later.

Billy Clanton was hit in the right wrist as he drew his pistol, rendering that hand useless. Billy then shifted the gun to his good left hand and continued firing until he had emptied the weapon (it was finally taken empty from him by Fly, as he asked for more cartridges). At some point, a shot from behind the Earp party drew their attention, and either Tom or Frank McLaury used that instant to fire over the back of the horse behind which he had taken cover, hitting Morgan Earp in the back, who had turned to answer the shot fired from ambush.

As Tom McLaury half-turned to run from the fight and down Fremont Street, Doc Holliday emptied Virgil's shotgun into Tom's left side. Tom staggered farther down the street, where he collapsed and died at the corner of 3rd and Fremont Streets, in front of the Harwood house. He lay there during the fight. After this, Holliday tossed away the shotgun and unholstered his revolver, continuing to fire at Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton.

The firing continued with Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury wounded but still fighting with their pistols. Either Billy or Frank hit Virgil Earp in the calf. Frank was hit in the abdomen, but was still able to move, and went into the street with his horse, which he lost after firing near it. Frank and Doc squared off in the street and Frank hit Doc glancingly on the holster on the left hip; Holliday suffered only a bruise. Morgan Earp fell over a mound which was a buried waterline, but was back up and still firing, and he, Doc and Wyatt all attested to firing at Frank, who had lost his horse and was by that time on the sidewalk across Fremont street from the other fighters. Morgan and Doc each thought he had fired the killing shot, which hit Frank in the base of the skull below the ear. General firing did not end until Billy Clanton finally went down from the fatal shot to his left breast, crying out for more cartridges when relieved of his pistol by Fly, who had emerged from his house with a rifle.

Wyatt's testimony at the Spicer hearing was in writing, as was permitted by law, which allowed statements without cross-examination at pre-trial hearings. Wyatt, therefore, was not cross-examined. Wyatt testified that he and Billy Clanton began the fight after Clanton and Frank McLaury drew their guns, and Wyatt shot Frank in the stomach while Billy shot at Wyatt and missed. No witnesses confuted Wyatt's testimony that Ike Clanton had run up to him and protested that he was unarmed. To this protest Wyatt had responded, "Go to fighting or get away!" Thus, the unarmed Ike Clanton escaped the shooting unwounded, as did the allegedly unarmed Billy Claiborne. Wyatt Earp was not hit in the fight, while Doc Holliday, Virgil Earp, and Morgan Earp were hit. Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury, and Frank McLaury were killed.

Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury were openly armed with revolvers in gunbelts and holsters, but possibly, although it is not known for certain, due to their proximity to the corral believed themselves safe in being armed. Whether Tom McLaury was armed during the fight is unknown, but there is circumstantial evidence he was not. Certainly, some of the Earps believed he was, and that he had "sneaked" a shot over the horse he was hiding behind when a shot from behind the Earps distracted them. In response to this perceived threat, Doc Holliday emptied both barrels of Virgil's shotgun into Tom. However, Light saw a man shooting near his horse in the center of the street and so did another witness, after Tom had already run away from the fight and fallen, so it is possible that this shooting was Frank McLaury using his own horse or that of Billy.

The Cowboys claimed that Tom McLaury was unarmed, and indeed Tom's revolver was at a saloon half a block away, where the barkeep would later testify Tom had deposited it hours before the fight shortly after being beaten by Wyatt. But none of the Earps had any way of knowing this had happened, and the testimony does mean that Tom had been armed through the night and into the next day, and through his altercation with Wyatt. Josie Marcus (as edited by Boyer) said flatly that someone had spirited Tom's revolver away after he dropped it, probably Johnny Behan. Wyatt also believed that Tom had had a gun, and that somebody had taken it after he was shot. Josie may, in fact, simply have been repeating Wyatt's views of this part of the fight. Sheriff Behan's testimony on this point was equivocal. He stated that his own search of Tom McLaury for a weapon prior to the gunfight was not thorough, and that McLaury might have had a revolver hidden in his waistband, covered by the long blouse and vest worn over his trousers, and not tucked in.Behan's testimony was significant, since he was a prime witness for the prosecution. One would have expected him to lie outright on this point to convict the Earps. In his own testimony, Wyatt stated that he believed Tom McLaury was armed with a revolver, but his language, too, contained equivocation. The same was true of Virgil Earp's testimony. Both Earp brothers left themselves room for contradiction on this point, but neither one was equivocal about the fact that Tom had been killed by Holliday's shotgun blast, and this fact was borne out by the coroner's exam.

The Various Injuries
Wyatt's reputation as a gunfighter came from the fact that he was the only man to emerge from the gunfight unscathed, while Virgil had been shot through the right calf, Morgan through the upper back above his shoulder blades, and Holliday had been grazed on the hip.

Virgil thought he had been shot by Billy Clanton. Morgan thought he had been shot by Frank McLaury. Holliday was sure that his hip wound, late in the fight, was from Frank, and exclaimed as he crossed the street "That son of a bitch has shot me, and I am going to kill him."

Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury died from their wounds. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne ran through the middle of the fight and escaped uninjured.

Frank McLaury was shot in the abdomen near the navel, early in the fight. Wyatt Earp testified in writing at the trial to firing this shot, saying at the same time Billy Clanton had fired at him, but missed. Doc Holliday, identified later from his coat and hat, was seen by witness Bourland putting a "large bronze revolver" against one of the cowboys, then stepping back a few steps before the firing opened. This "large revolver" may have been Holliday's short shotgun, since he would not have used a revolver while carrying a shotgun. There is other evidence that since Tom McLaury was hit early in the fight, and since the coroner's evidence showed Holliday and nobody else shot Tom, this shotgun blast would have been one of the early shots in that scenario.

Tom McLaury, fatally wounded from the double barreled shotgun blast delivered by Holliday, was seen by witness C.H. Light running or stumbling westward, away from the action. This occurred after the first few shots in the fight and while shooting was still going on, and while Frank and Billy were still standing. As Tom fell, Lake's biography of Earp states that Wyatt shot Tom in the abdomen, but no such wound was found by the coroner. Tom fell at the telegraph pole at the corner of Fremont and 3rd Street. The coroner's report showed that Tom had been hit only with a dozen buckshot, high in the side of his chest near the right armpit, the pattern being so tight that the coroner could cover it with a hand. He died without speaking, a few minutes after being carried into the Harwood House, on the corner. Light testified that Tom, who was already running when Light began observing, fell and lay at the corner during the entire fight, and did no shooting.

Frank McLaury stumbled into the street trying to recover his rifle from his horse, and firing his revolver, only to lose the frightened horse before he could withdraw the rifle from its scabbard. A number of witnesses observed a horseman leading a horse into the street and firing near it, but Wyatt thought this was Tom McLaury. Frank crossed the street (Fremont) and fired twice more before he was felled at the end of the fight by a revolver bullet hitting him at the base of his skull under his right ear. This shot was fired by Morgan Earp, or by Holliday, both of whom were firing at him at the time. The newspaper account mentions a mortal chest wound to Frank, which would have had to have come at the end of the fight, and which would have meant that both Holliday and Morgan fired final fatal shots. However, the coroner's report, made after careful examination of the stripped bodies of all the dead men before they were delivered to the undertaker, did not find any chest wound in Frank, so this is probably a false report. In any case, Frank died where he fell, on the sidewalk on the opposite side of Fremont street from the vacant lot. A passerby stopped to help and observed him move his mouth, but he died before he could be moved.

Billy Clanton had been shot through the wrist at the outset of the fight, in the right chest through the right lung, superficially at the right arm, and in the abdomen under the twelfth rib. He fell near his original position, near the corner of the MacDonald house, in the alley-way between the house and Fly's Lodging House and photographic studio, where the Cowboys had gathered. There, Clanton's empty revolver was taken from him by Camillus "Buck" Sidney Fly, who had emerged from his house with a rifle, at the sound of the shots. Billy died last, having put up the greatest fight from the Cowboy side. He was carried to the Harwood house where Tom had also been taken. It probably didn't make sense to the onlookers to take both men to different adjacent houses, and the Harwood house, on the corner closest to Tom McLaury, and next to the McDonald house, was chosen for both. Billy lived long enough to be seen by a doctor and be injected with morphine. He spoke a few words, saying he'd been murdered, and indicating he couldn't breathe (shortness of breath following a penetrating chest wound is a classic finding of a pneumothoracic perforation).

How the fighters may have been armed
No revolver was found on Tom after the fight, by any witness. As noted, Tom's usual revolver remained unclaimed during the fight at the bar at the Capitol Saloon, on 4th Street and Fremont less than a block east of the gunfight. This revolver was exhibited and identified by the barkeep and by Ike Clanton as being Tom's revolver, at the Spicer Hearing. Wyatt Earp, to the end of his life, would believe that the revolver Tom had used in the gunfight had been removed from the scene by a Cowboy confederate. At least two witnesses thought Tom had obtained a revolver in a butcher shop on Allen street just before the fight, for he was seen leaving the shop with a newly-bulging pants pocket. However, he would have had to walk past the very saloon where his own revolver had just been deposited and was stored, to have carried this second revolver to the fight. The bulge in Tom's pants pocket noted by witnesses before the fight may have been the nearly $3000 in cash and receipts found on his body (he had probably actually picked up these at the butcher's shop immediately before the fight, as it makes little sense that he'd spent all night carrying around this much cash).

Even if Tom wasn't armed with a revolver the question remains about whether or not he tried to get a rifle. Virgil Earp testified Tom attempted to grab a rifle from a horse (this would have been Frank or Billy's horse) before he was killed. Wyatt thought Tom fired a revolver over "his" horse (actually it would have had to be Billy's horse, because Frank had his own and Tom had none). It's very possible Virgil was mistaken about which McLaury brother used his horse in the fight, as Wes Fuller saw Frank in the middle of the street shooting with a revolver, and attempting to get a Winchester from his own horse, and failing (the very action attributed to Tom). However, Wes Fuller was a member of the Cowboy Gang, and could have said that to make the Earps appear as murderers.

Billy's revolver was taken from him empty by C.S. Fly, who emerged from his boarding house at the end of the fight to disarm Billy.

Frank's revolver, with two unfired rounds remaining in it, was recovered on the street a few feet away from Frank by a bystander, and placed next to Frank's body as it lay on the sidewalk. Frank's revolver was then taken by the coroner, Dr. H.M. Mathews, and laid on the floor of the Harwood house while he examined Billy and Tom (this would cause some confusion later, but both Billy and Frank's weapons would later be positively identified as their own, by witnesses). Both Frank and Billy were armed with Colt Frontier Six-Shooter model revolver (identified by their serial numbers at the hearing later) and presumably their Winchester rifles were Model 1873 weapons to match this .44-40 cartridge. What weapons the other participants of the fight were carrying cannot be ascertained from primary documentation, and remains an open question.

The two saddled horses of Billy and Frank escaped from the fight and were later caught a few hundred feet up the street, both with Winchester rifles still in place in their scabbards.
 

Aftermath
The Earps and Holliday were generally considered heroes. The funerals for Clanton and the McLaurys (who were relatively wealthy men) were the largest ever seen in Tombstone. The fear of the Cowboys caused many Tombstone residents and businesses to reconsider their calls for the mass killing of Cowboys. Also, Billy Clanton was fairly popular around town, and although rowdy, the Cowboys brought substantial business into Tombstone.

Also, the fear of Cowboy retribution and the potential loss of investors because of the negative publicity in large cities like San Francisco started to turn the opinion somewhat against the Earps and Holliday. Stories that Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury were unarmed, and that Billy Clanton and Tom McLaury even threw up their hands before the shooting, now began to make the rounds. Soon, another Clanton brother (Phineas "Fin" Clanton) had arrived in town, and some began to claim that the Earps and Holliday had committed murder, instead of enforcing the law.

The Spicer Hearing
After the gunfight, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday (the two men not formally employed as law officers, and also the two least wounded) were charged with murder. After extensive testimony at the preliminary hearing to decide if there was enough evidence to bind the men over for trial, the presiding Justice of the Peace Wells Spicer ruled that there was not enough evidence to indict the men. Two weeks later, a grand jury followed Spicer's finding, and also refused to indict. Spicer, in his ruling, criticized City Marshal Virgil Earp for using Wyatt and Doc as backup temporary deputies, but not for using Morgan, who had already been wearing a City Marshal badge for nine days. However, it was noted that if Wyatt and Holliday had not backed up marshal Earp, then he would have faced even more overwhelming odds than he had, and could not possibly have survived.

The participants in later history

A few weeks following the grand jury refusal to indict, Virgil Earp was shot by hidden assailants from an unused building at night - a wound causing him complete loss of the use of his left arm. Three months later Morgan Earp was murdered by a shot in the back in Tombstone by men shooting from a dark alley

After these incidents, Wyatt, accompanied by Doc Holliday and several other friends, undertook what has later been called the Earp vendetta ride in which they tracked down and killed the men whom they believed had been responsible for these acts. After the vendetta ride, Wyatt and Doc left the Arizona Territory in April, 1882 and parted company, although they remained in contact.

Billy Claiborne was killed in a gunfight in Tombstone in late 1882, by gunman Franklin Leslie.

Ike Clanton was caught cattle rustling in 1887, and shot dead by lawmen while resisting arrest.

Later in 1887, just over six years from the time of the O.K. fight, Doc Holliday died of tuberculosis in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, aged 36.

Virgil Earp served as the "Town Marshall", hired by the Southern Pacific RR, in Colton, California. He lived without the use of his arm, although continued as a lawman in California, and died of pneumonia at age 62 in 1905, still on the job as a peace officer.

Johnny Behan failed even to be re-nominated by his own party for the sheriff race in 1882, and never again worked as a lawman, spending the rest of his life at various government jobs, dying in Tucson of natural causes at age 67 in 1912.

Wyatt Earp, the last survivor of the fight, traveled across the western frontier for decades in the company of Josephine Marcus, working mostly as a gambler, and eventually died in Los Angeles of infection, in 1929, at the age of 80.


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Sworn Statements by Witnesses

Testimony of J.H. Behan - circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
John H. Behan, Sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona Territory in 1881, testifies he was present on Fremont Street during the gunfight in which William Clanton, Tom McLowery and Frank McLowery were killed. Behan says he attempted to disarm both the Clanton/McLowery and Earp/Holliday groups, and recounts his version of the subsequent action. He mentions: Hafford’s corner, Ike Clanton, Marshal Virgil Earp, Clanton brothers, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, 25-30 shots, William Claiborn, nickel-plated pistol, shotgun, Fly’s Photograph Gallery, vacant space, little board house, horses, coat lapels, and "old man" Frink.

Testimony of R.F. Coleman - circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
R.F. Coleman, mining man, testifies he "saw the trouble that occurred on Oct. 26, 1881." Coleman says he watched Marshal Virgil Earp arrest Ike Clanton, and then recounts his version of the subsequent action. He mentions: Smith’s old store, Billy Clanton, Dunbar’s Corral, OK Corral on Allen Street, J. Doling, Frank McLowery, West End Corral, Fremont Street, saloon on Allen Street, Billy Allen, Fly’s Gallery, Johnny Behan, Tom McLowery, William Claiborn, Bauer’s Meat Market, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, Doc Holliday, barber shop, Mr. Fly, revolver, two shots, the Epitaph, and Winchester rifle.

Testimony of Joseph I. Clanton - circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
Joseph I. "Ike" Clanton, cattle dealer, testifies he was in Tombstone Oct. 26, 1881 and was the brother of William Clanton, who was killed. Clanton describes encounters with Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers before the gun battle, and then recounts his version of the subsequent action. He mentions: Occidential lunch room, poker, pistols, Winchester, six-shooter, William Clanton, Dexter Corral, McLowery brothers, coats, Occidental saloon, threats, shotgun, horse, Major Frink, Antelope Springs, and nickel-plated pistol.

Testimony of W.C. Claiborn - circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
William "Billy" C. Claiborn, New York Mining Co. driver and Hereford resident, testifies he was present when "the shooting commenced between certain parties" on Oct. 26, 1881. Claiborn describes his time with the Clantons and McLowerys before the gun fight, and then recounts his version of the subsequent action. He mentions: Mr. Behan, Dr. Gillingham, Fourth Street, Johnny Behan’s stable/corral, OK Corral, horses, Morgan Earp, Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, coat lapels, photograph gallery, coroner’s jury, undertaker, coroner, vacant place, pistols, two shots, nickel-plated six-shooter, Kellogg’s saloon, 28-30 shots, and William A. Cuddy.

Testimony of P.H. Fallehy - 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
P.H. Fallehy, laundry man, testifies he was in Tombstone on Oct. 26, 1881. Fallehy describes his perambulations about town, and then recounts his version of the OK Corral gun fight. He mentions: the corner of Fremont and Fourth streets, Fourth Street gun shop, Ike Clanton, Allen Street, double-barreled shotgun, Marshal Virgil Earp, Jack Doling’s Saloon, Thomas Keibs’ Saloon, Hafford’s Saloon, Smith's store, Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, Summerfield’s Store, horses, and revolvers.

Testimony of C.H. Light - circa 1960's court clerk transcript.
C.H. Light, miner, testifies he witnessed "a portion of the shooting affray" on Oct. 26, 1881. Light was in a barber shop and so recounts his version of what he saw out the building window. He mentions: the Earps and the cowboys, Fremont and Third streets, two shots, Fly’s Photograph Gallery, and horses.

Testimony of M.A. Smith - 1881 handwritten transcript.
M.A. Smith, lawyer, was excused by the coroner.

Testimony of W.A. Cuddy - 1881 handwritten transcript.
W.A. Cuddy, theatrical manager, describes what he saw while walking on Allen Street on Oct. 26, 1881, and then recounts his version of the gun battle. He mentions: Mr. Dillion of Dillon & Kenneally, Mr. Page, cowboys, Sheriff Behan, four farmers, William Clanton, Ike Clanton, Allen and Third streets, Mexican dance house, back door of the little house next to Fly’s, horses, and Mr. Comstock.

Testimony of Mrs. M.J. King - circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
Martha J. King, housekeeper, was in Bauer’s Meat Market, and recounts her version of the shooting. She mentions: Earp boys and cowboys, horses, Mr. Holliday, long coat, and gun under coat.

TERRITORY OF ARIZONA COUNTY OF COCHISE
In the Matter of Inquest on the boddies of Wm. Clanton, T. McLowery and F. McLowery.

List of Jurors: T. F. Hudson, Jno. C. Davis, D. Calisher, Thos. Moses, M. Garrett, Harry Walker, S. B. Comstook, C. D. Reppy, J. W. Connell, R. F. Hafford, M. S. Goodrich, George H. Haskill

TERRITORY OF ARIZONA, COUNTY OF COCHISE
Joseph I Clanton being duly sworn deposes and says that his name is Joseph I Clanton and that his occupation is that of a cattle dealer - and that he resides in Cochise County A.T.
I was present in Tombstone on Oct. 26th, '81. I am a brother of Wm. Clanton who was killed on that day I saw the whole transaction

Statement -
The night before the shooting I went into the Occidental lunch room for a lunch and while in there Doc Holliday came in and commenced abusing me - he had his hand on his pistol and called me a da-d son of a b-h and told me to get my gun out - I told him that I did not have any gun - I looked around I saw Morg Earp sitting in the bar behind me with his hand on his gun - Doc Holliday kept on abusing me - I then went out of the door.

Virg Earp Wyatt and Morg were all out there - Morg Earp told me if I wanted a fight to turn myself loose - they all had their hands on their pistols - While they were talking to me - I told them again I was not armed - Doc Holiday said you son of a bitch go and arm yourself then I did go off and heal myself - I cam back and played poker with Virg Earp, Tom McLowery and other parties until day light Virg Earp played poker with his pistol in his lap all the time - At day light he got up and quit the game - We were playing in the Occidental - I followed Birg out when he quit - I told him I was abused the night before and that I was in town that morning - Then he told me that he was going to bed - The reason I followed him out because I saw him take his pistol off his lap and stick it into his pants-when he left the game I came back and cashed in my chips and stayed around town until about 8 o'clock - I then went and got my Winchester expecting to meet Doc Holliday on the street but never saw him until Virg and Morgan Earp slipped up behind me and knocked me down with a six shooter - Shortly afterwards I met my brother William he asked me to go out of town - I just about that time met the Correll man where my team was - I asked him to harness up the team - We then went to the Dexter Correll in company with the McLowery brothers to get something my brother had left there - We went direct from there to the correll where my team was - we met the Sheriff there he told us that he would have to arrest us and take our arms off I told him that we were just going to leave town and that I had not arms on - He then searched my waist - he then told Billy my brother and Frank McLowery to take their arms up to his office - William told him that were are just leaving town - the Sheriff told Tom and Frank McLowery to take their arms off - Tom opened his coat and showed him and said Johnny I have no arms on - Frank McLowery said he would leave town and keep his arms unless the Sheriff disarmed the Earps - He said that if he would disarm them he would lay his off as he had business to attend to in town which he would like to attend to before he left - Just at that time I saw Doc Holliday and 3 of the Earps coming down the sidewalk - The Sheriff steped forward to meet them and told them that he had these parties in charge and to stop that he did not want any trouble - they walked right on by the Sheriff - I stepped 2 or 3 steps from the crowd and met Wyatt Earp right at the corner of the building - He stuck his six shooter at me and said throw up your hands. The Marshall also told the other boys to throw their hands up - Frank McLowery and Wm. Clanton threw their hands up Tom McLowery opened his coat and said that he had no arms - they said you sons of bitches you ought to make a fight - At the same instant Doc Holliday and Morg Earp shot - Morg shot Billy Clanton and I don't know which of the other boys that Doc Holliday shot - I saw Virg shooting at the same time - I grabbed Wyatt Earp and pushed him around the corner of the house and jumped into the Galery - As I jumped I saw Wm. Clanton falling - I ran through the Galery and got away - Billy Clanton Frank McLowery and myself threw up out ahnds at the order from the Earp party and Tom McLowery threw his coat open and said I have got no arms - Doc Holliday came into the Occidental saloon and said I had been using his name - I said I had not - I never had any previous trouble with the Earps they don't like me - We had a transaction I mean myself and the Earps bit it had nothing to do with the killing of these 3 men - Their was no threats made by the McLowery boys and Billy Clanton against the Earp boys that day - not that I know of - They had ordered heal myself and I told them I would be their - Doc Holliday met Billy Clanton about 20 minutes before and shook hands with him and told him he was pleased to meet him. Frank McLowery and Billy Clanton had been in town about a 1/2 hour before the shooting. The only threats I made was as I have before stated - I might have made other threats but don't remember - However I made no worse threats against them then they did against me - I did not expect any trouble from Wyatt Earp but I did from Virg and Morg Earp and Doc Holliday - The boys expected no attack until the some body told them just before they were leaving town - I did not have any arms on me when the Earp party came down and ordered us to throw up our hands - Virg Earp had my arms a winchester and six shooter. I had not seen Frank McLowery and Billy Clanton for two days before the shooting - I then saw them on the ranch - I never had a conversation with the McLowery boys and Billy Clanton as to making a fight in my life - I don't know whether any of the Earp party had a shot gun - When the firing commenced Virg Earp and Doc Holliday were about 6 ft from the McLowery boys and Morg Earp's pistol was about 3 or 4 ft from Billy Clanton when he commenced firing. Wm Claiborn was their at this time. I did not see my brother or either of the McLowerys fire a shot - I think their was 4 or 5 shots fired before I left - When the Sheriff and I were talking Billy Clanton and Claiborn were standing of at Billy Clanton's horse talking - Tom McLowery and Frank were standing about 5 or 6 ft to the left of me and the Sheriff - Frank McLowery and Billy Clanton were not sent for that day they came in form Antelope Springs at the request of Major Frink so I have been told by parties by parties who were out there when they started in - I don't know how near Claiborn was to me when the firing commenced - I do not know what kind of pistol it was that Doc Holliday fired - One of them Virg Morg or Doc Holliday had a nickle plated pistol - I don't know which one had it - they all had there arms in their hands when they passed me after Behan told the party to give up their arms I did not consider myself under arrest because I was going out of town - Mr. Behan had this last conversation with Frank McLowery before he started up the street - I do not know exactly what was said between them - I do know where the Sheriffs office is - We could not have reached the Sheriffs office from where we were before the Earp party arrived - The Sheriff saw the Earp party before we did and told us to stay where we were - that saw the last words the Sheriff said to us - After the Sheriff left us I would not have stayed their if I had not recieved those orders from the Sheriff - Behan was there 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 minutes just long enough to say what I have before stated.
/s/ J. I Clanton

TERRITORY OF ARIZONA COUNTY OF COCHISE
W. C. Caliborn being duly sworn deposes and says that his name is W. C. Caliborn and that he resides at Hereford, Cochise County A.T. His business is a driver in the employ of a New York M Co.
A. I was present on the afternoon of Oct. 26th, '81 when the shooting commenced between certain parties.
A. I am acquainted with the parties engaged in that affair.
A. There was Frank and Tom McLowery and Ike and Billy Clanton on' one side and the Earp boys and Doc Holliday, Morgan Earp and two other brothers I do not know their names on the other side.
A. I was present at the time that the shooting took place
A. I was standing there with Mr. Behan and the McLowery's and Clantons
A. I was there when Behan came up
A. I was talking to Billy Clanton when he came up

Statement:
The day that this thing happened I went down with Ike Clanton to Doctor Gillingham's office to assist him to assist him in getting his head dressed and then I walked up 4th street and met Billy Clanton and Frank McLowery and Billy asked me where was Ike - He said I want to get him to go out home - He said I did not come here to fight any one and no one didn't want to fight me - then he asked me to go down to Johnny Behan's stable with him and we went down to Johnny Behan's correl and got Billy Clantons horse and went through the OK Correl - Billy Clanton said he wanted to go to some other correll to get his brothers horse. and then we got down where the McLowery boys and Ike Clanton and he told his brother Ike that he wanted him to go and get his horse and come home to the ranch and his brother told him that he would go directly - and then Mr. Behan the Sheriff came up and was talking to the boys I did not hear what he said to them - I was talking to Billy and Behan was talking to Ike Clanton Frank and Tom McLowery - And then shortly afterwards Mr. Behan turned his back and walked up the street and the next thing I saw was Morgan Earp his two brothers and Doc Holliday and Doc Holliday and Marshall Earp said you sons of bitches you have been looking for a fight and now you can get it, they both said the same thing and at the same time and Marshal Eap said throw up your hands which Billy Clanton Ike Clanton and Frank McLowery did and Tom McLowery took hold of the lappels of his coat threw it open and said I have not got anything - at that instant the shooting commenced by Doc Holliday and Morgan Earp - The first shot was fired taking Tom McLowery was fired by Doc Holiday and the next one was fired by Morgan Earp taking Billy Clanton and Billy Clanton was shot with his hand up in this possition showing his hands raised in front and to one side - he so Billy clanton said don't shoot me I don't want to fight he said this after the shot was fierd and that was the last I saw of Billy Clanton alive until after Mr. Behan put me in the photograph gallery out of the way. O he said stay there until I get back I stayed there 5 or ten minutes that was all I saw except I saw the bodies afterwards - I saw the bodies in the presence of the coroners jury at the house wehre they were taken to by the undertaker - I recognized the bodies as the bodies of Tom McLowery Frank McLowery and Billy Clanton - I Knew them well in their lifetime have known them about four years - I was sworn that night by the coroner - and the statement I made to the jury at that time was made under oath -

This is all I know - While I was standing talking to the Clantons and Frank McLowery in the presence of Mr. Behan - Ike Clanton and Tom and Frank McLowery were standing on the sidewalk below the photograph galery about 10 feet facing up the street - I thinbk one of the McLowery boys had a horse holding it and Billy and I. was standing int he vacant place about half away between the front and back end of that building leaning up against the building me and Billy were about four 4 feet a little more or less from the others - Idon't know whether Billy heard the conversation on the part of the Sheriff or not - Billy was talking with me there about 15 minutes while the Sheriff was there and Billy left me after the Sheriff went away in about 2 or 3 minutes and joined the other boys - When the Earp party came up they had their pistols int heir hands. I saw Billy Clanton draw his pistol after he was shot down - I saw also Frank McLowery draw his pistol after about 6 shots had been fired by the Earps - I am positive that the first two shots took effect as I have before stated - McLowery staggered backwards after the first shot - that was Tom McLowery - I did not see him fall - Tom McLowery did not have a weapon of any kind - I think their was about 16 shots fired before I went to the photograph galery I was kind of at one end in a vacant place - I was struck with a bullet through the pants leg - Ike Clanton got away from their after th first 7 or 8 shots I did not see what Ike Clanton done before he got away - I think that the Sheriff was their about 20 minutes - Behan asked if I was one of the party I told no I was not - The distance between the two parties when they first commenced firing I think was about 4 feet - Doc Holliday fired the first shot with a nickleplated six shooter - Billy Clanton did not exactly fall at the first shot, but staggered just laid back but I think that he got up afterwards - I was not armed that day - I came into to town the day before the shooting and left my arms at Kellogg's saloon - I think that I saw the Sheriff when he met the Earp party coming down - I judge it was about twenty feet from the other party where the Sheriff met the Earp party - I did not see a shot gun in the fight. Ike Clanton threw up his hands at first - when the first two shots were fired by Morgan Earp and Holliday. the other two Earps were I think behind them or close to the side of them - I did not see the Sheriff at that time I don't remember of seeing him after he went up to meet the Earp boys - Behan put me in the house after the killing - I think that their was a couple of shots fired after I got into the house - I think that there was 28 or 30 fired - I think there was 16 or 17 fired before I was put into the house - as I was standing there talking to the Clanton boys they were talking about going home and were not talking about fighting - I think that it was while Behan was there - I saw the other two Earp brothers fire a shot - I think that Billy Clanton wasin town about a half an hour before the shooting - Frank came in with Billy so I understood - I do not know how long Tom McLowery had been in - I can not exactly tell when the other two Earps commenced to shoot - I don't remember how many shots had been fired before they commenced to fire - I know that the other two Earps commenced firing before Billy Clanton and Frank McLowery commenced firing. I think I saw Wm A. Cuddy pass by while I was standing in a vacant place - I was not talking to any body.
/s/ Willie Claborn

TERRITORY OF ARIZONA COUNTY OF COCHISE
P. H. Fallehy being duly sworn deposes and says that his name is P. H. Fallehy and that his occupation is that of a laundry man.
I was in Tombstone on the afternoon of Oct. 26th, 81

Statement:
On the afternoon of Oct. 26th, '81 I left my home at 2:00 o'clock P.M. came down to Fremont st. to 4th with the intention of going to the P.O. When I Got to the corner of 4th and Fremont St. I saw a crowd of people on 4th st. . near the gun shop I looked in and I saw Ike Clanton with his hand under his jaw kneeling on the counter. I made inquiry of a stranger there I don't know the strangers name I asked him what the trouble was and he told me he did not know. I went up towards Allen St. I see the Marshall in the doorway of a vacant store with a double barreled shotgun he had the shot gun in his left hand and passing up the street I saw Ike Clanton passing by where the Marshall was standing Ike Clanton took no notice of the Marshall when he passed. Some stranger asked Ike Clanton what Is the trouble, he says I don't think that their will be any trouble and he kept on walking and went to Jack Dolings saloon. I then myself went over to Thomas Kied's saloon . I stood then and looked over to Haffords saloon and saw the Marshall in the doorway still having the shot gun in his hand. A stranger standing near me says their go to the Sheriff he was going towards the Marshall I followed him right after he went over and brushed through the crowd to where the Marshall and the Sheriff were talking . The Sheriff says what is the trouble the Marshall Virgil Earp and those men have made their threats I will not arrest them but I will kill them on sight. The Sheriff asked the Marshall in to take a drink in to Hafford's saloon. I did not see them after they went into the saloon as I crossed over the street to the other side of the street to Smiths store . When I got over their I saw one of the Earp brothers I don't know his name but I think he Is the youngest of them . talking with Doc Holliday . I looked across the street I saw the Marshall again some man came up to them and called him aside and walked 40 ft from the corner on 4th st. . When this gentleman got through talking to Marshall Earp his 2 brothers with Doc Holliday all went down 4th st. together . I kept on the east side of 4th st. and followed them down 4th St. . when I got to the comer of Fremont and 4th St. I started to go directly across the street to the north west corner or to Summerfield's Store . When I got midway between the Sts. I see the firing had commenced . I kept my eye on the 4 men going down the street I mean the Earps and Holliday . After the shooting commenced I see Doc Holliday in the middle of the street and the youngest of the Earp brothers was I Judge 3 feet from the sidewalk . the younger one of the Earps was firing at a man behind the horse . Holliday was also firing at the same man behind the horse and firing at a man who had run by him to the opposite side of the street . then I see the man who had the horse let go of the rein of the bridle and kept staggering all the time until he fell on his back near a house, he still held his pistol In this hand but I did not see it go off after he had fell. I never see the two elder brothers of the Earp's as I did not know where they were situated I then went to the young man who was lying on the sidewalk and offered to pick him up, he never spoke his lips only moved. I picked up a revolver that was lying 5 ft from him and laid It at his side. This was the man that lay on the north side of Fremont st. Just then a good crowd gathered around . I got outside the crowed I saw Doc Holliday running towards where the same young man was lying still having a revolver in his hand making a remark the son of a bitch has got me and I mean to kill him . I did not see the shot gun after they walked down 4th st. I only saw the shot gun in the hands of Virgil Earp . I was to far away to see if any of the men had their hands up I do now know which party fired the first shot . I was to far away to hear any conversation . between the two parties .
/s/ P. H. Fallehy

TERRITORY OF ARIZONA COUNTY OF COCHISE
M.A. Smith being duly sworn deposes and says that his name is M. A. Smith and that his business is a Lawyer - Mr Smith was excued by the Coroner - 

TERRITORY OF ARIZONA COUNTY OF COCHISE
W. A. Cuddy being duly sworn deposes and says that his name is William A. Cuddy and the he resides in Tombstone Cochise County A.T. and that his business is that of a Theatrical Manager

Statement.
I was standing at the Post Office when Mr. Dillon of the firm of Dillon & Kinneally - informed me that their was some trouble between the Earps and other men which he termed cow boys when Mr. Page told me that the Cow Boys were down at Fly's galery I walked down as far as Flys house and there I saw sheriff Behan and four farmers as I approached one of them Mr. Wm Clanton put his hand on his pistol as if in fear of somebody then he recognizedme he removed his hand Sheriff Behan's back was towards me I then hear Mr. Behan say I wont have no fighting you must give me your fire arms or leave town immediately Ike Clanton answered they will have no trouble with us Johnny we are going to leave town now I then addressed Mr. Behan good day Johnny and he answered good day sir I passed on through the lots towards Allen Street crossed over a fence corner of Allen and 3d - walked quickly up Allen St. and got abut opposite the Mexican dance house and the shooting began I looked towards were I had left the Sheriff and the party of 4 men and I seen Ike Clanton exit through the back door of the little house next to Flys in a minute or half he passed me on Allen Street and run across into the dance house
I began calling out the sheriff is killed
I then went back and saw the dead bodies -
I did not know anyone beside the sheriff and the Clantons - One of the man had a horse there and appeared to be about mounting - They were standing against the little house about 4 foot back from the sidewalk The Sheriff said to Wyatt Earp I will have to arrest you Mr. Earp replied no one could arrest me now Mr Comstock said their is no hurry in arresting this man he done just right in killing them and the peopel will uphold them and then Wyatt Earp said you bet we did right we had to do it and you threw us Johnny you told us they were disarmed - I then left the scene of action - Mr. Behan then denied that he said that they were disarmed Behan said something in explanation and I walked away I heard Behan say that he was not afraid to arrest Earp if he wanted to but he did not want to just them - Earp said as soon as the excitement is over I am willing to be arrested -

To my knowledge there were but two men present beside the sheriff and the 2 Clanton boys - Their might have been more but I do not remember seeing them it wasnot more than 5 or less than 3 minutes before the firing commenced. - Billy Clanton was standing in the group with the party - I left the sheriff standing with the party the last I saw -

At the time I saw them Billy Clanton was not standing talking to a 5th party I passed quickly by - Billy Clanton and one of the other two had a cartrage Belt on and were armed and the others I could not see whether they were armed or not but I think not. -

Mr. Claiborn was called the witness says that he cannot identify him as having been their something runs through my mind as having seen him somewhere in connection with this affair - that place is the only place were I seen any of the parties in connection with this affair with the exception of dead bodies Wyatt Earp and Sheriff Behan which was after the shooting -
s/ WILLIAM A. CUDDY

TERRITORY OF ARIZONA COUNTY OF COCHISE
C. H. Light being duly sworn deposes and says that his name is C. H. Light and that he resides in Tombstone, Cochise County, A.T. and that his busines is mining.

I was in Tombstone on the afternoon Oct. 26, '81 - I was a witness of a portion of the shooting affray which took place here between Doc Holliday and the Earp boys and the Clanton and McLowery boys - I only know Ike Clanton - I know the Earps and Holliday - have known Holliday since the shooting have no personal acquainance with him - I have since saw doc Holliday and I know he was one of the party

Statement
On the afternoon of the shooting I was in the barber shop getting shaved this was before the shooting - The barber told me that their was likely to be trouble between the Earps and the cowboys he said the Earps had just passed down the street with their guns - I passed from their down to my house on the corner of Fremont Street and 3d and I was in their when the shooting commenced - I heard two shots as quick as you could count 1, 2 - I jumped to the side window on Third St. looking up Fremont St. I saw several men in the act of shooting - At that instant I saw a man reel and fall on the corner of Fremont and 3d sts. on the south side right directly on the corner of the house - I do not know who that man was - I looked up the street again I saw three men standing at an angle about 10 or 15 ft apart about the center of the street facing Flys photograph galery a man with a horse stood between them between the men in the street and a vacant lot below Flys Galery and the house below - I then saw another man standing leaning against a building joining the vacant lot - Their appeared to be two men firing at the man standing beside the horse that man appeared to be struck from the motions that he made - then he fired one shot at the lower man at the northwesterly man which I afterwards understood was Holliday - That shot appeared to take effect which was fired by the man with the horse for the other man turned partially around - I then looked at the man against the house expecting every moment to see some of them fall and he was in the act of slidikng down on the ground apparently wounded. At that instant the horse vanished I do not know where he went to - this lower man was firing apparently up the street he fired one or two shots - I then saw the man who slid down the side of the house lying down with his head and shoulders lying against the house place his pistol on his leg and fire two shots - he tried to fire a 3d shot but he was apparently to weak the shot went into the air - at this same time their was a tall man with grey clothes and braod hat standing about the middle of the street fired two shots apparently in the direction of the man who had been leaning against the house - then their appeared to be one party in the middle of the street firing down the street - this man who laid on the ground near the corner of the house never fired but 3 shots he appeared to be disabled - then there was a few more shots fired by parties on the north side of the street the parties on the north side of the street has passed from my view and I was not able to see them my view was obsc. The next thing I observed was two men staning beside the man that slid down on the south side of street near the corner of the building. A tall man dressed in black appeared on the scene with a riffle in his hand and said take that pistol away from that man, meaning the man who was wounded or he would kill him - at this time the shooting was all over and I do not think the whole of it occupied over 10 -15 seconds -

The tall man dressed in black was not a participant in the affray - their seemed to be sic parties firing - four in the middle of the street and one on the south side of the street and the one with the horse - afterwards I recognized the man with the grey clothes to be Doc Holliday - I think their was about 25 or 30 shots fired all together - I did not see any of the parties have a shot gun - The fight occured about 130 or 140 feet away from where I was. I think from the report that the first two were pistol shots - I think that their was one report form a shot gun - I saw the man who fell at the corner of the street lying there all the time of the fight - I did not see him shoot he seemed to me to be the first man shot - their was not time enought for a man to draw a pistol to fire a shot between the first two shots - they must have been from two pistols - the man who fired the second shot musht have been prepared to fire when the 1st shot was fired - these two shots I heard were fired before I went to the window but it did not take me but a second to get there.
/s/ C. H. Light

TERRITORY OF ARIZONA COUNTY OF COCHISE
Mrs. M. J. King being duly sworn deposes and says that her name is Martha J. King and the she resides in the City of Tombstone County of Cochise A.T. and that her occupation is house Keeping -

Statement -
I was coming from my home to Baurs meat market to get some meat for dinner I saw quite a number of men standing in a group together on the sidewalk by the door of the market and I passed on into the shop and to get what I went for and the parties in the shop where exciteded and did not seem to want to wait upon me I inquired what was the matter and they said there was about to be a fuss between the Earp boys and the cow boys. I was standing back at the time they said this but after they said it I stepped to the door of the market and I heard some talking but did not understand at first what they said - then this party seemed to seperate and this man who was standing with the horse he was in the act of leading his horse when he turned to the toher man who was talking to him and looked up at the mana nd said if you wish to find us you will find us just below here. That is all I saw at that time the tall man who was talking to the man with the horse walked up towards the P.O. and the man with the horse went down street then I stepped back into the shop again the butcher was inthe act of cutting the meat when some one at the door said there they come - and I stepped to the door and looked up the side walk and I saw 4 men comign down the side walk. I only knew one of the party and that was Mr. Holliday and there was 3 other gentleman who some one told me were the Earps - Mr. Holliday was next to the buildings on the inside he had a gun under his coat he had on a long coat - the way I noticed the gun was that his coat would blow open and he tried to keep it covered - I stood in the door until these gentleman passed and until they got to the second door and what frightened me and made me run back I heard this man on outside looked at Holliday and I heard him say let them have it and Doc Holliday said al right then I thought that I would run and run towards the back of the shop but before I reached the middle of the shop I heard shots I dont know how many -

I dont know who said give it to them I can not describe the party it was one of them that was with Holliday -

s/ M. J. King

[Transcribed with the help of Linda Rodriguez]
 

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