...but sometimes you ask silly questions to get me going again so will entertain you once again.
I don't know how much roping you do with your gun strapped to your right hip but I am assuming that, like most cowboys, you probably throw a loop with your right hand. But you can get into a lot of trouble that way if that loop catches on the pistol handle sticking out from your right side. Flipping that gun out of the holster in this manner and having it hit the ground and accidentally shoot a steer, cowboy, or worse, the camp cook could really cost you your job that Fall round-up, as well as tarnish your reputation.
As Billy Clanton was more a working cowboy than anything else, and had been out for several weeks helping collect and brand hundreds of cattle just before coming into town, I am again assuming that he would not be wearing his gun on his right side when suddenly asked to head into town right after an early morning breakfast. Likely both he and Frank wore cross draws for a thirty mile ride as it is more comfortable on a long sit.
We don't know about Frank's gun as no witness mentioned which side he wore it on. But Coleman described Billy, after two shots were already fired, one being the shot that smashed his right wrist rendering it painfully useless, as attempting to retrieve his gun from his LEFT hip with his LEFT hand, no easy task with his lungs and guts shot out as well.
I could go on but don't see the need. At some point one needs to apply some logic and reason. Billy could not use his right hand, the witness specified him drawing from the left side of his body.
Joyce, you write:"But Coleman described Billy, after two shots were already fired, one being the shot that smashed his right wrist rendering it painfully useless, as attempting to retrieve his gun from... more
"Following the shootout near the OK Corral, he [George Goodfellow] tended wounded members of both factions. Before 19-year old Billy Clanton died with six bullets in him, Doc removed his boots." "Following... more
Michael, I've seen these quotes before, but I'm not aware of Goodfellow being mention in any of the documents or testimony connected to the coroner's jury or Spicer hearing. Coroner H. M. Matthews testified... more
Of course! ... stupid me ... it's all too much for my poor eyes ... him, Fuller and that darned Smith & Wesson ... both of them had a nose round and yet were strangely only interrogated over the wrist... more
...The wrist wound was important as a deciding factor as it would also be the broken arm. The damage would have been extensive. Billy was pretty well riddled before he slid down the wall. Virgil and Morgan... more
Joyce, you write: "The implication that Fuller was hung-over was necessary because Fuller's testimony was damaging. Two witnesses were questioned in that way, I think the other was Claibourne. Interestingly,... more
Thinking, theory, possible ideas, maybe's! Glad to see you are on top of it once again. But what about some evidence; even in the case of witness testimony? We do have this absolutely Damning statement... more
And the best to you in the future, Joyce ... I've posited a couple of times on here that the only reason Wyatt said he shot anyone is to cover for the others [brothers and friends] without badges ... I... more
"I do not think that Billy Clanton was hit before he commenced firing" Bob ... despite Joyce's exhortations, I've never joined in any of the endless discussions regarding the contradictions contained... more
Was not your original question asking why I was under the impression Billy was wearing a cross-draw rigging? Hatch and Coleman both refer to Billy attempting to get a gun out of the scabbard on his LEFT... more
Joyce, you write, "Was not your original question asking why I was under the impression Billy was wearing a cross-draw rigging?" I asked my original question because after reading your section in VANTAGE... more
It is clear that in making comments to the newspaper or even in testimony, one or two people made assumptions based on what they were accustomed to. Coleman was a good example of that. Logic and reason... more
My apalogies for mass confusion. I have a good excuse. I have been dealing with a bad case of Bronchitis for two weeks and can't stop the coughing fits. The Dr. has me on pills, a puffer, and I am drinking... more
Joyce, I typed up a fairly long response and thought I had posted it, but now I realize it disaappeared into the ether (and I don't have an excuse like bronchitiss). Hope you are felling better. I'll get... more
...and didn't want to repeat the whole thing again; and also couldn't remember what I said anyway. Thank you for your good wishes; am doing much better.
Trial Newpaper Version - Wes Fuller: he was in a crouched, stooping position, leaning against the house, and while so drew his pistol with his left hand; his body was out from the corner so I could see... more
Jones, thank you for correcting my contention that no witness testified that Billy drew his pistol with his left hand. I was obviously wrong. When I'm debating with Joyce, I usually peruse all the testimony... more
I suspect that in the heat of that mad minute the surviving participants and witnessed missed more than they observed. I suspect Billy was cross drawing, but it would be good to know something about the... more