If those were actually the first 4 shots, why all the concern from prosecution witnesses about the nickel-plated pistol. Behan: "the nickel-plated pistol was the first to fire". These witnesses seemed determined to put that gun in the hand of Doc Holliday or Morgan Earp. Behan wanted the conviction of the Earps and Holliday for political and perhaps personal reasons in the case of Wyatt. Johnny was asked several times about his movements and how he got to the area behind Fly's. Although he denied going along the east side of Fly's building, he dodged answering how he did get there.
I also do not think it is a hitching post. The protection from wagons seems a possibility. Maybe something left from the time Harwood had a lumberyard there. I've never seen a photo or a map showing an awning. Maybe at one time a higher post for a sign, perhaps for a business deeper in the lot. Whatever it was for, I was delighted to see it in your video!
I'm ok with Behan's testimony. He doesn't see any of the scramble after the first two shots. The only thing he seems to know about after the first two shots is that Ike ran into Fly's after the fift... more
Where's the nickel-plated pistol? — Jerry Prather,Mon Apr 11 14:45
"These witnesses seemed determined to ..."
I expect this is at least some of the reason we view things differently. I don't see them as being determined to do anything. Just witnesses telling what ... more
...It is only fair to offer 'the benefit of the doubt' to all the witnesses and as you say, most were truth tellers, at least six seem quite reliable.
We have people caught in the moment and others... more
I found value in all the testimonies. Even those, that for whatever reason, are incorrect.
Regarding the testimony:
I think people under estimate how much is missing. Ike spent two or three days... more
I do not think there are missing parts of the testimony. Here's why. We have the original court reporters pages, and the Nugget's reporting for the Coroner's inquest. Keep in mind the Nugget's reporte... more
Ike Clanton's testimony
November 9-15, 1881
Ike spent four days in the court room.
The entirety of his testimony can be read aloud in one hour. That's a lot of court room time for what little verb... more
Jones if you've ever been in a courtroom you'll know it takes a lot more time to get the work done than just the time it would take to read the transcripts out loud. I was in a jury on a medical malpr... more
I've managed to dodge jury duty up to this point so I'll take your word for it.
I didn't realize that only one hour of the spoken word was the norm for a weeks worth of testimony. Only the government... more
I am evaluating the whole thing from the existing recorded testimonies. I do not change a word. I know that there are sure to be many other words spoken at the time but we don't have those, do we? So ... more
...please note in Virgil's testimony how he focuses on Billy Clanton, completely condensing the whole scenario by eliminating the attack on Frank and the shotgun blast at Tom.
Virgil focuses totall... more
Agree with you on the Earp brothers story.
I think the video is plenty clear about my opinion of the lawman story.
I think they chose Billy as the initial shooter because he was farthest into the va... more