Tombstone, Arizona
Virgil Earp became city marshal of Tombstone in October 1880, and then recruited Wyatt Earp and
Morgan Earp as deputies. Within a year the the Clantons and the McLaurys came into conflict with
Earp family. The Clantons, and McLaurys sold beef to the town of Tombstone and it was believed
that some of these animals had been stolen from Mexico.
To make matters worse, Wyatt Earp and John Behan, the sheriff of Cochise County came to odds,
also. At first this started as a quarrel over a woman, Josephine Sarah Marcus. She had lived with
Behan before becoming Earp's third wife. Earp also wanted Behan's job and planned to run against
him in the next election. The two men also clashed over the decision by Behan to arrest Doc
Holliday on suspicion of killing a stagecoach driver during an attempted hold-up outside of town.
Holliday protested his innocence and he was eventually released. In September 1881, Virgil Earp
retaliated by arresting one of Behan's deputies, Frank Stilwell, for holding up a stagecoach.
On 25th October, Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury arrived in Tombstone. Later that day Doc Holliday
got into a fight with Ike Clanton in the Alhambra Saloon. Holliday wanted a gunfight with Clanton, but
he declined the offer and walked off.
The following day Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury were arrested by Virgil Earp and charged with
carrying firearms within the city limits. After they were disarmed and released, the two men joined
Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury, who had just arrived in town. The men gathered at a place called
the OK Corral in Fremont Street.
Virgil Earp now decided to disarm Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury and recruited Wyatt Earp,
Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday to help him in this dangerous task. Sheriff John Behan was in town
and when he heard what was happening he raced to Fremont Street and urged Billy Clanton and
Frank McLaury to hand over their guns to him. They replied: "Not unless you first disarm the Earps".
Behan now headed towards the advancing group of men. He pleaded for Virgil Earp not to get
involved in a shoot-out but he was brushed aside as the four men carried on walking towards the
OK Corral. When they reached the four men, Virgil Earp said: "I want your guns". Billy Clanton
responded by firing at Wyatt Earp. He missed and Morgan Earp successfully fired two bullets at Billy
Clanton and he fell back against a wall. Meanwhile Wyatt Earp fired at Frank McLaury. The bullet
hit him in the stomach and he fell to the ground.
Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury were both unarmed and tried to run away. Clanton was successful
but Doc Holliday shot McLaury in the back. Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury, although seriously
wounded, continued to fire their guns and in the next couple of seconds Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp
and Doc Holliday were all wounded. Wyatt Earp was unscathed and he managed to finish off Billy
Clanton and Frank McLaury.
Sheriff John Behan arrested Virgil Earp, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday for the murder
of Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and Frank McLaury. However, after a 30 day trial Judge Wells
Spicer, who was related to the Earps, decided that the defendants had been justified in their
actions.
Over the next few months the Earp brothers struggled to retain hold control over Tombstone. Virgil
Earp was seriously wounded by an assassination attempt and Morgan Earp was killed when he was
playing billiards with Wyatt Earp on 18th March, 1882. Eyewitnesses claimed that Frank Stilwell was
seen running from the scene of the crime. Three days later Stilwell was found dead. A Mexican who
was also implicated in the crime was also found murdered in a lumber camp. It is believed that
Wyatt Earp was responsible for killing both men.
Morgan Earp as deputies. Within a year the the Clantons and the McLaurys came into conflict with
Earp family. The Clantons, and McLaurys sold beef to the town of Tombstone and it was believed
that some of these animals had been stolen from Mexico.
To make matters worse, Wyatt Earp and John Behan, the sheriff of Cochise County came to odds,
also. At first this started as a quarrel over a woman, Josephine Sarah Marcus. She had lived with
Behan before becoming Earp's third wife. Earp also wanted Behan's job and planned to run against
him in the next election. The two men also clashed over the decision by Behan to arrest Doc
Holliday on suspicion of killing a stagecoach driver during an attempted hold-up outside of town.
Holliday protested his innocence and he was eventually released. In September 1881, Virgil Earp
retaliated by arresting one of Behan's deputies, Frank Stilwell, for holding up a stagecoach.
On 25th October, Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury arrived in Tombstone. Later that day Doc Holliday
got into a fight with Ike Clanton in the Alhambra Saloon. Holliday wanted a gunfight with Clanton, but
he declined the offer and walked off.
The following day Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury were arrested by Virgil Earp and charged with
carrying firearms within the city limits. After they were disarmed and released, the two men joined
Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury, who had just arrived in town. The men gathered at a place called
the OK Corral in Fremont Street.
Virgil Earp now decided to disarm Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury and recruited Wyatt Earp,
Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday to help him in this dangerous task. Sheriff John Behan was in town
and when he heard what was happening he raced to Fremont Street and urged Billy Clanton and
Frank McLaury to hand over their guns to him. They replied: "Not unless you first disarm the Earps".
Behan now headed towards the advancing group of men. He pleaded for Virgil Earp not to get
involved in a shoot-out but he was brushed aside as the four men carried on walking towards the
OK Corral. When they reached the four men, Virgil Earp said: "I want your guns". Billy Clanton
responded by firing at Wyatt Earp. He missed and Morgan Earp successfully fired two bullets at Billy
Clanton and he fell back against a wall. Meanwhile Wyatt Earp fired at Frank McLaury. The bullet
hit him in the stomach and he fell to the ground.
Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury were both unarmed and tried to run away. Clanton was successful
but Doc Holliday shot McLaury in the back. Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury, although seriously
wounded, continued to fire their guns and in the next couple of seconds Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp
and Doc Holliday were all wounded. Wyatt Earp was unscathed and he managed to finish off Billy
Clanton and Frank McLaury.
Sheriff John Behan arrested Virgil Earp, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday for the murder
of Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and Frank McLaury. However, after a 30 day trial Judge Wells
Spicer, who was related to the Earps, decided that the defendants had been justified in their
actions.
Over the next few months the Earp brothers struggled to retain hold control over Tombstone. Virgil
Earp was seriously wounded by an assassination attempt and Morgan Earp was killed when he was
playing billiards with Wyatt Earp on 18th March, 1882. Eyewitnesses claimed that Frank Stilwell was
seen running from the scene of the crime. Three days later Stilwell was found dead. A Mexican who
was also implicated in the crime was also found murdered in a lumber camp. It is believed that
Wyatt Earp was responsible for killing both men.
