Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-11-29
NOW WILD slLL WAS KILLED.


-. ssorv Of the D<spernac's MURDER n =
Desdwood Saloon.
n, a.,,re has known all the pioneers o.
N. vress and was friend or thas pactur
esnn.. figure in western history, Wild bill
II was within half dozen PAGES Of biii
when JACK McCauil sbo, him in the osask
~ the head in \ peadwoosi saloon lie teiis
III. story more infinitely than II has ever
been told in print. -.
To naraphrase the quaint wording OF the
old nioneer. the killing fell about IN TINS
WAY. Rim AID NcCaull occupied the same
e,b;u tesether at Deadwood in $50 biii
r,ua into camp with noteriety ne had
- sconi-;ug in all the border towns. lie
was a gambler by profession and despef~
80 he paturs. lie wss the surest shot
with pistol in the west He Ead oeen
marshal of Hays City IN its paihhy "a! y,
Iayv,essness, and WAS afterward marshal on
Abilene when that little city had almost as
hard a name. He had killed so macy men
that he had lost the count 80 when ne
rode into peatiwood, with his long !eltow
hair pouring down on his shoulders, MS
sombrero cooked sideways on his mead anu
with the ivory handled pistols IN their nor
sters swinging at either side, people WERE
naturally very respectful
But Bill was - man TO be fefaren rathe, |,
than respected. He was an inVetecate caru
player and cheated and robbed at the tanies
with the pleasantest grace Imaginable ne
and McCauIl became chnms ana patcheu
together in a cabin. McCauli had Just as
had a character as Bill, but he had never
the opportunities TO prove 1t, and II ne hau
he would probably have been dead pe'ore
Ds;.tlwoud carie into existence. AL any
rate, he and Bill used TO play brace against
every one they could get TO put his legs I'M
der Tie table with them. While thls pros
,ss Of fleeing was going on BIZ ana MS
PARTNER pretended to lie perfect strangers 10
each other
One day they wers at their usnai trlehS
with Il greenhorn in n canvas saloon on 'ne
main street McCaull broke out and gun
the game Directly he came up TO Biii ana
said. say, Bill, gimme quarter to BUY a
drink" Bill looked up at him Ms il he mad
never seen him before Don't know YOU
he said. Il gl-e-s your good at the bar.
NIrglnIl went 10 the bar and asked for a
drink. but the barkeeper, thinking he was
:gkiug, wouldn't let him have it.
Then MeCauli sulked about the stove Tor
little. Finally he went to Bill again ana
said:
"Gimme 80 cents, Bill; want to get a
meal" Aud Bill, still carrying out his role
of stranger, said, with pretended heat, "Uc
to HI for your meal. -
McCaull's face flushed. He WAS not willy
enough to see what Bin was driving at.
He went straight out of the saloon down to
his cabin and got Il six shooter W hen 1t
came back. he had 1t cooked in bis coat
pocket with his hand upon it. He walked
right up to Bill, and quick as n flash stuck
the muzzle of the gun against Bits head
and pulled the trigger. There was leap
of fire from the barrel, resounding report
and Wild Bill fell over with his face among
the poker chips, stone dead.
McCaull was arrested and tried before a
miners court aud acquitted, for the story
he told was Il plausible one But one day
when in his cups, he boosted of the deed
Detectives investigated his story and found
it false, and eventually he was hanged
Denver Republican.