James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok was killed by Jack McCall in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, on August 2, 1876.
On that day, Hickok walked into Mann’s Saloon No.10 and walked up to some men playing poker and twice asked another player, Charles Rich, to change seats with him so that he could sit with his back to a wall. Rich refused to switch chairs with him, and Hickok took the only empty chair at the table.
A former buffalo hunter named John McCall, who was also known as “Broken Nose Jack,” walked in unnoticed. McCall then walked around to the corner of the saloon where Hickok was sitting. Under his coat, McCall had his hand on a .45 caliber pistol.
An eye witness said that McCall came up slowly behind Hickok as if he were attempting to create the impression that he was just a casual observer of the game going on. Then as everyone's attention was focused on the player opposite Hickok who had just placed his bet, Jack McCall moved into position just a few feet behind Hickok.
He pulled his pistol, shouted, “Take that!” and shot Hickok in the back of the head.
The bullet hit Hickok in the back of the head, killing him instantly. The bullet exited through Hickok’s right cheek and actually hit another player, Captain Massie, across from him in the left wrist.
Supposedly Hickok had lost his stake and was broke, and that he had just borrowed $50 from the house to continue playing. When shot, he was holding a pair of aces and a pair of eights, all black. Today that hand is known as the “Dead Man’s Hand.”
The first newspaper report of Hickok's death was published in Deadwood's only newspaper, the Black Hills Pioneer, on August 5, 1876. The headlines read:
ASSASSINATION OF WILD BILL
HE WAS SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD
BY JOHN MC CALL
WHILE UNAWARE OF DANGER
WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE AVENGED
The text read: "On Wednesday about 3 o'clock the report stated that J.B. Hickok (Wild Bill) was killed. On repairing to the hall of Nuttall and Mann, it was ascertained that the report was too true. We found the remains of Wild Bill lying on the floor. The murderer, Jack McCall, was captured after a lively chase by many of the citizens, and taken to a building at the lower end of the city, and a guard placed over him. As soon as this was accomplished, a coroner's jury was summoned, with C.H. Sheldon as foreman, who after hearing all the evidence, which was the effect that, while Wild Bill and others were at a table playing cards, Jack McCall walked in and around directly back of his victim, and when within three feet of him raised his revolver, and exclaiming, "damn you, take that," fired; the ball entering at the back of the head, and coming out at the centre of the right check causing instant death, reached a verdict in accordance with the above facts "
The motive for the killing is still debated today. There are all sorts of speculations as to why McCall shot Hickok. Some say McCall may have been paid to kill Hickok, but the fact really is that no one knows. And honestly, McCall never did fess up to why he did it.
In fact, though Hickok claimed he'd killed well over 100 men, by all account he killed 7 men. And yes, the last man he killed was his own deputy who Hickok shot by mistake.
And what about those 11 bullet wounds or the knife wound that supposedly went clean to the bone during his battle with the fictitious McCanles Gang back in 1861 that started his legend?
Well, upon Hickok's death, other than the fatal head wound of course, there were no scares of any sort found on Hickok’s body. There were no indications that he was ever shot or stabbed in his past.
As for McCall, we he was acquitted of the murder. Supposedly a mule skinner by the nickname of Calamity Jane was reported as having led a mob which threatened to lynch McCall. But in reality, at the time of Hickok’s killing and McCall trial, Calamity Jane was being held by military authorities. Some say for stealing horses.
This time McCall was found guilty and hanged.
It is said that Hickok was shot through the back of the head by a coward. Many agree that he was a coward who was so afraid of Hickok because of his reputation, that he felt that it would be suicide to go up against him face to face.
For me, my opinion is that Jack McCall was certainly a coward. But, I also think that they were both two of a kind in that they were both cowards. And in this case, it was all a matter of karma finally coming around.
Sooner or later, it was just a matter of karma making its way around to Hickok who was the back-shooting coward who killed Dave McCanles from behind a curtain in 1861.
To me, it's was just a matter of long overdue Justice.
On that day, Hickok walked into Mann’s Saloon No.10 and walked up to some men playing poker and twice asked another player, Charles Rich, to change seats with him so that he could sit with his back to a wall. Rich refused to switch chairs with him, and Hickok took the only empty chair at the table.
A former buffalo hunter named John McCall, who was also known as “Broken Nose Jack,” walked in unnoticed. McCall then walked around to the corner of the saloon where Hickok was sitting. Under his coat, McCall had his hand on a .45 caliber pistol.
An eye witness said that McCall came up slowly behind Hickok as if he were attempting to create the impression that he was just a casual observer of the game going on. Then as everyone's attention was focused on the player opposite Hickok who had just placed his bet, Jack McCall moved into position just a few feet behind Hickok.
He pulled his pistol, shouted, “Take that!” and shot Hickok in the back of the head.
The bullet hit Hickok in the back of the head, killing him instantly. The bullet exited through Hickok’s right cheek and actually hit another player, Captain Massie, across from him in the left wrist.
Supposedly Hickok had lost his stake and was broke, and that he had just borrowed $50 from the house to continue playing. When shot, he was holding a pair of aces and a pair of eights, all black. Today that hand is known as the “Dead Man’s Hand.”
The first newspaper report of Hickok's death was published in Deadwood's only newspaper, the Black Hills Pioneer, on August 5, 1876. The headlines read:
ASSASSINATION OF WILD BILL
HE WAS SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD
BY JOHN MC CALL
WHILE UNAWARE OF DANGER
ARREST, TRIAL, & DISCHARGE
OF THE ASSASSIN WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE AVENGED
A BROTHER'S DEATH
IN KILLING WILD BILL
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| James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok |
The motive for the killing is still debated today. There are all sorts of speculations as to why McCall shot Hickok. Some say McCall may have been paid to kill Hickok, but the fact really is that no one knows. And honestly, McCall never did fess up to why he did it.
The trial took only two-hours at a Miners Court. There McCall claimed that he was avenging his brother who Hickok had supposedly killed. Some say that there was a Lew McCall who had been killed by in Abilene, but it is unknown if he was related to McCall. Besides, when Lew McCall was killed in Abilene, Hickok was not a lawman there at the time.
In fact, though Hickok claimed he'd killed well over 100 men, by all account he killed 7 men. And yes, the last man he killed was his own deputy who Hickok shot by mistake.
And what about those 11 bullet wounds or the knife wound that supposedly went clean to the bone during his battle with the fictitious McCanles Gang back in 1861 that started his legend?
Well, upon Hickok's death, other than the fatal head wound of course, there were no scares of any sort found on Hickok’s body. There were no indications that he was ever shot or stabbed in his past.
As for McCall, we he was acquitted of the murder. Supposedly a mule skinner by the nickname of Calamity Jane was reported as having led a mob which threatened to lynch McCall. But in reality, at the time of Hickok’s killing and McCall trial, Calamity Jane was being held by military authorities. Some say for stealing horses.
McCall was subsequently re-arrested later after bragging about what he had done in Deadwood. It just shows that when you've gotten away with murder, you really should keep your month shut.
A new trial was held. The authorities did not consider this to be Double Jeopardy situation. Their reasoning was that at the time of his first trial, Deadwood was not recognized by the U.S. as a legitimately incorporated town because Deadwood was in Indian Territory the Court was a Miners Court and not an established Federal, State or Territorial Court.
A new trial was held. The authorities did not consider this to be Double Jeopardy situation. Their reasoning was that at the time of his first trial, Deadwood was not recognized by the U.S. as a legitimately incorporated town because Deadwood was in Indian Territory the Court was a Miners Court and not an established Federal, State or Territorial Court.
It is said that Hickok was shot through the back of the head by a coward. Many agree that he was a coward who was so afraid of Hickok because of his reputation, that he felt that it would be suicide to go up against him face to face.
For me, my opinion is that Jack McCall was certainly a coward. But, I also think that they were both two of a kind in that they were both cowards. And in this case, it was all a matter of karma finally coming around.
Sooner or later, it was just a matter of karma making its way around to Hickok who was the back-shooting coward who killed Dave McCanles from behind a curtain in 1861.
He was a coward who was so afraid of McCanles because of his size and strength and reputation, that he felt that it would be suicide to go up against him face to face.
Instead of meeting McCanles face to face, Hickok choose the coward's way out and bushwhacked McCanles by shooting him from behind a curtain. A murder which he committed, and yes, he had actually evaded the hangman's noose.
Instead of meeting McCanles face to face, Hickok choose the coward's way out and bushwhacked McCanles by shooting him from behind a curtain. A murder which he committed, and yes, he had actually evaded the hangman's noose.
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| The Dead Man's Hand |
Hickok murdering McCanles made Hickok famous, and McCall murdering Hickok made him famous. Both cowards who couldn't face their victims face to face.
My grandfather used to say, "God doesn't sleep!" Story by Tom Correa
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