SADDLEBAG DISPATCHES
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BATTLE OF THE PLAZA AND
TOMBSTONE TROUBLES
An excerpt from Bill Markley’s book Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson: Lawmen of the Legendary West published by TwoDot in 2019 and winner of the Will Rogers Medallion Award. STORY BY
BILL MARKLEY
ILLUSTRATION BY JIM HATZELL
O
n February 1, 1881, Pima County, Arizona was split, the eastern portion becoming Cochise County with Tombstone as its county seat. All of Cochise County’s government positions were appointed by Arizona’s Republican Territorial Governor John C. Fremont with the approval of the predominantly Democrat legislative council. The appointed positions would last until the next general election to be held in November 1882. Democrat and Pima County Deputy Sheriff Johnny Behan wanted the appointed sheriff position for Cochise County. There were Republican Tombstone citizens who wanted Wyatt Earp appointed sheriff. Johnny met with Wyatt proposing if Wyatt stepped aside and allowed him to be appointed sheriff, he would appoint Wyatt as his undersheriff and allow him to appoint the deputies. Wyatt agreed to Johnny’s proposal. On February 10, Johnny was appointed sheriff of Cochise County. Instead of Wyatt, Johnny appointed as undersheriff fellow Democrat and editor of Tombstone’s Nugget Harry Woods.
Johnny never explained to Wyatt why he reneged on their agreement. Bat Masterson had arrived in Tombstone in mid-February and went to work as a house gambler for Wyatt and his partners in the Oriental Saloon. Wyatt also hired Luke Short, a Dodge City gambler friend of his and Bat’s. On the morning of February 25, Short was dealing faro in the Oriental. Charlie Storms was at his table. Storms, a professional gambler and gunman, was a friend of Bat, but Short had never met him. Storms had been up all night gambling and quarreling with other players. An argument erupted between Storms and Short. As Bat rushed into the gaming room, Storms slapped Short. They both were going for their guns as Bat grabbed Storms and asked Short not to shoot. Bat hustled Storms out onto the street telling him to go to his room and sleep. Storms asked Bat to go with him, which Bat did. Leaving Storms in his room, Bat returned to the Oriental and started to tell
