In Conclusion

Ike Clanton should shoulder most of the blame for this historic battle. If had not threatened the Earps absolutely nothing would have happened that day. I'm not saying that there would not have been a fight ever but at least it would be by parties whom all wanted to fight. The fight should have been between Doc and Ike the night before.

The Mclaurys were caught in the middle. It was known that they were in company with cattle rustlers, how deeply involved is open for debate. At this time most if not all of the area ranchers helped or aided cattle rustlers. The theory being that if you were hospitable to the rustlers then the rustlers would leave your heard alone. The cattle rustlers would run the cattle up from Mexico and would stop at any given ranch along the way. The ranchers would open their homes to the cattle thieves and sometimes would even buy the rustled cattle. The Mclaurys had equipment on their ranch to switch brands on the cattle. The only bad blood they had with the Earps was once a horse thief stole a horse and it was later found (by Wyatt Earp) at the Mclaury ranch. Tom and Frank were in town on business the day of their deaths.

Virgil Earp only mistake was selecting Doc Holliday to the disarming party. Doc was a man with a death wish. He was a known criminal and had also killed a few men. Doc had motive to kill Ike Clanton because Ike was one of Doc's accusers from the Benson stage robbery. Why Doc didn't kill Ike at the gunfight is a mystery, but witnesses said that Doc was firing at Ike as he was running away from the shootout.

Virgil and Wyatt did not want to fight that day they had to. It was their intent to disarm the cowboys. If Virgil wanted Ike Clanton dead he would have shot him earlier that morning , instead he pistol whipped Ike and took him before the justice of the peace. Tom Mclaury was beaten by Wyatt hours before the battle. Tom was Ike's friend and I believe Wyatt wanted only to scare Tom into promptly leaving town. Tom was so scared in fact that he immediately got rid of the gun he was carrying and the only reason he couldn't leave was because his brother was coming into town. Wyatt also would try to protect Doc Holiday at the Spicer hearing by claiming he was the one who shot first

Johnny Behan was also criminal in his actions that day. He was friends with the Clantons and the Mclaurys. He did not disarm them and that is what he should have done. According to Behan he eft the cowboys to stop the Earp party. He did not do that either. It may be possible that when he saw the Earps coming he just wanted to leave period. Johnny Behan was very ineffective. If he had a true concern for the law he should have joined with the the Earp's to disarm the Cowboys. Logic being that Guns were not allowed in town, he was ranking officer, and the Cowboys had guns in town. If he had gotten involved there would not have been a fight but he would have made his friends (Clantons,Mclaurys) mad at him.

Billy Clanton, Frank and Tom Mclaury were not innocent victims. They were victims of Ike Clantons threats to the Earps. The Earp party would have been foolish at the point of battle not to assume the Cowboys had guns and intended to kill them. The proof that both parties didn't really want to fight is very simple. The Cowboys could have opened fire when they saw the Earps coming around the corner and vice versa. Virgil made an honest attempt to disarm the cowboys. Ike would suggest that the whole reason for the shootout was for the Earps to murder him. This would be impossible to believe, why would Doc shoot Billy first? Doc shot Billy because he believed that Billy was drawing a weapon when he thrusted his hands forward. If it was supposed to be an assassination attempt on Ike wouldn't he have been the first to go? Ike would run right up to Wyatt during the fight and pleaded not to be shot, all Wyatt would have to do then was pull the trigger! I believe Ike suffered from delusions of grandeur to believe this was all a plot to kill him.

The moral to be learned here would be do not threaten to kill dangerous men. If you do, you should at least have the common courtesy to stay and fight. Sure Ike had no weapons but he could have been useful drawing fire away from his friends and brother.Another lesson we could learn is not to trust Hollywood for our history lessons. John Ford (My Darling Clementine director and friend of Wyatt Earp) is guilty of ruining the Clanton name for generations. (although I blame Ike for the affair, I believe Billy fought very well.He was on the wrong side of the law but he did fight to protect his brother and friends.)

Ike Clanton would try 3 times to get the Earp party convicted of murder.The Earp party would be acquitted of the charges against them. The debate of the incident is still argued 120 years later.

Virgil Earp was ambushed on December 28th 1881 and would lose the use of his left arm. On Mach 18, 1882 Morgan Earp was murdered while playing billiards. Wyatt would form a posse and go hunt down the responsible parties.(pls see Wyatt's Revenge)